The day after our Moab adventures, KC and I, with our new friend Brian, headed out to Arches National Park (NP) to explore the park (through hiking and not rock climbing, this time). What was especially cool about having Brian along was that he is a geophysicist and would answer such random questions as, “How was that formed?” with a smile and even point out interesting geological formations that we would have otherwise missed.
Driving around in Arches NP
Devil’s Garden – Landscape and Navajo Arches
For this first trip into the park, we decided to hike around and see the major features – like the renown Delicate Arch. We started in the area called “Devil’s Garden”, where we went to see the Landscape Arch.
The Three of us at Landscape Arch
We kept hiking around the Devil’s Garden and saw some interesting rock features, one of which reminded me of the prow of a big cruise ship.
Can you see the cruise ship in the rock on the left?
We also scrambled on some rocks and looked back at the trail behind us for a view of the mountains behind us.
Looking back at the Devil’s Garden in Arches NP with the Mountain Range in the distance.
Right before we reached the Navajo Arch, we saw some really cool rock features that would make for awesome bouldering, but we didn’t know if it was off limits for climbing. Knowing that it was the named features and big arches, not small side walls, that were off limits, the three of us agreed that we could do some impromptu bouldering in this area… without climbing shoes or crash pads. (I researched this later and think we were ok climbing this, since we didn’t use chalk or otherwise deface the rock or surrounding areas.)
KC ad Brian doing some Impromptu bouldering behind the Navajo Arch in Arches NP.
Loving the rock holds.
Eventually we made it to the Navajo Arch.
The Navajo Arch at Arches NP.
On the way back, we passed the same rock features again and spent some more time bouldering, this time working on traversing.
KC traversing across the rock.
Eventually, after a few hours and only having seen the Landscape and Navajo Arches, we made it back to the parking lot.
Delicate Arch
After Devils Garden, we hiked out to Delicate Arch, which was a beautiful six mile (roundtrip) hike.
Views along the trail.
The Delicate Arch was spectacular.
The Delicate Arch with the canyons in the background.
And I had to mimic the arch with a bridge pose.
Double Arch! ;)
Then KC mimicked me, under the arch.
KC doing a bridge pose under the Delicate Arch
At one point, I turned around and couldn’t find either of the guys until I looked up.
KC and Brian balancing on top of rock formations near the Delicate Arch
The Windows and the Turret Arch
Following the road toward the park’s entrance, we stopped at the Windows to see the North and South Window and the Turret Arch.
The North (to the left) and South (to the right) Windows at Arches NP
Clear blue skies seen through the North Window.
Across from the Windows was the Turret Arch. We could see a storm brewing behind the arch.
Turret Arch with a storm coming in the background
KC had a lion king moment on a rock in front of the Turret Arch.
The Circle of… KC?
When walking back to the car, from the Turret Arch, we had an amazing view of the Garden of Eden.
Garden of Eden Formation. Pictures don’t do it justice.
Rolling Out
Soon after we left the Windows, the storm that we saw behind the Turret Arch caught up with us and we got to see the desert park drenched in an early summer storm. The park was beautiful in the rain.
Park Avenue at Arches NP, as viewed from the car after the rain.
We left, having seen some of the big attractions, but wanting to see more. This will have to be re-visited sometime again.
More Information
For more information about Arches National Park, check out the National Park Service’s website.
You can check out more pictures on our Utah Adventures Part 1 Photo Journal Page.
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