good-times-rollin: Devil's Garden

Monday, May 23, 2016

Devil's Garden...Arches National Park

Portal RV Resort
Moab, UT
May 18, 2016

The name Devil's Garden doesn't exactly conjure up images of beauty and fun...but beauty and fun is exactly what we found. In May 2013 Joe and I took the "primitive" route counter clockwise. A huge mistake for newbies to hiking. There was one really scary spot where I froze and if it had not been for the help of a couple from Idaho I would probably still be there. Anyhow, we haven't been back to Devil's Garden until now. As you might have guessed, we did not take the primitive loop. Instead, we chose the in and out to Dark Angel. Much more to our liking...a round trip of about 7 miles with several spur trails to arches.

We were up and out the door by 8:30 to beat the crowds. But when we arrived, the parking lot was nearly full. Thank goodness, most people take the .9 mile walk to Landscape Arch and turn around.

A very well maintained section of trail takes you to Landscape Arch.

This is an amazing arch. Landscape Arch is an arc natural arch. These are considered old and near the end of their lifecycle...any day, any year, any century this arch could collapse. In its thinnest section, the arch is only 6 feet deep yet it supports a span of rock 290 feet long.

As we were standing there admiring this stunning piece of nature's art, something caught our eye.

I see you!

This little guy was enjoying breakfast...

From here the real hiking begins. Immediately there is a steep climb up a narrow fin and the Double O Arch hike begins. This was the first of many tall, narrow fins we climbed. So much fun and the most awesome views. All the time knowing we would be enjoying them on the way out too!

The trail isn't all slick rock and fins. There is lots of desert to traverse as well. This time of year and with all the rain we have had, it was lined with lots and lots of yellow and green...

and a few other colors too.

A short side spur took us to Black Arch.

From the Double O Arch trailhead, it's about 2 miles to the arches.

And from there it's a half mile to Dark Angel. This was our goal for the day. We never made it here the first time. Dark Angel is a 150 foot sand stone tower. It sits atop a short hill above Devil's Garden standing as sentinel over the arches and fins.

This is one of the prettiest lunch spots we have ever had.

Wonderful views of Salt Valley...