good-times-rollin: Double O Arch

Monday, May 27, 2019

Arches National Park

Gopher Flats
May, 2019
Moab, UT

In 1929, when President Hoover signed the proclamation to establish Arches National Monument, the park only included the Windows and Devils Garden sections...4,520 acres.

Since that time, the parks boundaries have expanded several times to a whopping 76,679 acres. Although Arches has been under construction for millions of years Congress changed the status to a National Park in 1971.

I will never forget our first drive through Arches back in May 2013...a jaw dropper for sure ! I still have the same excitement today.

With Arches practically in our backyard and being here for the amount of time we are, visiting this red-rock wonderland is often on the list of things "to-do" from week to week.

Whether it's just a drive or enjoying a hike, it's a beautiful destination. We have already spent several mornings taking in the colors, shapes, and forms that excite the "aesthetic" senses.

With over 2,000 natural arches, soaring spires, and massive fins, Arches makes for a beautiful drive and fun hiking. Did you know that Arches has "the world's largest concentration of natural arches in the world"?

Double Arch is "close-set pair" of natural arches. In fact, the arch in front has the tallest opening of any arch in the park...112 feet...and it's the second longest arch in the park. It is a short walk from the parking area to see Double Arch up close.

Delicate Arch is the most famous arch in the park (and maybe the world).

It's a 3 mile round trip hike to see the arch...a hike Joe and I have enjoyed at least once (sometimes more) every year that we have been in Moab. Yep, we like it !

I don't always walk down to the arch, but this day I felt very confident and brave.

The key to us enjoying our hike to Delicate Arch is getting an early start. We are on trail by 7:00 am making this our all time favorite breakfast spot !

While Delicate Arch is the most famous arch, our favorite hiking in Arches is the Devils Garden section.

The trail begins as an easy wide gravel path with a side trail to Tunnel Arch and Pine Arch (which we have done several times, but not this day).

At just under a mile, the path winds its way to Landscape Arch. Landscape Arch is the longest arch in the park...even the Western Hemisphere. The Natural Arch and Bridge Society now considers it to be the fifth longest arch in the world having measured the span a 290.1 feet.

After admiring Landscape Arch, the fun begins ! The trail becomes difficult as it climbs steeply up and on the sandstone fins.

Shoes with good grip are a must as the footing is rocky with narrow ledges and steep drop-offs...a combination that really gets the heart pumping ! From this point to Double O Arch it is about 2.5 miles.

This time of year, the trail that winds its way to Double O Arch is very colorful.

Double O Arch is the second largest arch in the NP. The top arch has a span of 71 feet stacked on top of a smaller arch with a 21 foot span. Both are part of the same sandstone fin.

After our breakfast snack, we took two side trails as we made our way back to Landscape Arch. First to Partition Arch.

Partition Arch is often overlooked as it is not as famous or big as other arches. The views through this arch are spectacular and its low profile allows for an up close look.

The second side trail we took was to Navajo Arch.

Navajo Arch is one of our favorite little arches along the Devils Garden Trail. It is more like a mini tunnel than an arch as the ground cuts right thru it.

The entrance to the arch...

opens up to a nice little retreat with lots of shade and much cooler air.

Both these side trails add about a mile to the overall distance. If time or energy isn't an issue, the side trek to see both these arches is worthwhile.

This catches us up on our adventures in Arches. We LOVE our backyard ! So until next time...

HAPPY TRAILS!

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...