Paul in the Parks

March 14, 2020 —

As the COVID-19 pandemic began to ravage the United States in March of 2020, six Purdue seniors – desperate to enjoy their final spring break despite the world erupting into chaos around them – drove over 20 hours to reach Moab, Utah, the home of Arches National Park. Joshua Tree, our ultimate destination, had to wait another day. Until then, it was time to enjoy some spectacular views, otherworldly rock formations, and fascinating hikes.

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Arches: An Alien Landscape

Our group woke up in our Airbnb in Moab early in the morning of March 14th. After a quick breakfast, we drove the short drive to the entrance of Arches. After stopping for pictures with the entrance sign, we proceeded along the park’s main road. There, the six weary travelers were suddenly awestruck by the bizarre terrain around them. Massive red-orange rock fins protruded from the ground around us. Rolling hills of various colors stretched out in the distance towards the Le Sal Mountains. The road curved and winded through some truly bizarre rock features.

Aaron, Alex, Paul, Shane, Will, and Jack pose with the Arches National Park sign — Our group cheesing on the Arches NP entrance sign, ready to see the park for the first time. From left to right: Aaron, Alex, me, Shane, Will, & Jack

Park Avenue is viewed from the road in Arches National Park — A panorama of the view from the park’s main road, near Park Avenue

Once completing our riveting drive through the first half of the park, we pulled up to our first stop: Balanced Rock. As the name implies, Balanced Rock is a rock spire that – due to wind and rain erosion – is shaped to look like a massive rock balanced on a tiny pedestal. While this formation is due to topple eventually (its smaller sibling did, in fact, fall over in the 1970’s), it stands today as a popular spot for park visitors to swing by and snap photos.

Paul, Alex, Shane, Aaron, Will, and Jack pose in front of Balanced Rock in Arches National Park — The six of us guys posing in front of Balanced Rock

Delicate Arch

Once we finished admiring Balanced Rock, we began our drive to the park’s centerpiece: Delicate Arch. The famous rock formation can be found in just about every piece of advertising material for the park. Delicate Arch is featured on Utah’s license plate, postage stamps, postcards, souvenirs, t-shirts, and just about anything with the word “Utah” on it. When we arrived at the trailhead, we quickly learned that we had made a smart decision to start the hike when we did, at ~8:30 AM. Cars were showing up quickly, and hikers were getting geared up to venture to Delicate Arch. So, the six of us moved quickly to reach the end of 1.5-mile approach before the crowds arrived.

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Seeing Delicate Arch for the first time is a surreal experience like few others. While we approached the trail’s end, Aaron, Jack & I noticed a small opening in the rock face to our right. We clambered up some rocks and peered out the window, catching our first glimpse of Delicate Arch. Immediately, my adrenaline spiked, and I jumped back to the trail and started running to the end. After a few hundred yards, my friends and I found Delicate Arch in all her colorful glory. The best part? Because we had arrived so early, there was no one to photobomb our photos of the arch.

Jack, Aaron, Paul, Shane, Will, and Alex hold a Purdue flag in front of Delicate Arch in Arches National Park — Will, Jack, Aaron, me, Shane & Alex posing in front of Delicate Arch. It’s uncommon to find the Arch free of tourists, highlighting the need to visit the landmark as early as possible

During our return from Delicate Arch, we stopped by a wall of petroglyphs, stopped by an historic hunting cabin, passed by dozens upon dozens of eager tourists. I also spilled peanuts all over my face… whoops.

Devils Garden

Once we returned to the car, we began the drive to our next destination: Devils Garden. The name gives a good idea of what to expect in this area. In Devils Garden, visitors can find dozens of arches scattered around rock fins, spires, cliffs, and a surprising amount of flora. It looks as if the Devil himself had crafted this red-orange landscape with his bare hands. The Garden has numerous hiking trails weaving through its landscape, allowing visitors to pick and choose from a variety of adventures.

We chose to venture all the way to Dark Angel, a rock spire sitting at the far end of the Garden. The trail to Dark Angel passes features such as Landscape Arch, Double O Arch, and Partition Arch: all worth hiking to on their own. While Delicate Arch is the park’s most iconic arch, we all agreed that Landscape Arch (pictured in the gallery below) was our favorite. Landscape Arch’s size, placement, and clearly defined formative features captured our gaze.

Devils Garden is viewed from a trail in Arches National Park — A view of the sandstone fins that dot the Garden’s landscape

Shane, Aaron, and Alex walk through Devils Garden in Arches National Park — Devils Garden

Will, Paul, Aaron, Alex, Shane, and Jack stand in front of Landscape Arch in Arches National Park — Devils Garden

Double Arch & the Windows

After a couple of hours in Devils Garden, we returned to the car and began heading to the Windows Section. This area – like Delicate Arch and Devils Garden – sees heavy amounts of tourists during the park’s peak hours. From the Windows Section, visitors can access several of the park’s other iconic arches, including the Windows, Double Arch, and Turret Arch. This characteristic makes it a high-demand spot, which was reflected in the lack of available parking spaces. We arrived at 1:30 PM and spent 20 minutes circling the lot in search of a parking space. Once we did find a space, we quickly discovered for ourselves why so many people were eager to hike in the area.

Hikes in the Windows Section are noticeably flatter and shorter than those to Delicate Arch or Devils Garden. This was a welcome surprise thanks to our group’s tired legs. We walked over to Double Arch first, and the excursion was a DELIGHT despite the plentiful amount of tourists. We were able to clamber on the rock under and around Double Arch, frequently looking up at the massive sandstone formation.

Will and Aaron appear multiple times in a panorama in front of Double Arch in Arches National Park — This panorama – featuring three Aarons and two Wills with Double Arch in the background – remains one of my favorite pictures on my phone

After getting our fill of Double Arch, we continued to the Windows. Through the Windows, visitors can catch distant views of the La Sal Mountains framed by the sandstone. Those with binoculars can even spot Delicate Arch in the distance. From the Windows, visitors can also approach Turret Arch, which Jack & I nicknamed the “Okay Arch” due to its uncanny resemblance to the “okay” hand gesture.

The North and South Windows sit below a blue sky in Arches National Park — The North (left) and South (right) Windows

Two hands form "OK" signs in front of Turret Arch in Arches National Park — The North (left) and South (right) Windows

After our stop by the Windows, we ventured to the visitor center and bought some souvenirs. Once we left Arches, we rounded out the day with a bit of climbing at “Wall Street,” a sport climbing spot only a few minutes down the road from the entrance of the park. I fondly remember the day as one of the best of my life, in spite of the approaching pandemic that attempted to put a cloud over our sunshine.

In Conclusion…

The park features over 2,000 of the sandstone arches that it is named for, which are defined as any opening in the rock 3 feet in diameter or larger. While we saw a lot of them, there are obviously plenty more – huge and tiny – for visitors to find. During our single day in Arches National Park, we made four “major” stops, all described above. For me, I felt we did the park justice and saw all of the notable sights. But, that doesn’t mean I don’t have an urge to return. There are plenty of tucked-away hiking spots, backpacking trails, arches, and wildlife to be discovered in the park’s backcountry by someone spending more time in the park.

Arches ranks among my favorite national parks. While it doesn’t have the “replay value” of some of its larger and more impressive cousins, the park offers plenty to do to keep visitors busy for 1-3 days. The scenery is breathtaking, and its fascinating geological history is unparalleled. Check out the “Arches” page on the Paul in the Parks website to learn more about recommendations and tips from my visit to the park.

— Paul

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