Arches National Park
Show me the Arches!
The next stop on our trip was to the Arches National Park located just a few miles north of Moab, Utah. The beautiful red rocks are visible from highway 191 so you can’t miss it! Upon arriving, after stopping to snap a picture with the welcome sign, you’re faced with an enormous wall of pure sandstone called The Great Wall. It got its name because the wall is a contiuous slab of red sandstone spanning over 3 miles. Pretty accurate name if you ask me. The entirety of the park is 76,519 acres even though the road from end to end is only 18 miles. Don’t forget your hiking shoes and plenty of water! There are a variety of hiking trails all with different difficulty levels. Some take as little as 10 minutes and are more family friendly. While others take anywhere from 3-5 hours for more experienced hikers.
North and South Window
How are the arches formed?
The arches we formed over years and years of erosion they are approximately 65 million years old. With a mixture of wind and water these once mountain formations withered away until the arches were formed.
The Turret Arch
Although you aren’t supposed to actually climb on top of the arches there are plenty of other places that you can hike and climb. Since the North and South window will most likely be packed with people trying to take pictures, alternatively you can head right across from there and you’ll find the Turret Arch. You’ll see in the video as you get to the top you’ll get the panoramic view of the park from the top of the turret arch.
Turret Arch
The Turret Arch pictured above is part of the windows loop trail that is about 1.2 mile loop style trail where you are able to see both side of the windows.
Parade of Elephants
Trail Guides
The Hike
Since Arches National Park is open 24 hours a day getting lost is a real risk especially if hiking after dark. Thankfully there are small rock piles (pictured above) to look out for the help guide the way and keep you on the trail. It is said that the arches are “the windows into the universe” and let me tell you standing under an arch looking out into the distance definitely makes it feel like that.
There are plenty of hiking trails (16 to be exact) that range in difficulty. Of course there are the easy guided trails with rock formations or the more primitive trails made with loose gravel.
There are plenty of other activities that are available at the arches also. Some things you can do include camping, backpacking, or if you aren’t down for exploring by yourself you can always do a commercial tour. The commercial tour will allow you to get all the facts and have some fun along the way with a professional. If you’re a little more experienced they also offer canyoneering with a permit as well as rock climbing that are both offered with a permit.
Balanced Rock
Balanced Rock is a 3600 tons and is a product of erosion. At some point the rock will continue to erode and eventually come tumbling down. Between 1975/76 Balanced Rock actually had a miniature version of itself that eroded away called “chip off the old block.”
Balanced Rock or the Teetering Giant has a trail of its own that is less than a half mile. It is considered an easy trail that will take you less than 25 minutes to complete. It is a paved rock and gravel trail that will end with a viewpoint of the window arches.
