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Latest Arches National Park hotel reviews
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Just kidding but gotta put in a plug here for the men and women of the NPS. We've come into contact with a lot of rangers in the national parks and they're the best resources you can find for what/where/how to have a good time.
These folks are the caretakers of our most valuable natural treasures and the multitudes who come to enjoy them. When you run across one on a trail, they'll be making mental notes of how much water you have, if your footwear is going to get you into trouble, and generally what kind of shape you're in. These are also the folks that have to come and get you if you break a leg, collapse from heat exhaustion or fall over an edge. It's good to keep in mind that anytime you decide to risk your neck doing something careless, you're risking theirs as well?
Getting the skinny from the rangers at NPS visitor centers is the very first thing we do. They love to be asked about "their" park and are full of great ideas for activities that match your specific skill levels. They're also regularly re-assigned to different parks and often have but a few short weeks to learn enough about the flora, fauna, geology and history of that location to be able to give those great, free campfire talks and tours.
So be nice to them - they're pretty amazing people.
(I took this ranger's picture at Canyonlands but you could run someone just like her at any park you visit.)
Written Dec 24, 2011
Website: http://www.nps.gov/arch/index.htm
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A lot of people go to beautiful places to escape the noise and distractions of a busy world and find a little peace and quiet. With a million visitors a year, this is a difficult thing to do at Arches!
We climbed to a nice spot above Lower Delicate Viewpoint one night at sundown to enjoy the scenery before an approaching storm moved in. Just minutes later, a bus below disgorged a mass of tourists so loud that you could hear them clearly 1/2 mile away, and they chattered, shouted and shrieked for the next half an hour. Needless to say, the moment was spoiled for us and for others who had come for quiet appreciation of a lovely view. This was also, sadly, not an isolated incident.
So, by all means enjoy your time at the park and share the fun with your companions but please, do it softly?
Written Oct 20, 2011
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Sand Dune Arch is a great way to escape the heat of the middle of the day. This walk in the narrow area between a couple of fins provides great shade. The sand on which you walk is actually cool on your feet so if you've been wanting to take those boots off by all means this is the time to do it. We enjoyed a few afternoons in here, just laying on a space blanket and recharging our batteries for a late afternoon hike. One of the great things about Arches is the hikes are generally pretty short and best done early morning or late afternoon for photography. This gives you ample time midday to relax. The key is finding a nice shady spot to do it. This is one of them. It is accessed via a short trail right off the Scenic Drive or for a longer hike, you can walk from the Devil's Garden Campground via Broken Arch.
Updated Jul 13, 2009
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Arches National Park is first and foremost a photographer's park. This is quite obvious when you see park literature giving tips on when is the best time to visit particular arches for the best photos. Pick up a copy of the park's Visitor Guide on arrival. It has decent hiking descriptions as well the invaluable information about best times to visit each sight in the park. This can save you time in orienting yourself to where the sun goes down and up. I wish other park's would follow suite with this very useful information.
Written Jul 12, 2009
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When you are at the park entrance, don't forget to take the free map and guide with you! You mostly get it from the ranger when entering the park, but otherwise you can always pick up a free copy at the visitor centre. Most (and maybe even all) National Parks have an official map and guide, and I never forget to pick one up. They often are full with info about the park and provid a good overview map with all the hiking trails on it. They are a nice and handy guide when exploring the park.
Updated Feb 26, 2005
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8 Reviews and 19 Opinions The only campground inside the park is the Devil's Garden Campground which offers 52 sites and...
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