WEST COAST OF THE USA STAGE 6: ARCHES NATIONAL PARK

Like every morning since we started our route along the west coast of the United States we open Google Maps and put all the points we want to visit during the day, but unlike the previous ones, today's route is 1 hour! Uffff, finally a day of tranquility, relative!

Because today we have ahead one of the most famous national parks in the country: the Arches National Park! Get in the car and read on to find out more about this awesome place, what to see and do, the most famous trails, how much it costs, how long it takes and all the useful information.

If you come like us from Green River, from the Bryce area, you will have to continue on Highway 70 and turn off at Crescent Junction south on 191. Arches is a few miles away, on a left turn before reaching Moab.

If you come from the south, from Moab and Monument Valley, the road is 191 until the turnoff.

Once you take the detour you will find the Visitor Center, we always recommend stopping and asking. You can also refill the water bottles in the tap outside. From there there is a rather fat slope and in about 5 miles you will start to see the interesting points, viewpoints and walks.

Unlike other parks, in the Arches no free bus service, but if you go with your own car you won't need them at all. The park has only one entrance and consists of a road main leading to the furthest point called the Devils Garden and others two roads that deviate until The windows And till Delicate Arch, all round trip. In total they are about 40 miles if you travel the main plus the secondary (i / v).

The park has several lookouts which are next to the parkings, others that must be accessed after walking for a few minutes and walking trails longer and more difficult, like the one that leads to Delicate Arch, of moderate difficulty. Below we give you more details copper each.

→ Park maps

In order of proximity to the entrance, these are the most interesting viewpoints and trails:

1. Park Avenue Viewpoint

It is the first viewpoint that is on the left on the road, we leave it to the end and almost skipped it. Luckily, just when we were back we saw the sign and stopped. The views that you have over a valley (which with a little imagination you can compare with an avenue of a large city, with its skyscrapers on the sides) are impressive.

But you can also cross this avenue in a 1.6 km trekking one way that will take you to the Courthouse Towers Viewpoint (moderate difficulty), although we do not recommend it, you can lose some valuable time and energy for what awaits us.

2. The Salt Mountains Viewpoint

Another viewpoint, although this is on the right and you have to deviate a tad. There is a huge rock that emerges from nothing and, although it is not as striking as the previous one, you will not waste much time in seeing it.

3. Balanced Rock

Another strangely shaped rock is the protagonist of this viewpoint, but it is much cooler! As the name implies, it is a rock similar to the fact that Obelix was walking, that “swings” on a much thinner one… making a simile to the Spanish one: it is the chupachups rock. The visit is made on a half-km walk around the rock.

And the arches? Shhhh, calm down, they are coming ...

4. Garden of Eden

From this viewpoint you can get a panoramic view from the Arches park, with the mountains La Sal in the background (maybe still with snow on its tops, depending on the period of the year) and with the first arches, yes in the distance.

5. The Windows

In this section you will find some of the park's most impressive arches. From the parking you have two paths: the one who goes through the arches North Window, South Window (side by side) and the Turret Arch, in a circular route of 1.6 km that will take you to the base of the arches!

And one second that is right across the road that ascends to the Double arch, on a road of half a km. Spectacular!

6. Delicate Arch (viewpoints and trail)

This is definitely the postcard of the Arches National Park, an arch that serves to frame a perfect panorama, especially if you arrive at sunset, when the sun hits it full and turns red like fire. To see it you can choose to do a trekking or visit the viewpoints from below:

- Trekking to Delicate Arch: it is a path of high difficulty of 4.8 km back and forth, ascending a path of rocks and sand. Doing so will take you between 2 and 3 hours. Eye, there is no shade so put on a cap and take at least two liters of water. The trekking leaves from the Wolf ranch, halfway to this secondary road of the Arch National Park. If you have time it is probably worth it, we reserve it for our next visit 😉

- Delicate Arch viewpoints: they are at the end of the road, they are two viewpoints that offer you a different perspective of the arch, but always from below and with a certain distance. The Lower It is next to the parking lot and the Upper It is about 400 meters higher, in another direction.

7. Salt Valley and Fiery Furnace Viewpoint (closed when we went)

They are two viewpoints on the Fiery Furnace that are probably worth it, but when we went they were reforming the road and not allowing access. According to what we see in photos, it looks great!

Wikimedia.org photo

8. Sand Dune Arch

It is one of our favorite points of the Arches National Park. To get to this arc, just 250 meters from the parking lot, you have to go through a narrow corridor between rocks and climb a little dune of fine sand. The place is recommended for children, maybe that's why we liked it so much ... jiji. From this point the trekking to the Broken Arch, of something more than 1km, which we did not do.

9. Skyline Arch

A fairly large arch 300 meters from the parking lot. It's not too impressive, but if you have time there you have it, almost a stone's throw away.

10. Devils Garden

This is the furthest part of the Arches National Park, and from where there are several options to dehydrate yourself as a champion ... but also short recommended trails:

- Pine Tree Arch and Tunnel Arch: There are two arches that are on the path, on the right hand side a few minutes walk from the parking lot. Fully recommended, especially arriving at the Tree Arch, we fell in love!

- Landscape Arch: returning to the main road, if you continue for a while for some ups and downs (nothing worrisome), and after crossing an area of ​​sand, you reach this huge arch, according to them the longest in North America! The round trip is about an hour to see all three sites.

- Devils Garden Trail: and if you have time, desire and energy (and you are somewhat prepared, because this trekking is of great difficulty) pull forward for others 11 km to make this loop-shaped path that passes through other arches that we obviously missed.

- Always check the official website updates about the state of the park, access roads, weather forecasts, etc.

- Download the map of the Arches National Park to prepare your itinerary.

- Temperatures can exceed 40 degrees and there are almost no shadows in the park, so wear sunscreen and bring enough water, it is not a bad idea to buy a portable cooler and put ice to keep the water bottles cold in the car . And don't forget the hat!

- You can camp at the Devils Garden Campground (only with tent), but you will need to book at least 6 months in advance.

- Pets are welcome but only when tied, never free.

- Whether you have paid this ticket or if you have the America the Beautiful pass, you will have to put the ticket (or pass) in a visible place when you leave the car in a parking lot.

It is best to spend the night in Moab, to visit this and other parks such as the Canyonlands. We did it in the Super8, although the night we paid for it ($ 130), it was worth it to take a break in its super rooms and its swimming pool with jacuzzi!

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