A Second Visit to the Wonders of Arches NP
April 2021
A Different Feeling in Moab
When we arrived at Arches National Park, it was again at full capacity, and we were advised to try back a few hours later. We went to Moab to wander around and have lunch. We had a different feeling about Moab this time. There was a lot of heavy traffic through downtown, making the little town feel much more crowded than when we were here a few years ago. We chose the same restaurant we had eaten at previously. I didn’t buy any gifts; I saw something I liked, but opted out after seeing the “Made in China” sticker. Not quite the authentic souvenir I was looking for.
Exploring the Arches and Windows
- April 22, 2021
- 2.32 mi
- 0:55:33 hrs
- 65 °F
Two hours later than we had hoped for, we finally entered the park. We walked two trails we hadn’t done during our previous visit in August 2018, starting with the Double Arch and Windows Trail. These arches are massive and spectacular up close. We stood directly under the enormous spans of the Double Arch, which felt like a giant stone cathedral. Interestingly, it’s one of the few arches in the park formed by water erosion, which slowly carved out a cave, creating that high-ceilinged feel. Near the Windows section, we saw the North and South Windows. When you line these two up correctly, they look like a giant pair of eyeglasses, earning them the nickname ‘The Spectacles.'”
Exploring the Dunes and Cracks
- April 22, 2021
- 2.78 mi
- 1:03:36 hrs
- 66 °F
For our second hike, we started with the Sand Dune Arch Trail and continued to the Broken Arch Trail Loop. The path to Sand Dune Arch was an easy walk through deep coral pink sand between two sandstone fins.
From there, we continued along Broken Arch Trail, which crosses open grasslands. The arch was visible in the distance, and we realized the name is a bit misleading. The arch isn’t actually broken, but the deep crack through the top certainly gives that impression. We decided not to complete the full loop after noticing the trail markers were hard to spot, and the sun was already setting. The desert is beautiful, but it is no place to be lost after dark, so we played it safe and returned the way we came.
A Reason to Return?
As we drove away from the parking lot, we realized that Arches National Park had mesmerized us this second time. We had already found our excuse to revisit this spectacular park. We still want to finish that last hike. Until next time, Arches!