There are several natural features on this planet that often beg the question - how? Mountains that touch the heavens, canyons that have no end to their depths, sand dunes located in areas with zero explanation, or waterfalls so mystical there's no way they can be real. All these, and yet, the strangest to me are the rock arches that have formed in the deserts of southern Utah.
Arches National Park, a destination so special and iconic that it is advertised on the Utah license plate. Located just outside of Moab, Arches was established as a National Park on November 12, 1971 after being a National Monument for 42 years. With over 2,000 naturally occurring rock arches, the park is named Arches for a reason. Take the windy drive along towering canyon walls until you reach the top, to then be presented with views stunning and endless. The landscape is desolate, yet full of natural beauty. Sandstone mesa's are what's left of millions years of the Earth at work. There is rich history here, all starting 65 million years ago.
 |
| Turret Arch with South Window in backdrop |
Dating back that far, Arches was a vast, dry seabed. The views we see today were buried thousands of feet below the surface. Over time, the landscape wrinkled and folded the buried sandstone, forming fractures in the rock and establishing what would become the rock sculptures before us now. The land, which sat at sea level before, rose thousands of feet due to geological force. Erosion then set in and brought down layer after layer of rock. The sandstone was then exposed and went through cycles of expansion and rebounding. This process was best described to me as how a sponge expands back after being squeezed tightly. From this, more fractures were created allowing water to seep in and continue to break down the rock from the inside. The final product is the arches that appear across the landscape. Even today, water is the key factor in the breakdown of the arches.
 |
Double Arch |
Besides the history found within the rocks, humans also have a rich history here. Many Native American tribes inhabited the area and shared their stories through petroglyphs and other artifacts. Like much of southwest Utah, petroglyphs can be found in the park. These petroglyphs date back thousands of years and tell us the stories of the native tribes that inhabited these lands for generations. Petroglyphs found near Wolfe Ranch, along the trail that leads to Delicate Arch, are thought to be done by the Ute tribe as they display people on horseback, which were adopted by the Ute's after introduction from the Spaniards. Besides the presence of Native American's, a man by the name of Denis Julien, also made his existence known across the Southwest. Denis, a fur trapper who is believed to be one of the first non-natives to explore this region, made himself known in a rather odd way. He was notorious for etching his name into rock walls all across the desert, sometimes even overlapping native petroglyphs. Not much else is known about Denis Julian besides that he didn't start fur trapping until he was into his 60's and that one of his favorite hobbies was writing his name on a multitude of rocks. That said, don't be like Denis Julian. Vandalism is not allowed.
 |
Balanced Rock |
The only campground in Arches is Devil's Garden campground, which was our base camp for four nights. When we weren't cuddled up around the campfire, we were out hiking. There is a ton of sights to be seen and hikes to be explored, a majority of which take you to the very thing the park is named after and what everyone travels here for; the rock arch. The list of arches is endless and every one of them is special in their own way. Landscape Arch, the park's longest arch reaching 306 feet across. Sand Dune Arch, tucked away within sandstone walls, a sandy trail leads you to its shaded hiding spot. Double Arch, the tallest arch in the park encompassing two arching spans. Balanced Rock, a sight testing both gravity and physics. And finally, Delicate Arch, the icon of Arches and my personal favorite. These are just a few of the sights to be seen here.
 |
| Delicate Arch |
Must Do's: Arches offers plenty to do. Hiking, backpacking, canyoneering and rock climbing are some examples. If you're not into that, just a simple drive through the park will leave you with enough ooh's and aah's to keep you satisfied. The views here are spectacular and one could have a great time without ever leaving the car. Plus, many of the arches are in very close proximity to parking areas and take little time. If I had to choose one sight, it would be Delicate Arch. The hike, while short, can be strenuous due to great elevation change in a little amount of time. This is the most popular hike but it's worth it. Delicate Arch is unique and incomparable to any other arch in the park. Plus, at any time the arch could crumble to never be seen again. If you decide to do this hike, start early! By 7:30 in the morning, the parking lot was full at the trailhead. Most recommend arriving by 6:30.
When To Go: March through October. We went in mid-March and couldn't have asked for better weather. Low's were in the upper 30's, while highs were in the 50's and 60's. The summer months bring on extreme heat and temperatures reach triple digits regularly. If you decide to travel in the summer, be prepared and drink plenty of water. The busiest seasons is April through May and September through October when temperatures are fair. As far as time spent in Arches, I think a person needs two whole days at the park to get the full experience involving a good blend of hikes, sight-seeing and other activities. Additionally, Moab is just outside of the park boundary and another day spent there is well worth it.
Arches is a wondrous place. At times, it can feel like you boarded a spaceship and zipped off to some other planet. The scenery present here appears otherworldly. So much so that while exploring, you’d expect some little green humanoid to make itself known by appearing from around the bend in the trail. I wondered what Arches would look like in the next decade. If I ever returned, would the rocks still be as they once were? Would our children be able to see the same sights that we did? This place really makes you ponder how time moves. For these arches, time has been there greatest benefactor. Without it, they wouldn’t ever exist. And yet with time, as it continues on, their existence will diminish. There will come a day where man will no longer be able to stand upon these fascinating rock formations. The passage of time has formed the arches and the passage of time will destroy them. Much like us, time will ultimately be our fate. Life is short, make the most of it.
Want more information on the park or our trip? Leave a comment or send me a direct message. I'd be happy to answer any questions you may have!
Next week I'll be covering the third and final park visited on our travels this trip; Canyonlands. Our journey in Canyonlands was very different compared to any other so far, so stay tuned! Until then...stay wild.
Brock
Arches website: https://www.nps.gov/arch/index.htm
No comments:
Post a Comment