Arches? We need ALL of the stinking Arches!

Sand Dune Arch.

So the title of the post? Yeah…a total corrupted paraphrase from Blazing Saddles, but it speaks volumes about the park and the surrounding area.  Taking the southern turn off of 1-70 you kind of wonder if you’re heading in the right direction.  Snow-capped mountains in the distance and no obvious arches in sight.   Don’t worry…it’s worth every second of this little trek. Come explore all the Arches in Arches National Park in Utah during our family road trip!

After a short drive, we pulled into the town of Moab, Utah which knows exactly where it sits geographically in relation to two of the national parks.  The town has tremendous charm without being overrun by t-shirt and souvenir shops.  There are plenty of local eateries and all in close proximity to the downtown.   The Moab Information Center on Center Street turned out to be a great resource for all things in the area, in and outside the parks.  Well worth the time to visit and speak to the local volunteers.  They know their stuff!

Double Arch.

Our first trip to Arches National Park was completed in the morning time. 

Every travel blog and post recommend getting there early, and I can see why.   There is a bit of a wait getting through the main entrance – remember to have your pass ready to go.  Once through, you can stop at the visitor center and speak to the rangers for suggestions regarding hikes, what to see, etc.  In fact, I would even recommend going towards the end of your arrival day to Moab.  The crowds thin out, and you can get your vital information and start your first full day running.  These folks are hiking the trails every day and will get you where you need to be.

We decided to take the scenic drive on our first day.  Yes, I know, it sounds like cheating, but Arches is constructed in such a way you can maximize your enjoyment by going from one end to the other.   As a result, we were able to work in a few shorter hikes from the various parking areas strategically placed along the drive.  It was a great introduction to the park.

Arches National Park scenic drive highlights included Balanced Rock, Double Arch and Sand Dune Arch.  Each completely different and equally fascinating.  

Balanced Rock is a gravitational wonder.  When you take the quick walk around, you wonder how in the world this thing is still standing.   Over a hundred feet tall, here’s hoping you wonder as well!

Double Arch is located in the Windows section of the park.  There is a short hike on an accessible trail/path to the base.  What you get is nothing short of stunning.  Like the name suggests, you get a double view of blue!

Ansel Adams Style!

Sand Dune Arch.

This arch is a little less known.  It’s tucked in between a couple rock faces.  The path will remind you of loose sand at the beach and the shade will be a blessing if you are there in the middle of the day.  A great arch to visit up close and personal.

If you have multiple days, I would recommend doing the driving tour on the first day.  It gives you a sense of scale and helps you plan out the rest of your visit.  There are a ton of options. 

Now, with all of that said, on our second day I booked us an off-road tour with a private guide through a local outfitter called Adrift Adventures.  Yes, this is worth promoting!  I thought about driving myself on the back roads, but let’s face it…I didn’t want to drive the family off a cliff gawking at the scenery.  It turned out to be the best investment of our entire vacation.  We were treated to an entire day off the paved roads in Arches and Canyonlands, experiencing areas hidden in plain view.  Tower Arch and the Marching Men within the Klondike Bluffs as well as the Eye of the Whale Arch in Herdina Park were some of our highlights.   Every facet of the drive was spectacular, and our guide, Mark, was outstanding and had a legitimate care for the land he was showing.  

Adrift Adventures.

Let me reiterate, this experience was an investment in time and money, but quite frankly, probably the best way to see a majority of the park.  The return on investment are the memories and experience we will always have.  I recommend you do a little research and find the tour right for you!

More love to Ansel Adams.

What is your favorite part of Arches NP?  When are you going?  Can the Hashtag59 community tag along?

Unfortunately, our time in Arches was short.  Even working with a larger block of time, we found ourselves yearning for more.   Visiting five parks in one trip takes some serious logistics, but we got a great introduction to Arches even if we didn’t get a chance to get some serious hiking under our belt.  Just an excuse to go back in the future!

Comment below!

Jason M