In Moab, Arches National Park

Friday, July 15 2005 Moab – Arches National Park

Since we hadn’t eaten dinner until after 10 pm the night before, we let the kids sleep in and then took them to the pool, which didn’t open until 10 am. I caught up on the laundry while everyone else rested (look for the bags under my eyes in the pictures!).

The visitor center for Arches is in the process of being built, and it looks like it’s going to be beautiful, but for now it’s housed in a couple of mobile home trailers. We went in and watched the movie, and the kids got their booklets for the Jr. Ranger program. They didn’t have any special talks or walks for the Ranger program, so the movie would be the extent of it this time. The Ranger signed their books, making them official for the movie, and gave them a garbage bag, instructing them to pick up any garbage they see along the trails. The information board in the center was promising sun and 107 degrees, 20% chance of a thunderstorm! It was 11:30 and we were already roasting.

Driving the road gives you a lot of views of the arches and rock formations, so we did this most of the way. We parked at the Windows Section, where it was a short (but very hot) hike to North Window and South Window. Standing under the arch at North Window is amazing, and you can’t really comprehend the scope of its size until you’re standing right under it. Already the kids enjoy this park and the walks are worth it because they actually get to climb and stand under the arches.

Continuing on the loop, we climbed around Turret Arch.

Back in the car to cool down and have lunch, we moved the car around the loop and took the longer hike out to Double Arch, two arches formed by a giant pothole. While resting in the shade, a very young Park Ranger came along. Emma asked him if she could take his picture, which I thought was very sweet since it was the last one on her camera and she had wanted to save it. I took her picture with Ranger Robert Wallace, and he let her wear his official Ranger hat. On the way to Double Arch there are some interesting rock formations - like the Parade of Elephants.

Emma and I thought this rock looks like a person, although it’s not named anything special, that we know of.

Continuing down the main road, we took the turn-off for Delicate Arch. We were so hot and tired, and the hike out to this arch is 3 miles round trip, that the observation viewpoint off the parking lot would have to do. Delicate Arch is unusual in that it runs vertically up the side of the rock, and it’s pretty much all by itself out there, accompanied by only a few smaller rock piles nearby. It looks like it’s going to tip over.

We finished driving the whole park, ending in Devil’s Garden and checking out where we would have to take the trail to Landscape Arch. The Ranger said it would be a good hike for the kids, as it passes through some narrow fins and is in the shade. We will do that first thing tomorrow, before it gets too hot. Landscape Arch is in a very delicate place, as the Rangers feel it could break at any time.