Here it is. Perhaps the best and easiest to follow Arches National Park guide for families. But first, a little history on the park.
Arches was established early on as just a national monument on April 12, 1929. Richard Nixon designated Arches as a national park in 1971. The true gem of this park is the over 2,000 natural sandstone arches, spires, and pinnacles found throughout the 119 square miles of the park boundary. One arch within the park has become symbolic of the state of Utah- Delicate Arch. You can see this standalone arch on the state license plate and postage stamps. The Olympic Torch passed under the arch to commemorate the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.
Natural Features
Park territory sits on top of a salt bed. Ocean water and flooding pushed the earth up, creating the arches, fins, and other features within the park. Erosion, flooding and geological changes created the Moab Fault, a well studied zone. Wildlife and plant life are abundant throughout the park. Pinyon pine, Utah juniper and cactus can be found dotting the landscape. Birds of prey, including eagles and falcons soar above while jackrabbits and lizards can be seen along the trails.
Situated a few miles north of the town of Moab, the continuously growing number of visitors to the park has caused the park to pilot a timed entry system into the park from early April until the beginning of October. Reservations can be made up to 3 months in advance at recreation.gov. Even still, congested park roads and parking lots may mean temporary entrance closures from anywhere to 3-5 hours. Sitting for 30-45 minutes to enter the park is also common with only one road in and out. In fact, yearly visitor totals have reached over 1.5 million visitors per year nps.gov states.
Being located in a high desert, temperatures can reach into the upper 90s and 100s during the summer months. Visiting the park in the spring and fall are the most ideal times to prevent heat-related illnesses including dehydration and heat stroke. While yearly snow accumulations don’t total much, the contrast of snow on the red sandstone is a remarkable site. Our personal favorite time to explore the park is in the spring in late March (watch out for the dates of Jeep week) when temperatures are mild and crowds aren’t too large.
Native American Connection
Playing an important role in religious practices, Native Americans felt that the spires and arches were portals into space. They felt that the La Sal Mountains surrounding the park were places where sacred beings and spirits dwell. Viewing the arches and other geological features was an important part of ceremonies. Minerals and plants found in the park were used for medicinal purposes.
On the northern edge of the territory once inhabited by the Ancestral Puebloans, it is felt that they may have been more seasonal visitors to the park because very few sites have been found in the park. They hunted, farmed, and gathered on the land as found by evidence found within the park, according to nps.gov.
As the Puebloans began to move south to Arizona and New Mexico, nomadic tribes began to enter the park area including the Ute and Paiute. As wandering tribes, these Native Americans did not stay in the area for long before moving on. The Navajo most likely traveled in and around the park looking for trade, gathering food, and hunting- never settling in the area.
The Utes were said to drive the first white settlers out of the park area in the 1850’s. A petroglyph panel created by the Ute can be viewed as a short out and back on the Delicate Arch trail. Adding about 10 minutes to the hike, big horn sheep, animals that look dog like and a horse and rider are all features in the art. It is believed to be carved sometime between CE 1650 and 1850.
Now let’s get into the thick of this Arches National Park guide for families.
10 Don’t Miss Sights in Arches
Visit the arch known round the world.
Delicate Arch is one of the main features in the park. While you can see it from a view far away viewpoints, hiking to the arch is recommended. The hike is a total of 3 miles roundtrip with less than 500 feet of climbing. Beyond seeing the magnificent standalone arch, the trail passes the Wolfe Ranch cabin and a wall of petroglyphs. We recommend getting up early to hike to the arch, or waiting till the evening, to avoid crowds. Sunrises and sunsets bring magnificent color to the skies around the arch.
Sand play isn’t only for beaches.
One of the prettiest sandboxes can be found around Sand Dune Arch within the park. This short 0.4 round trip hike is flat and takes less than 15 minutes to hike for the average hiker. It is unique in that this arch is tucked away and hidden within the sandstone walls. It is also great to find some shade in the summer months. Take off the shoes and enjoy the cooler sand on the toes. Kids will love to spend time exploring and digging. You can continue the hike to Broken Arch and back for 1.7 miles round trip. My daughter loved the slot-like squeeze through the walls, playing in the sand, and running up and down the dune surrounding the arch.
Take the scenic route.
The Arches Scenic Drive is 22 miles long, running from Highway 191 to Devil’s Garden at the end of the park. Driving the road may take anywhere from 3- 5 hours, depending on the park congestion and how long you stop at each pullout and/or trailhead. Balanced Rock is one of the most popular stops in the park with a short trail that is stroller and wheelchair accessible to this marvel. Two side roads take you a Delicate Arch view point and The Windows section.
The Windows section give visitors the most bang for the buck in terms of viewing arches. From experience, take the easy hiker friendly one mile trail to get close to the Window, Double Arch, Turret Arch and the Parade of Elephants. While we recommend the hike to Delicate Arch for an upclose view (as mentioned above), you can get a far away viewpoint of the arch from the Lower Delicate Arch Viewpoint and/or the Upper Delicate Arch Viewpoint. The Park Avenue Viewpoint is reminiscent of building in a city represented by red rocks. Other points to consider visiting are the Fiery Furnace, Courthouse Towers, Wolfe Ranch and the Ute Petroglyph. An audio version of the nps.gov park brochure can enhance the drive.
