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| | | | | • | Arches National Park - Info | | | • | Location: | Utah, Southeast • Grand Country |  | • | Nearby: | | | • | Gas, Lodging: | Moab, Green River, Monticello | | • | Hikes: | Fiery Furnace | | • | Attractions: | Canyonlands National Park, Death Horse State Park, La Sal Mountains, Colorado River | • | Info: | Some hours to some days. |
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| | | | | | | • | Arches National Park - Description | | |
Arches NP is a fascinating beauty of sandstone formations glowing in all shadings of red. This northern part of the Colorado plateau is especially famous for the large number of rock arches. The park area is home of around 2000 natural arches; among them Delicate Arch, probably Utah's most famous landmark. Over one million visitors each year enjoy its outstanding beauty. For your visit you should avoid holidays and weekends, be early to find a space to park your car.
Sandstone arches, fins, etc. are built and also destroyed by erosion and solution. Nature at work: in 2008 the Wall Arch collapses, one of the major arches in the Devils Garden area.
History:
Designated as National Monument: 1929-04-12
Established as Arches National Park: 1971-11-12
Area:
Arches covers an area of 76,519 acres (310 km²).
Climate:
The climate is dry (semi-arid to arid), but not necessarily hot throughout the year. Because of elevations up to 5600 feet, Arches NP represents a cold or high desert.
On summer days the temperature exceeds 100°F (38°C), whereas in winter it may drop even below 32°F (0°C). A day/night temperature range of more than 50°F (28°C) is not uncommon. The summer rainy season in July and August results from an influence of southern monsoon air; during the winter, wet Pacific air brings snow.
Ecology:
Life is slow in this environment. Vegetation has to reduce its metabolism dramatically, which makes it sensitive for damage. A wrong footstep may cause a decade long destruction of the cryptobiotic soil/crust.
Geology:
Most arches and windows in Arches NP are eroded from the 140 million years old Entrada Sandstone layer by water under extreme temperatures and wind. Below the Entrada Sandstone lays the thick layer of lighter-colored Navajo Sandstone, exposed where the Entrada Sandstone layer has already eroded away.
Activities:
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If you have only a few hours, take the Scenic Drive and visit marked viewpoints. Most short hikes are a stroll for the whole family.
Don't miss North Window and South Window in The Windows Section. There are numerous short hikes to other prominent features as Double Arch, Turret Arch, etc. |
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Devils Garden trail with its high concentration of arches is jam-packed by busloads of visitors. If you are lucky and find a parking space, walk in line with the other lucky ones. If the crowds change your mind doing the whole trail, in about one mile from the Devils Garden trailhead is Landscape Arch a don't miss, nearby are Navajo Arch, Partition Arch and Wall Arch, which collapses in 2008. |
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Delicate Arch
Park at the Wolfe Ranch (early or late in the day, not on holidays, etc.) and follow the signs, the trail, the crowd. About 3 hours roundtrip, bring some water; the last part up the slickrock in the summer heat is strenuous. The daily sunset show at Delicate Arch could attract well over hundred people. Delicate Arch with the LaSalle Mountains' white tops as background seems to be one of the most popular themes to take home.
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Klondike Bluffs
Follow the Park Road to Devils Garden; 5 miles after the turn-off to the Wolfe Ranch (or 1 mile before you reach the end at Devils Garden trailhead) leave the paved road to the left. Follow the gravel road for 7.7 miles; turn left for another 1.3 miles to reach the parking area. Even if the road to here is accessible by all cars, it is normally less crowded than other parts of the park. Follow the trail, visit Marching Man and Tower Arch. It will take you 2 to 3 hours.
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Fiery Furnace
There are two possibilities to visit this maze of Entrada Sandstone fins. An up to 180 minutes Ranger guided tour or a special permit for a day (in our case GPS guided).
For the Ranger guided tour you should read about restrictions and requirements and view the video here.
You can make online reservations here. We met 2 groups with about 30 people each in there. I'm sure they have been at every point worth visiting in there in less than these 180 minutes!
The day permit allows you to spend a whole day in there and you will get lost as promised when buying the permit. Following tracks in Fiery Furnace is difficult, but you have a whole day to find arches and other attractions in there. Our GPS was working fine and guided us back to our car in the last hour before sunset. If we would do it again? Sure, without any doubt, it was one of the most beautiful hiking days ever! (GPS, spare batteries, water and some snacks made it.) One last thing, people get counted on the way in and on the way out, so for bookkeeping and to conserve 'Cryptobiotic Crust' stay on established trails.
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Guided nature walks offered at the Ranger Station.
Some years ago we took the 'Cryptobiotic Crust' one. Our tour started with a total of 5 people guided by a volunteer. After 15 minutes first two people got lost for what reason ever. Some 20 minutes later we decided to get also lost and enjoyed for an hour or two the South Windows area.
If you experience is a good one, please share it.
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4WD, Jeeping through Salt Valley
If you are not grown up in a jeep, but ever wanted to give this outdoor experience a shot, this one is for you!
The plan: Rent a jeep in Moab for a day, start early, enter Arches NP and ask for road conditions at the Visitor Center. Find your way to Klondike Bluffs (see above description), visit Marching Man. Return for 1.3 miles to the Salt Valley Road, turn right and follow the 4WD 1.7 miles, turn right again and climb up the slickrock for 1.4 miles to the parking area near Tower Arch. Relax and visit Tower Arch. Back down for these 1.4 miles; turn right to experience the sandy 9 mile part of this trip. Turn left and in less than a mile the pavement (at Balanced Rock) will have you back.
The 4WD part is approx. 17 miles long and will take up to 5 hour.
It is relative safe, civilization is nearby (Towing services in Moab, etc.) and it covers different terrains so you can see and feel climbing with a jeep over slickrock but also try to find your way through deep sand.
Hope you enjoy the ride!
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Contacts:
You will find everything about actual fees, online reservations for Fiery Furnace Tours, etc. at Arches NP's official homepage:
http://www.nps.gov/arch/index.htm
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The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source
of all true art and science.
- Albert Einstein |
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