Arches National Park-March, 2007

I was lucky enough, after my hike to spend some time all alone up at Delicate Arch. It is one of my favorite places on earth.

Ute Petroglyphs

The Devil's Garden Trail

Me at Landscape Arch

I loved this picture on the hike up to Delicate Arch

On the Devil's Garden Trail

Tunnel Arch

Skyline Arch

Sand Dune Arch

Turret Arch

Another one of my favorite spots at Arches National Park-Double Arch.

Park Avenue--I could've sat here for hours.

Me at Arches

Balanced Rock

March 22  I got into Moab at about 8:00 p.m. and stopped at Wendy's for some dinner.  Then I went to bed and settled in for the night.
     On the 23rd of March, I decided that the first thing I wanted to do was hike up to Delicate Arch.  So, after some breakfast at my hotel, I drove to the park and went directly to the Wolfe Ranch Parking Area, left my car there and hiked up to Delicate Arch.  It took about one hour and fifteen minutes to get there.  I really enjoyed the hike, although the slick rock area took some time.  As I hiked up to Delicate Arch, I really enjoyed using my new digital camera.  When I got up to Delicate Arch, I was the only person up there; it was about 8:45 a.m.  It was cloudy but not raining yet.  I stayed there for about fifteen minutes enjoying the view.  Then I hiked back down the hill.  It took about 45 minutes.  I enjoyed this hike very much.
     When I got back to my car, I drove to The Devil's Garden Trail area at the end of the park.  I really wanted to see Landscape Arch next.  The Devil's Garden trail was incredible.  First, I hiked to Landscape Arch, then to Pine Tree Arch & Tunnel Arch.  I spent about an hour on the Devil's Garden Trail.  I thought that it was really something that I could walk right through Pine Tree Arch.  I really liked walking through this area.
     After walking through the Devil's Garden Area, I turned around and started working my way back through the park.  My first stop was at Skyline Arch; it was a short walk from the parking area to the arch.  I took a few pictures and then went back to my car.
     From there I drove to the parking area for Sand Dune and Broken Arches.  First, I walked to Sand Dune Arch.  I thought its name really fit.  There was lots of desert sand to walk through.  Also, there were a few tight walls that were close together.  But, when I got to the arch, it was like it really jumps out at you.  I was very small, but very awe inspiring.  I returned to the trail head, and then hiked a half a mile to Broken Arch.  The trail was flat and easy.  On my way to Broken Arch, it started to rain.  I decided on the way back to go to the Windows Section of the park.
     When I started driving there it really started to rain.  When I pulled into the parking area, it was just dumping.  So, I decided to drive back to Moab to get some lunch.  I figured the rain would stop between the time I got lunch and went back to the park.  So, I drove to Moab and had a sandwich at Subway.  Then I went back to my hotel for a few minutes to relax.  When it stopped raining, I went back to the park directly to the Windows Section.  I hiked up the steps to the North Window.  I also took a few pictures at Turret Arch while I was there.  Then I drove one minute to the opposite end of the parking area and walked to Double Arch.  It was definitely one of my favorite arches in the park.
     I decided at this point to go see the Park Avenue "Canyon".  This ended up being my second favorite spot in the park behind Delicate Arch.  My legs were tired, so didn't hike though the Park Avenue Trail  But, I did take some pictures.  At this point it started to rain again.  So I decided to go back to the hotel and have some dinner.  I went to Pizza Hut and then took my dinner back to the hotel.  Later that evening, it stopped raining.  So, I wanted to go back to the park to hopefully get some sunset pictures.  My first stop was Park Avenue where I took two the pictures that I have posted here.  Then I stopped at the La Sal Mountains viewpoint where some other park goers took my picture in front of the Three Gossips and the Organ.  Finally, it got so dark, that I couldn't take any more good pictures.  I decided to go back to the hotel and sit in the hot tub, which I ended up doing for an hour.
     My plan for the next day was to go to Mesa Verde in Colorado.  I got up early (around 7 a.m.) and started driving south towards Colorado.  But it was really raining hard, so I turned around and headed for home.  Even though this trip was short, I really enjoyed Arches National Park.  It is an incredible place; I definitely plan on going again.