My parents were eager to get me and my brother out of the house and visit some national parks.
We woke up early one Sunday morning and headed to Moab, Utah. My older brother sat contentedly staring out of the window, watching the scenery change while I sat bored until we finally arrived at Arches National Park. “Great” I thought “rocks,” but I had to admit the red sandstone arches were quite an impressive sight. It was hard to imagine how many thousands of years it took for nature to carve them. Geology is always changing; 42 arches have already collapsed, victims of erosion and time.
We ended up hiking the nearby Parade of Elephants trail, made our way past the double arches, then ended up in the Cove of Caves, where I fell silent in reverent awe. I could imagine ancient indigenous peoples looking out onto the vast desert, red valley, and wide blue sky. I was simply immersed in the seemingly stable, yet ultimately impermanent blessing that is Arches National Park and the surrounding desert. I could only hope to carve their image into my mind before they inevitably collapse someday.
Sincerely,
Arches National Park
With more than 2,000 natural stone arches, this landmark park offers more of these distinctive rock formations than anywhere else in the world. Wind and water, extreme temperatures, and a shifting underground salt bed sculpted the red rock over time into the area's spectacular and often delicate shapes. These arches can be large and impressive like the famous Delicate Arch, or just slivers in the sandstone.
State(s): Utah
Established: 1929
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Greetings from Arches National Park
My girlfriend and I woke up in Southern California and at 5AM she asked me “Zion or Arches”? We had two friends (another queer couple) in Arches so headed there on a whim where our chosen family met us with an already set-up tent, dinner, and cold drinks. I love…
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Greetings from Arches National Park
My partner Keith and I in Spring 2009. I lived in CO for 10 years and have explored all over the west. I really enjoyed showing him some of my favorite spots.
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Greetings from Arches National Park
After a 6000-mile road trip through more than a dozen national parks and monuments (Mt. Rainier to Saguarro), I commissioned my painter friend, Connie Brown, to map the "spellbound" tour, using photographs I had taken as models for her border vignettes. This is her fabulous masterpiece!
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