… I know every rock and tree and creature
Has a life, has a spirit, has a nameYou think the only people who are people
Are the people who look and think like you
But if you walk the footsteps of a stranger
You’ll learn things you never knew, you never knew…~ Disney, Pocahontas, Colors of the Wind
My best friend and I road trip pretty seriously. Between rogue camping in the middle of the desert, sleeping in the car and not knowing when our next shower will be, I’m not sure most people can join us. Despite all the judgement, this is how we travel. We are traveling for the experience… for those moments that aren’t written into travel books, instead the moments people will write about us. It’s less about the material things, less about the how, but figuring it out as you go. No hesitation, just doing. Traveling shouldn’t be an escape, but a moment to see more than you ever could before. Life is made of our perspectives… seven billion perspectives in fact. How do we inspire compassion? How do we get closer to world peace? It starts with understanding each other. Every single one of us. Then maybe we will start understanding the billions of species of organisms, rocks and trees who also share Mother Earth with us.
Welcome to Arches National Park, a really fascinating natural phenomena of red rock formations… Mother Earth’s sculptures. The park is very popular, so I recommend to go early in the morning, or in the middle of night then you won’t get charged entrance fee $20. We accidentally discovered this loop hole when we drove late nights into these parks to catch the view of the stars, cook our food in the cold desert night and crash in the car.
Sneaking in for the night is completely worth it. Waking up to these beautiful arches is like stepping into a Flintstones movie. This is one of the first arches you encounter at Devils Garden Trailhead.
The park is quite large. It takes about 45 min to drive from one end of the park to other end. There are no backcountry camping/trails in Arches. Most trails are quick day hikes or just views. Very well formatted for family trips and easy views.
Being so close to nature and seeing millions of year old formations reminds me of how small we are and how much there is still to learn about myself and mother earth.
Welcome to Double O Arch! This is the tiny arch underneath the larger one.
The weather and lighting was perfect. We visited during end of summer (last week of August), so it wasn’t too busy or too hot.
The view after climbing off the path.
The trails are well marked, but found a spot for lunch after climbing up off the trail.
The sun was setting as we were entering the Windows Section of the park.
Here is Turret Arch. Josefine for scale.
I remember this very moment that my well-endured camera had its last moment with its power button. The switch completely broke off. The rest of this trip we used a little safety pin to turn the camera on/off.
North and south window view from Turret Arch.
Fish eye on GoPro is great for capturing these expansive views and towering arches.
Last hike to Delicate arch.
Watching the sunset behind us as my calves explode from this hike.
Delicate Arch. This is probably the longest hike to get to not because of distance, but because its all up hill. In the end, well worth it to see the natural amphitheater and arch towering in the center. Honestly, it’s so beautifully placed, it looks man-made. Caught this shot right before the light was completely gone.
Warning: Desert gusts can blow away your tripod and stuff. Make sure to always secure your things while you’re enjoying the view or trying to capture a photo. We saw this happen to a few people. Also, always bring a flashlight for when your hikes start dipping into the sunset time.
Thanks for following us on our little 1.5 day journey in Arches National Park! Next up Canyonlands for some backcountry fun!
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