“Darling I love you, but give me Park Avenue.”
The Park Avenue Viewpoint is a highlight to not miss in the park. Yes, the area doesn’t feature the main draw to the park- the arches. But, the towering red sandstone walls remind visitors of the busy streets of New York, Chicago and other major cities. You can also catch a glimpse of the La Sal Mountains. Hike the paved and flat trail to the viewpoint, with stroller in tow. I recommend continuing the hike past the viewpoint as it takes you down into the canyon for a mile to the Courthouse Towers.
See the Devil’s Garden
At the far end of the park, you will find the Devil’s Garden Trailhead and Devil’s Garden Campground. The full Devil’s Garden Trail is 7.9 miles and is primitive past the Double O Arch. Whether you hike the whole trail or just part, you will not be disappointed as you will pass by several arches.
Just shy of a mile down the flat trail is Landscape Arch. The largest arch in the world, the light opening for the arch is 306 feet. Past Landscape Arch, there are fins to cross, rocks to scramble and butt scooting to stay safe. Past Double O Arch (2 miles one way), the trail gets even more extreme. Be sure to take a look for the Dark Angel across the canyon if you do not complete the whole loop. There is no shade on this hike, so be sure to fill up bottles or bladder before heading out. We really enjoyed the adventure side of this trail from hiking across the fins to climbing through the lower O of the Double O Arch.
Live the photographers dream.
The arches, monoliths, and towering walls in the park are some of the most photographed in the world, especially Delicate Arch. The red sandstone, hoodoos, and colorful sunrises and sunsets offer perfect landscapes for great pictures. While Arches is not considered an International Dark Sky Park, light painting and night photography are popular among shutterbugs. The trick to getting the best photos is to know when to shoot what you want to shoot. Photography Delicate Arch at sunrise, sunset and late afternoon for best results. Shoot Landscape, Double and Double O Arch in the morning. The fins in the Devil’s Garden, Park Avenue and Balanced Rock are better in the evening. Several photos from the park sit in frames around our house.
Explore the Furnace.
To hike the Fiery Furnace, you must purchase a permit in advance for this self-guided exploration hike. There is a recommended route, but visitors also may blaze their own path across fins, up and over rocks, through tight passages and more.The hike is open only to hikers age 5 and above because of the terrain and navigation. Permits sell out fast for this popular hike, and it is only offered spring-fall. Permits are released 7 days before through recreation.gov. Check the calendar as ranger-guided hikes through the Furnace are also available.
Attend a ranger program.
Patio talks, Art in the Park and volunteer opportunities are all available through free ranger programs within the park. You can enjoy Guided walks, evening programs and more during a visit to the park. Don’t forget to grab a booklet for the free Jr. Ranger program in the park. Rangers have books, and they can swear Jr. Rangers in and give them a badge when they complete their booklet. Check the calendar for the most update special events including star talks and more.
Spend some time at the Arches National Park Visitor Center.
Located at the entrance of the park, the Arches National Park Visitor Center is open everyday but Christmas. Hours vary, so look on the park the website for the most recent hours. Check on trail conditions, get some insider info on what to see in the park and maybe look into one of the ranger programs too. Grab a Jr. Ranger booklet, browse the bookstore and gift shop and fill water bottles. Pay attention to fascinating exhibits to learn how the arches, fins and other unique geological features formed. Art work from local artists is also on display. Explore Native American connections to the area.
Tour the park from a 4×4.
Where standard vehicles can’t go in the park, an all-terrain vehicle can. Several tour companies based in Moab offer tours of the park off the beaten path from four wheels. NAVTEC Expeditions combines 4X4 travel and hiking together in the park. Book a half day tours to take you to some of the more isolated parts, or take a full-day tour for up close views of the tremendous landscape. You can even visit two parks in one day- Arches and Canyonlands in one tour.
Leave No Trace
Before we wrap up this Arches National Park guide for families, remember to leave the park as you found it. The concept of Leave No Trace is vital to follow anytime you visit the wilderness. Following these tips gives you a good start to being a responsible visitor to our great national parks and monuments. These steps will help parks remain open to future generations.
- Plan Ahead & Prepare
- Travel & Camp on Durable Surfaces
- Dispose of Waste Properly
- Leave What You Find
- Minimize Campfire Impacts
- Respect Wildlife
- Be Considerate of Other Visitors
Arches National Park is a must-see for any national park enthusiast. The geological features from the sandstone arches to hoodoos mesmerize the naked eye. Marvel at the natural wonders this park contains as it continues to change and evolve from erosion and other environmental causes. Just as Frank A. Wadleigh, passenger traffic manager of the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad felt when he first saw the arches in 1923, visitors to the park continue to be in awe of what they see. Whether it is your first visit to the park or your tenth, you are in for a memorable experience.
More National Park Guides
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Source link: https://wilderdad.com/arches-national-park-guide-for-families/ by Courtney Johnson at wilderdad.com