Arches National Park

May 19, 2013
Another 4 hour drive from Capitol Reefs NP to Moab, Utah provided some of the most inhospitable lands we saw during the trip.  Passing only one small town we were amazed at how differently the landscape appeared with very little vegetation and miles of nothingness.  

The road to from Torrey, UT to Moab UT.

Passing Arches and Canyonlands we crossed the Colorado River for the first time and entered Moab.  Locating the Red Stone Inn we settled in.  We weren't very adventuresome in our restaurant choices, but we found a good one, the Moab Brewery. It was across the street from the motel so we ate there the three nights in Moab.

The Colorado River was not so impressive as we crossed it before entering Moab, Utah.

May 20, 2013
Arches National Park
Arches NP is a unique park with over 2500 natural arches, windows and bridges.  Arches was fairly crowded with visitors, but we still were able to enjoy our hikes.  Stopping at the visitor center to watch a movie we decided on hikes to take.  

A view of the Colorado Rockies from Arches NP

A high road rises above the Visitor's Center and winds through a high plateau.  All along the drive are interesting formations including Balanced Rock.

Arches National Park: Balanced Rock

The  hike to Delicate Arch was our first.  This arch is the symbol for Arches NP and the unofficial symbol of Moab.  The 3 mi. round trip hike started with a steep climb that went over slick rock and finally around a natural ledge on the side of a stone mountain to reveal one of the most recognizable arches in the west.  

Onward and upward across slick rock

Following the cairns as we climbed

Through the arch the Colorado Rockies were visible.

Delicate Arch with the Rockies behind

Size perspective:  Delicate Arch with visitors on left side.

A hole through the mountain is known as a Window

Along the way to and from Delicate Arch

Danny and Cherrie in front of the little arch

Common Ravens were everpresent but illuded the camera time and time again.

Returning from Delicate Arch we took a short walk to the petroglyphs.  These rock panels are attributed to the Ute Native Americans and represent dogs, elk, deer, bighorn sheep, natives on horseback and other symbols.

Carved between 1,650-1,800 AD by Utes

An abandoned pioneer cabin at Wolfe Ranch sat in the flatland at the beginning of the trailhead to Delicate Arch.

At Devil's Garden we took a 1.6mi. round trip hike to Landscape Arch.  It is the second longest of all arches in the west with a distance longer than a football field.  A large portion of the underside of this arch collapsed a number of years ago leaving part of this endangered arch only 10 ft. thick at its thinnest part.

Landscape Arch

Danny on path at Landscape Arch.  This was the closest we could get.

Beyond Landscape arch the trail continued to many more arches and windows.

The trail continued through Devil's Garden

Fins:  tall thin formations that are very deep.
From the side they are extremely wide.

The Uintah Chipmunk fooled someone into thinking it was a bird with its calls.
 Everytime it chipped its tail went up.

This large butte revealed something interesting as we put up binoculars and scopes.

Arches National Park: a butte worth climbing

Near the top half of the butte is a window where two rock climbers could be seen.  Looking back to the photo of the entire butte you can see a tiny white dot at the top right side that is the window.

Two rock climbers with hooks, ladders and chains.  We watched through the scope.

On a ledge far beneath the upper hikers sit two more.  Looking again at the photo of the entire butte you can see a horizontal line/ledge where the butte begins to widen toward the bottom.  That is where the rock climbers were sitting.

Two climbers sit on a horizontal ledge

A final view as we leave Arches National Park.  Canyonlands is yet to come.

Another awesome landscape view

Bird Notes:
Cherrie's Bird List:  eBird List for Arches NP
Having seen Ash-throated Flycatchers throughout the trip it was a stroke of good luck to find 4 in the low bushes as we finished our hike to Delicate Arch.

Ash-throated Flycatcher

Ash-throated Flycatcher

Spotted Towhee
They look so much like our Eastern Towhees and sound so similar.  The spotted back gives it its name.

Accommodation Notes:  The Redstone Inn was one of my least favorites although it did have free Wi-fi, a large bath and large kitchenette. The bedroom was very small.  It was very old, dated and dark.  There was no dirt, only pavement.  Moab has lots of motels to select from so we just made a poor choice.  Moab is a large touristy town.  There many rafting, and off-road vehicle businesses.  There are many shops for souvenirs.