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By Jacob
By Jacob
We visited Arches National Park several years ago as part of a vacation to Colorado Springs, Mesa Verde, the Four Corners, Canyonlands and Arches. This trip was taken before I got into national parks and is part of the reason that I have become a superfan. To this day, Arches is one of my favorite national parks. I have not been back since my last visit and would love to visit again. I do not remember a whole lot from this vacation but I do want to share with you what I do remember.
Oue visit to Arches was the last destination before we headed home to Missouri. We had a long stretch in Moab, Utah, naturally we would head into Arches National Park. The entrance to the park is located just north of the Colorado River along Highway 191. When we entered the park we did something that I would never do today. We did not stop to take our picture by the park's sign nor did we stop at the park visitor center. If you have read any of my articles you know that I considered this to be sinful today.
Past the visitor center we drove up the canyon wall to the higher mesa where the arches were located. As we got up to the top of the canyon we began to pass massive striking landscapes. Along the horizon, the towering Las Sal Mountain watched over the park. We passed formations called the courthouse towers and three gossips. Something struck me as familiar about these rocks. I figured it out later that Arches National Parks was featured in the opening scenes of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. We then came across the Balanced Rock. An impressive formation balancing a large heavy boulder on a tall striking pedestal.
We then turned onto the Windows Road to see the first arches of the park. At the end of the road we parked at the end of the road and got our first look at the arches. South of the parking lot was the Windows. Three arches Turret Arch, North Window and South Window. They are awe inspiring. Arches that are not human made, they are natural. I remember looking under an arch and just saying “wow”. On the other side of the parking lot is Double Arch. I remember someone being taken away in an ambulance because of dehydration. Public service announcement, always bring more water than you think you need. The double arch is my favorite arch in the park. It towers over the trail several hundred feet high with two massive curving arches.
Back in the car we headed for Delicate Arch. Delicate Arch is featured on the welcome to Utah signs as well as on the Utah license plate. We saw the Delicate Arch from the lower perspective instead of hiking up to the better view. This is my biggest regret of the trip. Not being able to see Delicate Arch was a huge disappointment. I don't even know why we did not visit the arch. Nevertheless it was still a beautiful site to see.
The next activity that we did was off-roading. There are lots of off-roading trails in Arches and the rest of the Utah parks. In fact, some of the arches are only accessible by off-roading to them. There are jeep rentals available in the town of Moab if you do not have a vehicle suitable to the trails in the park.
That night we spent our time back in the parking lot of balanced rock. One thing we like to do in national parks is stargaze. With little light pollution the national parks are the best place to see the stars. We sat and watched the stars for hours and searched for constellations. It was an excellent end to our time in Arches National Park.
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