A Variety of Morning Arches

Thursday September 4, 2014
Portal RV Park near
Arches National Park
Moab, Utah

 

Because of the heat here in Arches National Park in early September our routine has become to be out at sunrise to take advantage of the cool air and the fewer people.  We come back in around noon and then go out after dinner in the evening.  Today was no exception to that plan.

First thing this morning we take the park drive to the end to see Devil’s Garden.   Well not all of it, but some of it.  Due to our shortened stay here and wanting to spend at least one day in Canyonlands, we will not be able to do all of Devil’s Garden.  We will do the arches along the primary trail but sadly time just won’t permit us to do both the primitive trails so there are 5 other arches we will miss.  This is very hard for us since we are used to taking our time, staying for days and weeks in order to investigate the park we are in thoroughly.  But it can’t be helped and thankfully we will be able to see 4 arches this morning.

We stop on the way to see Sand Dune and Broken Arches.  We are out early enough that no one is here.  YEA!!  The trail to Sand dune is only .3 mile round trip but this may well be my favorite arch.  The trail leads through deep sand to this secluded arch set among sandstone fins. 

 

 

 

First thing is to go through the narrow passage way between these fins.  Now this is like moving into another world.

 

 

 

On the other side I am surprised to find this magic tree growing all alone in the sand.  How does it do that? Clearly this is a magic kingdom we have entered.

 

 

 

Well magic except for the self absorbed.   I am saddened to see this sign and then to see that someone(s) have pushed the fence post on the right side away from the formation so they can climb through.  I guess to climb up on top of the arch.  How I wish there were video surveillance cameras here and someone posted nearby to catch these folks and fine them BIG TIME.  Money seems to be the only thing that deters people.  Perhaps if the sign said $5000 fine for vandalism and they’d catch a few people and post their pictures here.   I don’t know.  What is wrong with people?

 

 

 

 

 

The light on the giant rock behind the arch is playing havoc with the cameras.  That formation makes the arch looks small but you can see when I’m standing under it that it is anything but small.

 

 

 

 

 

As we leave through the greenery and the between the rocks, I just love that this arch is hidden away and we had it all to ourselves.  I realize that’s what encourages vandalism though.

 

We leave this magic spot and head out into the wide world on our way to Broken Arch.  Luckily I have read that that it isn’t really a broken arch.  Or at least not yet.  But it does have a crack in it.  Still I’m relieved it hasn’t fallen in.   The trail loop is 2 miles long and crosses a large meadow to the arch.  You can continue on to the campground.  Now that would be sweet to be able to walk to arches from the campground say at sunrise or sunset.  Maybe next time?  hopefully.

 

 

We enjoy the flowers in the meadow and the prickly pear almost in the trail.  There are tall fins with sand dunes and slick rock along the way as well.

 

 

 

 

And then, behind me……………I see something in the sky.  Can’t figure out what it is.  It’s a long way off.  Then I recognize it.  This is definitely a magical morning.   It comes closer. 

 

 

 

 

 

I have to stop watching the balloon and turn around to catch up with David who is nearly out of sight on the trail which is now passing by great sandstone formations.

 

 

 

 

A sign says “Trail continues through arch”.  And so it does. 

 

 

We walk through the arch and look back to the trail we’ve come on.

 

 

On the way back I see this formation.  What does it look like to you?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Skyline Arch is next.  In 1940 on a cold November night a large chunk fell out of the arch instantly doubling the size of its opening.  The arch now has a span of 71 feet and a height of 33 feet.  Look at the size of that piece that fell out.

Here’s what the arch looks like now.

 

We’re going around, through  and up to it so we can get a close look.

 

 

Wow look at the rubble.  It’s antique rubble since it is 74 years old.

 

 

After David crawls around and convinces himself there is no way to get any closer, we head back.  It’s become a beautiful blue sky puffy cloud day ahead.  

 

 

One last look at Skyline Arch.

 

We’ve driven 23 miles to the Devil’s Garden Parking lot where we get to at least take a look at the map which shows the entire trail is 7.2 miles.  There appear to be 7 arches on this trail.  I am really sorry we can only do the first 3 but when your time is limited, you have to make choices. 

We’ll go to the end of what they call the primary trail and see Tunnel Arch, Pine Tree arch and Landscape Arch.  From there the trail becomes “semi primitive” and then “primitive”.  I am so curious to know what those two terms mean.  If you take the “semi primitive” out to Dark Angel and then the primitive trail back to the main trail you can see Private Arch.  “Private”, really, boy it is so hard for me to pass up these really intriguing sounding things.

 

 

 

 

Folks are starting to come out on the trail and I just can’t help but find some of their clothing really interesting.

 

 

 

First we see Pine Tree arch. Named  I assume for the Pinyon Pine trees nearby.

 

 

 

I wondered what the dark circle to the left of the Pine Tree Arch was.   A close up shows it’s a second arch.  Or is it a window?  I’m never quite sure

 

 

We head back down the trail to take the other fork to Tunnel Arch.

 

 

 

 

Here’s the view from the back.  This is where we have come from to get to walk through the arch.

 

 

 

I’m amazed at how thin it is at the “foot” from this angle.

 

 

 

 

We continue on to Landscape Arch.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We hear the sound of some big machinery and wonder what’s going on.  As we come up the trail we see they are working on it.  I don’t know how they get anything done having to stop constantly for people to walk by.

 

 

 

At first I don’t see the arch off to the right and am just taking a picture of the trail.

 

 

 

When I get a good look, it looks almost fragile.  I thought that even before I read the sign.

 

 

 

 

Because of this, they closed the trail under the arch and it remains closed.  Luckily today I didn’t see anyone here ignoring the sign as they obviously did at Sand Dune Arch.

 

 

It is really such a beautiful fragile looking arch I feel it should be called delicate.

 

 

 

 

Just look how thin the right side of this landscape arch is.

 

 

 

 

 

We want lots of pictures of it.  We may never get back here and if we do, will it still be in tact?

 

 

 

More folks on the trail.  The shirtless guy in the blazing Utah sun.  I didn’t think you’d want to see him from the front.  And how about the fashionista with white shoes and a gold lame purse??  If you have to have a lot of people on the trail with you, you might as well enjoy the people watching.

 

 

 

 

It’s  nearly a mile back down the trail from the Landscape arch.   People are coming in a steady stream now.  But it’s still a beautiful hike.

 

 

 

 

Obviously time to take a break until early evening.  Look at the cars in the parking lot now.  Every spot is taken and people are circling.