From our hotel, the Super 8 in Moab, we drove five miles north on UT 191 to the entrance of Arches National Park. First, we visited the visitor center again. I would recommend this to every reader, as you can get a lot of information there, including up-to-date weather reports. We learned that there are over 2,000 arched rock formations (arches) in the park.
Arches National Park: Arches Scenic Drive
Balanced Rock
We then followed the Arches Scenic Drive, an 18-mile scenic route, until, after about nine miles, we reached our first stop of the day, Balanced Rock. This rock formation has a total height of 39 meters. The boulder balances about 16 meters above the ground and is the size of three school buses. The rock is actually quite visible from the parking lot. However, due to the sun's position being unsuitable for taking photos, we decided to take the 0.5-kilometer loop trail.
Window Section
After a short drive, we found ourselves in the so-called Window Section. There are several stone arches here. To the right of the parking lot are the North and South Windows, although only the first one is accessible. We followed the trail around the arches, which was marked as a primitive hiking trail. From there, we were able to get a photo of both windows.
Double Arch
On the opposite side of the Window Section is the Double Arch, consisting of two stone arches. The larger arch is 45 meters wide and 31 meters high. The 1.2-kilometer circular path is partially covered in sand, but is easy to manage even for inexperienced hikers.
Delicate Arch
There are two ways to see the famous Delicate Arch. You can either view it from the Delicate Viewpoint (accessible by car) or take the 4.8-kilometer (3-mile) loop trail. We opted for the hike, which we highly recommend to future visitors. We parked our car at the historic Wolfe Ranch, packed plenty of water (2 liters), and followed the trail. Especially in the summer months, you should bring plenty of water, sunscreen, and a hat. After all, you have to climb 147 meters (480 feet) and there are hardly any opportunities to rest in the shade.
Arches National Park: Devils Garden
Before we ended our day in Arches National Park, we drove to Devils Garden. From the parking lot, you can hike to many different arches. We decided to hike over Landscape Arch to Double O Arch. Here, too, we should pack plenty of water, as the trails have many steep climbs and hardly any shade. After 1.3 kilometers, we arrived at Landscape Arch. At 88 meters wide, it is the longest stone arch in Arches National Park. Since parts of the arch collapsed in 1991, it has unfortunately been closed off by rangers. The trail to Double O Arch is even steeper, very rocky, and leads past deep chasms. But it's worth the effort!
Arches National Park: Willow Flats
We didn't leave the park via the scenic road, but turned right at Balanced Rock onto Willow Flats. This off-road route is quite easy for the first few miles. Crossing the washouts often becomes a complicated undertaking when the trail crosses an old riverbed several times. However, with our Jeep and our now considerable off-road driving experience, it wasn't a problem. About halfway through the route, we passed an inconspicuous landmark. Ancient dinosaur footprints are embedded in the rock. Incredibly fascinating!
Are you still looking for a suitable hotel in Moab?
You can find a hotel to suit your budget via various online travel agencies such as Agoda, Booking.com, ebookers.com, Expedia, Hotels.com, lastminute.com, otel.com or Venere.com.
