We spent two full days exploring Arches. This park had an eighteen mile scenic drive through the center with pull offs for photos and hikes. The arches were incredible! We learned that the arches are made through a very specific process. What was once a salt bed 300 million years ago, was subsequently covered by layer after layer of sediment, depending on whether there was a desert, stream or ocean present through the years. Over time, water seeped into the cracks in the layers and froze which expanded the surrounding rock, breaking off into bits and pieces. As wind and water took their tole on the remaining pieces, material gave way and large pieces of rock fell away creating the arches. There are over 2000 arches in this national park alone. We did several hikes in Arches that were all breathtaking.
I liked this sheep formation.
Balanced Rock
Harper loved collecting stones at Balanced Rock.
Harper led the way to Double Arch.
The photos don't do this justice. Double Arch was a set of arches on a steep, steep incline and was absolutely beautiful.
Climbing the arch!
Harper really got into rock climbing. We played on this arch for at least thirty minutes.
It was very, very steep!
Alex climbed all the way to the arch.
Alex took Harper on a rock climbing expedition.
Harps fell asleep before we reached the next arch.
Arches on arches
This formation is the Elephant.
Windows
We had a very sleepy goose.
After our morning hikes, we ran the AC with the generator and Harper and I took a nap while Alex did the strenuous Delicate Arch Trail. It is a three mile round trip with rewarding views.
This is Delicate Arch, one of the most famous arches.
Petroglyphs
After Alex returned from his hike, I did a much smaller, much easier hike to see the Delicate Arch from a distance.
We started our next day with Sand Dune Arch, which was perfect for a toddler.
Harper wanted to climb everything.
And she did.
Sand Dune Arch
We have a future rock climber on our hands.
Harper loved exploring Sand Dune Arch.
I had mini heart attacks watching them climb this rock. It was much higher than this photo appears.
We did the Broken Arch Trail which would have been really difficult in direct sunlight, but we got lucky with clouds again.
We collected lots of rocks.
We were able to see multiple arches on our Landscape Arch Trail.
Pine Tree Arch
Landscape Arch was my favorite.
This was the arch on our RV!
You could continue on a different trail straight up the rock formations, but we skipped this one for obvious reasons.
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