Both Tim and I have dreamed of going to Arches National Park in Utah. We are the closest we will be this year, so we started out early for a day trip back into Utah.
The rain stayed in front of us most of the way and the sunrise was magnificent
Driving along Scenic BiWay #128 is not to be missed. It follows the Colorado River to Moab. The highway hugs the river and it feels like your driving the Grand Canyon. Although it's not nearly as deep, it is colorful, peaceful, and just as beautiful.
This is the Dewey Bridge. It was the longest wooden suspension bridge in Utah and was tragically burned in 2008 by a young boy playing with matches sparking a wildfire that consumed the bridge
Along the river are ranches and wineries and river rafters
We're here! Just north of Moab you enter Arches National Park and climb in elevation.
We chose to hike to Delicate Arch. It is a short but challenging hike. You see this rock dotted with people and wonder how in the heck if all these people will make it.
When you get to the top of this rock and look back you realize you're quite a distance from the parking lot. Luckily for us it was an overcast day. At a high elevation, the heat is really tricky regardless if it's shady. Advise to all: Bring twice as much water as you think you need. The rule of thumb is: If your water is half gone; your hike is half done.
After the big rock, you've still got a ways to go - but the people coming down say it's close. Just a little farther and then around that ledge beyond the next big rock.
I'm not excited to get too close to that ledge. Looking at this picture it doesn't look like a big deal, but I really don't care for heights.
Lichen growing on the rock. It looks like paint splatter
And we made it! I'm posing on the ledge in front of the arch. But that's not good enough for me - I want to stand under it. So we shimmy over to it.
Here we are under the Arch. I had no idea it was so big! Thank you to the nice couple who were taking pictures for people with their cameras. Everyone cooperated by moving out of the way and taking turns to have their picture taken.
The trip down was much quicker. At the bottom are Petroglyphs.
Wolfe Ranch was still standing in it's original place.
I think this was called Double Arch.
Park Avenue Arches
We did a drive through of most of the park but didn't do any more hikes today. You can camp near Devils Garden. We'll be back again and again.
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