One of the five premier parks in southern Utah, Arches National Park is home to the largest concentration of natural arches and other unique sandstone formations.

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Viewpoints and trailheads are spread out making vehicular transportation almost a requirement. I wouldn’t dare ride a bicycle here, as the stunningly bizarre formations are sure to create distracted drivers. In fact, I saw a traffic accident when I was there. This person didn’t see the turn and plowed right into a ditch. Fortunately, only a cactus, the truck, and the man’s pride were injured.

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The park is very accessible which makes is extremely family friendly. And those with mobility issues can see much of the park. Some of the most popular formations, such as Balanced Rock, are right along the road or are only a very short hike away. For those that want to stray from the road a bit more, three terrific hikes are available: Devil’s Garden, Fiery Furnace, and Delicate Arch.

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Delicate Arch is by far my favorite. Not only do you get to stand in the shadow the most impressive arch in the world, you have an excellent view of the La Sal Mountains. They provide an impressive snowy backdrop to the desertscape. This is also one of my favorite places for sunset photography. But instead of pointing towards the setting sun, I love to capture the complexity of the warm colors kissing the sandstone and the clouds that are often dancing around the mountains.

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The Fiery Furnace was a first for me even though I have been to Arches several times before. The hike requires a permit due to the sensitive environment encountered along the way. If you plan to complete this hike, try to secure a permit immediately upon your arrival or try to join a ranger-led tour which doesn’t require a permit. The hassle is well worth it. The fins created by years of erosion make for very interesting formation. There is some minor scrambling required over boulders and crevasses which adds a level of difficulty. The Furnace is also like a maze and the small arrows directly you onto the main path can easily go unnoticed. But this adds to the challenge and excitement.

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The Devil’s Garden hike is certainly the most difficult one in the park. However, you get to see several arches (the Landscape and Double-O Arches) that you would never see from the road. Those with fear of heights might have difficulty with this hike. The impressive sandstone fins, such as those present in the Fiery Furnace, will need to be scaled. I find scrambling up these obstacles really fun. And the view at the end is well worth the challenge.

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The park is situated just north of the small, quirky town of Moab that offers great restaurants, bike and jeep rental stores galore, and a decent sized grocery store. It is also surrounded my endless public lands, both state and federal. These public lands offer some of the best mountain biking and off-roading in the world. The Colorado River cuts between the town and the park offering many refreshing water activities such as rafting and kayaking. And the nearby La Sal National Forest can be easily accessed via the La Sal Mountains Loop. This is a beautiful scenic drive that starts in a narrow canyon cut by the Colorado, moves through gentle foothills, and then eventually reaches the mountain ridges. The views of the desert plateaus are breathtaking. And you can escape the oppressive summer heats as you gain thousands of feet in elevation.

 

Do avoid visiting the area during the Easter Jeep Safari. This massive Jeep event brings in over 15,000 jeeps in a one-week period. Moab’s population grows from tame 5,000-10,000 to over 100,000. Campsites are almost impossible to find. I cut short my visit as my stay was intruding upon opening weekend of the event. This was a bummer as I wanted to explore some of the off-road trails.

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Arches National Park has a mystical feel that is unmatched by other parks. Make visiting this park with your friends or family a priority. The park and the surrounding area offer a literal and figurative oasis in the desert. No matter if you are there to unwind, to hike, or to bike, it has something for everyone.