Arches National Park

Arches National Park sits on a salt bed formed by an ancient sea, some 300 millions years ago. Eventually debris was formed into rocks leaving the unstable salt beneath to begin shifting and buckling. In turn enormous rocks were thrust high above the ground level and into domes. High atop many of these formations are balanced rocks, seeming to be suspended by only the slimmest of material for millenniums.

While these giant boulders are spectacular in their own right, Arches didn't get its name from these works of nature. While boulders were being formed, so were vertical cracks in faults. Over time water seeps into the cracks and crevices of these layers and begin to break loose bits of rocks. Wind will later clean away the bits and pieces, in time largSomewhere around 2,000 of these Arches have been logged, their size from three-foot openings all the way to Landscape Arch, which measures 306 feet from one span to the other. If your in pretty good shape, many of the parks arches are accessible only by walking trails, ranging from 0.3 miles all the way to 4 miles distance.
For the less sturdy and athletic don't despair, many Arches and balanced rocks are also seen from the main road.To be completely honest, usually we spent inside the park our jaws were on the Jeep's floor. I still find myself amazed that we had driven past the Arches National Park entrance once before, without taking the tour.

A footnote for the photographers (and who isn't}! While we made our tour at mid-day, we are told sunsets or sunrise is particularly beautiful. We have made note of this for our next visit, and thought you might appreciate the heads-up.

From the beautiful new Visitor's Center, to the Devil's Garden Campground, and end of your tour it is about 18 miles. All roads are paved and RV accessible. Along the way there are several cutoffs, leading to many sites one doesn't want to pass up. Really to enjoy the park's many features, one will probably need to allow for at least a half day, but a full day would be even better.
Should camping out in the park be of interest, be aware we saw only the one campground a Devil's Garden, with a limited capacity. According to park officials these sites are usually full by mid-morning, so keep this in mind. At this time, sites were $15. Group sites are also available.

Entrance fees to Arches National Park are $10 per vehicle for a seven day pass, and without a discount card. Bicycle and motorcycle fees are $5. The park seems to be a haven for bicyclist, so if your inclined, knock yourself out. Now for the not so pleasant aspect of our visit. We truly dislike mentioning any negativity, but we also feel our readers deserve the good, the bad, and the ugly, if warranted. While we found the visitors center a real asset to Arches National Park, the restroom inside the park were in plain English, awful.

One should also be aware, parking in some places is limited at peak season, and picnic areas are few. There is no food inside the park, so prepare for all the above. Water is an essential! Although some aspects were unpleasant, Arches National Park incredible beauty makes up for any human shortcomings. Beware Arches National Park can be extremely hot in the summer.
We especially enjoyed the North and South Windows Section, about the half way point. This site is one of several side trips off the main road (approx.. 2 miles). Wonderful scenery is on both sides of the road and parking is pretty good here. You shouldn't miss any of these scenic natural wonders!

Arches National Park is located 5 miles north of Moab, Utah on U.S. Highway 191. You can click Arches National Park for their web-site and more information on this beautiful park.

© 2007 Road-Trip-USA. All Rights Reserved.

[Home] [Native American] [Old West Towns] [Old West Outlaws] [National and State Parks] [Mount Rainier Park] [Arches National Park] [Petrified Forest] [Fort Smith Historic Site] [Oklahoma Runestone] [Talimena Scenic Drive] [Prairie Grove Battlefield] [Grand Canyon] [Vacation Getaways] [Back Roads] [About Us] [Camera-Video]