Travel: Arches/Canyonlands National Park – A Natural Wonder and A Must See
- Details
- Category: Haute This Issue
- Published on Tuesday, 03 September 2024 19:29
- Written by Janet Walker
The Arches National Park, located in Moab, Utah, a picturesque tourist town with a population of about 5,366 year-round residents, will leave visitors amazed, and mystified over the stunning rock formations that are a geological marvel.
During peak season, late spring into early Fall, Moab is a bustling, tourist destination where hikers, campers, mountain bikers, and nature lovers head to marvel at the amazing rock formations, striking scenery, and stunning displays.
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Over a long off-season weekend, I arrived in Moab, at night. The Arches had always been a bucket list trip for me, and finally, I had just decided to go, so I packed the car, found a hotel, and as it was off season, there were many to choose from, and hit the road.
Image credit: Janet Walker.
Once I arrived at The Arches National Park, the dramatic scenery was breathtaking, and I was excited as I was fulfilling another must do trips. As it is a National Park, I usually stop inside the store, buy a few magnets, and memorabilia. I decided that this would be the year that I visited all the National Parks in my area, and so I purchased the annual pass. It is an $80 dollar investment, or the day rate of $30 per vehicle.
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Arches National Park during the off season does not have a reservation system, however during the peak season from 7am-4 pm, April 1 - October 31, reservations, meaning pre-planning, are required. Visitors to Arches National Park has increased in the last ten years by 78%, and in 2021, 1.8 million tourists visited the park.
Image credit: Janet Walker.
Arches National Park is a drive through experience with many pull offs, and as I was so awestruck, I didn't want to miss the chance for that one special picture. I would encourage visitors to plan for a day, and not to be in a hurry to drive past the smaller formations for the most visited.
Although maps are available, and many of the most famous rock formations have names and are designated on the map, the experience of driving through the park is filled with the most magnificent and awe-inspiring natural landscape that one will ever see.
Image credit: Janet Walker.
Two of the more famous natural wonders at Arches are Balanced Rock, and Delicate Arch. A simple google search will result in many images of both these spectacular formations. They are impressive and extraordinary.
Image credit: Janet Walker.
Balanced Rock, according to the Arches National Park description, "is a 3,600-ton Entrada Sandstone boulder, perched precariously atop a narrow pedestal of softer stone." Balanced Rock stands 128 feet high. It looks like a teardrop, resting on top of a finger.
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Image credit: Janet Walker.
Any of the natural sandstone arches in the park present the ideal Instagram moment. However, some of them, like Delicate Arch is considered in the backcountry and more than a three-mile hike. The easiest arches are the North and South Windows Arches, which are 12 miles from the main entrance of the park and are visible from the parking lot at the base. It is an easy climb, one mile roundtrip, with a few steps, and creates a stunning Instagram moment.
Image credit: Janet Walker.
Many of the major formation destinations have oversized parking lots, trail markers, and restrooms. Some have drinking water, fountains and the like. It is always better to pack trail mix, energy bars, food options, and plenty of water.
Image credit: Janet Walker.
By the end of the day, I had driven through all of the park and walked through most of the easy access trails. My trip was in the off-season, and even though the daytime temperatures were cool, the temperatures dropped very fast. It's also important to be prepared for temperature changes, so any trip will not be cut short.
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Image credit: Janet Walker.
As I was leaving Moab, I noticed the sign for Canyonlands National Park. I hadn't planned on visiting, but decided, since I had the annual pass, why not. Canyonlands is divided into sections, Eye in the Sky, The Maze, the Needles section. The park's main office was closed, and it was just a drive through, like the other national parks, there are many opportunities to pull off the road and take pictures.
Image credit: Janet Walker.
Canyonlands, the Eye in the Sky, area of the park has three main sections, and as the sun was sinking, and the temps were dropping fast, so I managed to see three of the sections.
Image credit: Janet Walker.
What I didn't know until I hiked the visitors trail was Canyonlands, home to the famous dinosaur footprint that is so often photographed, at the Grand Viewpoint Overlook. I don't even think it is necessary to be a nature enthusiast to be impressed with the dazzling displays, the natural gradating colors of the sandstone, and towering sheets, arches, and unbelievable displays of rock formations are incredible, stunning, and leave you awestruck.
Utah is home to many of the must-see national parks, and The Arches and Canyonlands are a must see on any bucket list.
Image credit: Janet Walker.
