Arches National Park
Posted in North America | March 26, 2010 | Comment NowArches National Park is a red rock wonder that contains some of the most magnificent and splendid landscapes on the planet. The park is home to the largest concentration of sandstone arches. The park has nearly 2000 arches spread over 76,518 acres. Besides the arches, there are plenty of other geological formations. Some of them include sandstone fins, huge balanced rocks, towering pinnacles, and spires. They obscure visitors to the background as they explore the park and its hiking trails. The rich history of geology has been unearthed due to geologic faulting.
The ways to explore the park are as varied as the type of formations. Travelers need to devote a couple of hours to get a good introduction within the park. Those wishing to explore the hiking trails need to spend at least a couple of days. Travelers staying for many days can explore the huge array of diverse terrain in the park. Other popular activities include hiking, photography, and biking. Arches National Park has something in store for everyone.
Travelers who wish to make it to the major viewpoints of the park can take the help of the paved drive. There is also a wide variety of hiking trails. Some of the lesser known trails will take you to the ‘Primitive Loop’ which lies in the Devil’s Garden Section. The backcountry offers travelers the opportunity to relax and enjoy the calm and solitude. Overnight backpacking is allowed if you obtain a backcountry permit from the visitor center.
Devil’s Garden Campground is located within 18 miles of the park entrance. It is open to the visitors throughout the year. Some of the amenities include potable water, tables, grills, and flush toilets. There is a lack of showers. Travelers will have to bring their own supply of wood and charcoal for the grill.
The there is no lodging facility within the park. The town of Moab offers the closest lodging facility. It lies five miles to the south of the park entrance.
Delicate Arch is perhaps the most famous natural span in the world. To get to the base of the Delicate Arch make use of the 1.5 mile trail. The opening of the arch gives you a fabulous view of La Sal Mountains.
Landscape Arch is arguably the longest natural rock span in the world. The opening of the arch is 306 feet wide, which is 6 feet longer than a football field. This thin span would easily accommodate a nine story building. A huge slab of rock fell from the underside of the arch in 1991. This has resulted in a thinner chunk of rock.
Balanced Rock is another popular rock formation. To get to the base of the Balanced Rock make use of the short trail.
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