Arches National Park

Some of the greatest scenery and untamed wilderness in the United States is found in southern Utah.

Arches National Park is located just 6 miles north of Moab. The park is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, so if you want to see sunrises, sunsets, or anything in between you can do so.

Visiting in summer isn’t necessarily the best time of year as temperatures regularly exceed 100 degrees (but it’s a DRY heat!), but let’s face it, most of us have more opportunity to use our vacation in the summer.

We rose early our first day in Moab and were in the park by 7:45 a.m. when the temperature was still in the low 80s. Delicate Arch is the most famous arch in the park, gracing the state’s license plates and pretty much every pictorial you will ever see about the park.

We bypassed the Visitor Center and drove about 12 miles to the trailhead. The hike to Delicate Arch is 1.5 miles each way with a 480-foot elevation change. The first 30-40 minutes are fairly easy, but then you hit a stretch of slickrock that’s out in the open sun, and that’s the most grueling stretch. Make sure you have lots of water, a hat and sunscreen. It’s part of the adventure, and a story to pass on for years. (I did it with my 20-month old daughter on my back in a backpack.)

The arch of course is spectacular. You can photograph it from a distance, and you can walk right to its base.

By the time we got back to our car, 2 ½ hours had passed and the temperature was in the low 90s.

We took it easy for a while, touring the park by car. We drove past the Fiery Furnace (where guided hikes are required and must be reserved well in advance), and past several other arches visible from the road.

We headed up to Devil’s Garden where there’s a picnic area and a place to refill water bottles with desert spring water. We refilled our bottles, drank, refilled again, ate lunch and refilled again.

With our energy restored, we drove over to the Windows area where four arches are easily accessible. The North and South Windows and the Turret Arch can all be accessed via one trail.

A separate trail from the same parking lot leads to Double Arch. Those hikes are about 15-20 minutes one way.

We ended our 4-5 hours in the park with a stop at the Visitor Center on the way out.

Entrance to the park is $10, but it’s valid for multiple entries over seven days. We took advantage of that fact by returning two more times. The first time we picked up a Junior Ranger workbook for the boys to complete. The second time we returned so they could pick up their badges. We also drove to Balanced Rock for a short hike. We could have done much more in the park. Landscape Arch is also very well known, but alas, we didn't make it there.

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