When we read the #1 tip for enjoying Arches National Park was to "pack your patience," we were a little worried about the number of people we might encounter. When we checked the park's website and read that they stopped timed entry requirements for the season, but were shutting down the entry points for anywhere from 3-5 hours per day because the park was so full, we were about to just take Arches off our list. On our first day in Moab, Dusty had a morning interview. Since we were getting a late start, we knew Arches was out of the question, but since it was close, we stopped by to pick up a map and hiking guide to plan our visit for another day. You can imagine how shocked we were to find only five other cars in the entry line! Turns out it was the perfect day to visit the park. We even found ample parking spaces in every lot! All of southern Utah has been a wonderland of rock formations. It's hard to put into words how amazingly beautiful this country is, and photos don't do justice to the panoramic views of geologic eye candy that often overwhelm the senses. Arches stole a spot in our top 5 favorite national parks with its over 2,000 arches--all formed without water running through them, turquoise and green petrified sand dunes, certified dark skies, and rock formations that can only be found in southern Utah. We covered the full 21 mile long road (several times) by car, and clocked over 16 miles on the trails in the two days we spent in Arches, and we could still go back and enjoy more. Our itineraryWe spent day one in the southern part of the park, enjoying sights in the Windows and Delicate Arch sections. Our GyPSy Guide* faithfully escorted us to the best viewpoints and told us fun history and geology facts about the park as we navigated through the park roads. I know I've said it a million times, but we seriously don't know what we would do without this amazing app to guide us around our nation's parks! In the Windows section, there were several short hikes out to arches where the kids (including the adult one) enjoyed climbing to get inside. Note: park rules say you can NOT climb on top of an arch. However, climbing to and through is a favorite past time for visitors at Arches, as long as you stay on the path or solid rock surfaces. (Very important not to Bust the Crust! Stay tuned to a future blog post to explain that phrase!) Up the road a bit is a three mile trail that leads to Arches' most famous Delicate Arch, which can be found on the Utah state license plate and just about any Arches/Moab memorabilia. The hike is labeled as difficult, but if you are physically able, we highly recommend it. You won't get views like those from the Delicate Arch viewpoints, that's for sure! The trail is also the site of the late 1800's Wolfe homestead and petroglyphs from the Ute tribe, likely dating to the 16-1700's. We got up early on day two to hike the 8 mile Devil's Garden Loop trail, where hikers can get up close to seven arches. It's a difficult trail, labeled as "primitive," with lots of rock scrambling, but it has the biggest bang for the effort you put into it. My breakfast didn't seem to agree with me that morning, so the kids and Dusty went on the full loop hike, while I hung back until I felt better. Later I made it out to all the major arches, like Landscape, Navajo, and Double O before turning back to meet them at the trailhead. At the end of our adventure, we stopped at the visitor center so the kids could get sworn in as Junior Rangers. The Ranger just about fell out of her chair when the kids told her they hiked Devils Garden that morning! They're becoming pros at this Junior Ranger stuff! We finished our hiking around 2 p.m., we had the afternoon to get some tasty ice cream in town and do a bit of souvenir shopping, then the kids and Dusty played in the campground pool while I did laundry. Spanish Trail RV Park is just 15 minutes from Arches, so after a late dinner, we went back to the Certified Dark Sky park around 9 p.m. to stargaze. Timing was perfect as the Orionids meteor shower appeared that night! As Earth passed through the dust remnants from Halley's Comet, we saw at least ten meteoroids zipping through the atmosphere in the direction of the Orion constellation. The dim waning crescent moon left a perfectly dark sky to see the Milky Way and billions of stars. Arches was absolutely gorgeous and a great experience for adventure seekers. We didn't get to do the Fiery Furnace, which is a popular hike requiring a permit that you can reserve 2-7 days in advance. By the time we went to make our reservation they were sold out, so if you plan to go, get your tickets at recreation.gov seven days before your hike. We hear it's a very primitive trail that is easy to lose your way on, which is why you can opt to do a ranger guided tour during the peak season. With a ton more to explore, we look forward to returning to Arches someday.
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