Arches National Park, Utah
1,026 miles
$100 in gas
3 states
3 National Parks
1 adventurer
I took a spontaneous (even though I had been planning to go all summer) trip to Utah to visit some national parks. I wanted to visit Utah's 5 parks but didn't have the time due to a job interview so I decided this could be my last chance and I was desperate to go to Arches National Park. I have been wanting to go there ever since I read Desert Solitare by Edward Abbey in my Environmental Literature class at Alabama six years ago. When I think of the Southwest I think of Arches. So it was a dream fulfilled when I finally got there.
I left Flagstaff Wednesday night and drove for five hours and camped just South of Moab.
Thursday morning I drove through the energetic adventure town of Moab to Arches NP. I had intentions of backcountry camping there but they do not have any backcountry trails or campsites, which means people have to go out on their own and camp at least a mile from a road, all while not destroying the cryptobiotic soil. The two rangers I talked to urged me against camping due to chance of thunderstorms that night. So I started my journey of the park. Here's a link to a video I recorded while driving through the park,
. I decided to drive to the end of the road in the park and start with the longest hike at Devil's Garden. I went down every side trail to see every arch. There are 2000 arches throughout the park.
My first arch -Tunnel Arch
Pine Tree Arch - 2 down, 1998 more to go!
Landscape Arch - 306 ft long
Double O Arch
Partition Arch
Navajo Arch
Skyline Arch
After the hike I had a restful break and started checking out all the overlooks I had passed.
Sand Dune Arch
Hike out to Broken Arch
Broken Arch
On the rocks
Hiking
Fiery Furnace
I decided that I wanted to hike the 3mile roundtrip to Delicate Arch (the most popular one) at sunset, so I waited around and started hiking up at 7:15. It was a tough hike but the end view was worth it.
View of Delicate Arch from Lower Viewpoint
The Arch is just around the corner
Visitors at the arch for sunset
Delicate Arch
Me & the arch
I hung out at the arch for awhile and when I thought the sun was getting too low, I hiked back down. I did not want to get caught in the dark on the trail. That night I camped on BLM land outside the park. All the campsites I stayed at were free that I found via
- I highly recommend checking that site out before you go on a trip. I've used it many times with all great results.
Friday was spent checking out the arches I missed the day before and by noon I had seen the whole park (those that were connected to the main road). I went down all but one trail.
Turret Arch
Window Arches
Double Arch-one of my favs
Balanced Rock
Arch with La Sal Mountains in background
For lunch, I headed back into Moab to the Moab Brewery.
I was looking forward to having at least one real meal on the trip and I had earned it hiking around in 90+ degree weather. After lunch I drove past Arches to the turn off to the next national park...
announced in the next post...
