Pullin' Chocks

Arches National Park

We finally got into Arches! We passed through Moab in mid-September last year, as we were heading south preparing to avoid the cold northern winter temperatures. The cars were backed up at the only entrance to Arches National Park and all of the RV Parks in Moab were solid full. So that time we rode right through and ended up staying 100 miles south of Moab and left Arches NP for the "next time". Well, this is next time! We were able to get only 4 days at the OK PV Park, and we drove into Arches 2 or 3 times often arriving at noon or later. That worked out great as there was no wait at the entrance after the 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM rush. The way Arches is set up, you just drive the only road in and there are pull offs and a few short off ramp roads that lead to overlooks and hiking trail-heads. Even though there are a lot of cars and people entering Arches everyday, the spread out layout of the park pretty well eliminates any over crowding.

A preview into Arches National Park and two arches in formation that Gari spied.

This is a cool little pictograph (painted) panel just outside Arches NP. These figures are very tall and thin compared to other petroglyphs and pictographs we have seen.

A little closer...

We climbed up a couple hundred feet to see this panel.

You can see the highway crossing the Colorado River and going into Moab below.

We stopped at the Visitors Center to just see. And what do you know, we spot PAY PHONES!!!

The better half...

Driving into the park and driving past some majestic rocks.

I called the three towers at the left, The Three Sisters, the official name is The Gossips.

We stopped here and just took a few pictures. No hiking on this stop.

This is the petrified sand dunes below; the snow capped mountains in the back provide a dramatic backdrop.

Gari stands before Balanced Rock in Arches National Park, as she balances on her own rock! The little rock nub at frame right was a smaller balanced rock named Chip-Off-the-Old-Block, but sadly it fell in the winter of 1975.

Another side of Balanced Rock.

North Window Arch from a distance.

Here is it's partner, South Window Arch.

I think this is where Gari was telling Steve to get down from there...

A collection of petroglyphs...

A closer look; hunting or herding goats on horseback? It looks like they may be using dogs as well...

This symbol was left way up high on the rock.

You can see the layers in the rock at Arches. The older rock is on top, and the younger wetter rock pushed up from the bottom. You can see how the younger rock moves and heaves. This action helps to form the arches by causing stresses to build up in the older harder sandstone above it.

The rocks are also formed in layers so when a section cracks out it is a hole through the narrow rock and another arch has begun.

More examples of layered rock rows.

We drove all the way to the end of Arches road and parked at the Devil's Garden trail-head. From here we plan to walk the couple miles to the Landscape Arch.