Arches National Park began as a national monument in 1929 and was elevated to national park status in 1971. It covers 119 square miles, or 76,115 square acres. Elevation ranges from around 4000 feet to 5653 feet in height. No on knows for certainly how many arches are within the park, but over 2000 natural arches have been recorded and some fall or are being created regularly. The first few miles as you drive up the big hill and enter the park's upper reaches, you experience countless sights such as this...
We hiked to, around, and up next to Balanced Rock seen below...
The plan had been to camp at Arches and Canyonlands National Parks this week and do a lot of hiking and biking, but the 100+ degree temperatures forced a change of plans. Instead, we are in a motel in Moab and got an early start this morning to hike to several of the arches. The plan sort of worked -- the temp was only 84 when we began the 2 hour, 3 mile trek to Delicate Arch (elevation gain of 500+ feet), but it was already 94 degrees during the hike back, and we felt it. The arch was well worth the effort, though, as seen below...
Petroglyphs are also extant in the park, as seen here, with horse, rider, and big horn sheep carved by the indigenous Ute tribe 350 years ago...
We also hiked the half mile to Skyline Arch, which just 68 years ago became a top attraction after an immense section fell out of the arch and more than doubled the opening's size...
Back in 1990, my sons and I hiked up to the arch and sat right under it...
Finally, below are several more shots of the hundreds of miscellaneous arches and spires we saw...
Click here for more Arches NP photos.
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