Arches National Park – Crowds, Fear, and Sandstorms

Arches has 1.5 MM visits in a year. That’s less than Bryce (2.6 MM) and much less than Zion (4.5 MM) but they don’t seem to handle the crowds as well.  I’m sure there are restrictions due to the space and maybe they want to space out cars for the climb after check-in, but our visit started with a 30 minute wait to get through the two check-in stations. How about adding at least one more? The picture is taken as you drive up a canyon wall on the switchbacks. You can see the long line of cars on the lower right.

Zion had a shuttle to reduce traffic. The traffic wasn’t bad in Arches but the parking was difficult even though the park almost doubled the size of parking lots over the last few years. Sometimes the only place to park was VERY near a ditch along the road. The parking lots could be quite full for the popular spots like Balanced Rock.

The trail to the Delicate Arch isn’t too bad as long as you bring water and rest a few times.

It has great views.

Not getting into the details, the arches are formed due to a combination of salt domes and sandstone. There are places you can see the salt on the surface. 

I’ve mentioned that I have a fear of heights. I’ve now realized that my fear of heights is greater than my fear of looking stupid. The last part of the trail had me on a long ledge winding around a large rock. I hugged that wall face the entire time both up and down the trail. Every time I met someone coming the other way, I told them they had to go on the outside because the wall was mine. No one had an issue with that so it must not have been that bad.

But, I did make it to the top to see the arch! It was a windy day and very windy at the top. John had to remove his hat so it wouldn’t blow away. We heard that the next day was so windy people had to crawl over the rocks right at the top. I don’t know how often it is this windy but it made it more challenging. If you zoom in you can see the lady’s hair in the wind.

Another stop had a wind tunnel or it felt that way. The wind blew through the two rocks and at times picked up sand to sandblast us. There are quite a few arches to visit at Arches. 

They have documented over 2,000 arches here of over 3’ width or height! Smaller ones include Sand Dune Arch (and the path to it).

Tunnel Arch is up above.

Pine Tree Arch

And a whole section with Elephant Butte, Double Arch, Parade of Elephants, Turret Arch, North & South Windows.

Arches has several named rock formations. For some reason I liked the Three Gossips.

Another great view in the park with Salt Valley.