Arches National Park

5-6 October 1984

Our short visit to Arches National Park introduced to us to one of our favorite places in the park service system.  We hiked to several of the feature arches, including Delicate Arch, one of the most recognized landmarks of not just this national park, but of Utah as well.

263 miles (420 km) each way — not bad for a weekend getaway.
[click map for a larger version]

Here’s some information I had posted in my album (source unidentified):

Most of the changes in our world are very tiny and so escape our notice.  They are real, however, and over an immense span of time their combined effect brings about great change.

Erosion has carved the landscape that is seen at Arches today, but there must also be something else at work since elsewhere we do not see the arches, towers, and other features one finds here.  This “very important” factor is a rock, not seen because it lies far beneath the crust of earth we stand upon, and yet, it is familiar to us: SALT.

Long before any of what is seen today came into existence, the region was a huge depression flooded by an inland sea.  Streams flowing into this basin carried salt, which, when the sea evaporated, was left behind.  In time, the sea withdrew, and other sediments were deposited.  These sediments eventually were consolidated into rock.

Mui and his three penguin buddies.

When subjected to great pressure, salt will flow.  If the weight pressing down on the salt layer is not evenly distributed, the salt may bulge upward where the weight is lighter.  This, in turn, causes the overlying layers of rock to bend and fracture, forming almost parallel joints.  The jointed rocks are more vulnerable to the forces of erosion, and in time, become a series of tall, thin slabs called “fins.”  As erosion continues, it works faster on the softer portion of the fins, creating holes in them.  Eventually, as more and more of the rock is worn away, the span becomes so thin that it cannot support its own weight and collapses.

Scenes from the South Park Trailhead.
(above and below)

L to R: Three Gossips, Sheep Rock, and Courthouse Towers.

Sheep Rock

Three Gossips and Sheep Rock

Balanced Rock … but I think “ET” is a better fit.

The pedestal of Balanced Rock is 128 feet (39 m) tall; the boulder adds
another 55 feet (17 m) to the total height of the formation.

The Spectacles is composed of the south and north windows.

the South Window of spectacles.

Double-O Arch
(above and below) 

Double Arch is a combination of a perforated fin and pothole arch formation.

Turret Arch

On the trail to Delicate Arch.

Delicate Arch sits in its own amphitheater.

Delicate Arch is a 52 feet (16 m) tall freestanding natural arch.

The trail to Sand Dune Arch runs through a fin canyon.

Despite its name, Broken Arch is not broken.

I think this one should be called Elephant Rock.

Can you find Landscape Arch?

With a span of 291 feet (89 m), Landscape Arch is the 2nd longest
natural arch in the world.

In 1991, three large chunks fell off the narrowest portion of the arch.

Fin Canyon

Arches National Park is one that we will definitely return to someday.