Arches National Park, UT

Devil's Garden

The majority of the time I spent in the park was in the area known as Devil's Garden. I completed an 8-mile hike that made a loop passed 8 stone arches and offered an opportunity for grand views and countless interestingly shaped rock formations. It was a challenging hike due to sections of steep and slick sandstone rock and others where the trail was soft sandy dirt.

I think I knew this was a special place from the beginning when I walked between the high rocks that separated Devil's Garden from the parking lot. It felt like I was entering another world.

Portal into Devil's Garden

The Foyer of Devil's Garden

Board Game Pieces

Sunbeams Break through the Cloud Cover

The first arch I came to was Landscape Arch. Its top seemed to be almost too narrow to stay suspended. It was surrounded by rock formations of varied shapes and sizes.

First View of Landscape Arch

Best View

How Do They Stay Upright?

Whale Breaches

I then came to where I first encountered the slickrock sandstone. Climbing up this section wasn't too difficult although it did have a couple of places where it was steep enough that I was glad I had good tread on my boots.

Steep Slickrock

Looking Back Down

At the first of several spurs off the main loop, I continued to climb upwards and until I arrived at Partition Arch. I had actually seen it from the other side earlier when I was near Landscape Arch. I just didn't know its name at the time.

Partition Arch
(from below before climbing the spur)

Partition Arch
(from the other side of the partition)

Off the same spur as Partition Arch, I visited Navajo Arch. This was one of my favorites because of the fissure on the other side of it coupled with the oddly shaped designs on the rock walls on the way to the arch.

Natural Designs in the Rock Wall

Melted Candle Wax

One-Eyed Goblin

From Outside Navajo Arch

From Inside Navajo Arch

Juniper in the Window

Now at a higher elevation, I was able to see much further into the distance. After returning to the main loop, I navigated another section of sandstone. However, this part wasn't difficult as it was fairly flat and certainly wide enough that I had no fear of falling. Along the way, I came to the overlook for Black Arch.

Trail through the Juniper

I Can See for Miles

Hiking Along Broad Sandstone Spine

Black Arch

The next arch to see was Double O Arch. It was also in the section of the trail where the sandstone I walked along began to narrow and I had to concentrate more on the best way to proceed.

Double O Arch

Different Angle

Sandstone Spine Narrows

I came to another spur trail that took me out to the edge of Devil's Garden. I saw more rock formations that stirred the imagination before I came to the destination, an obelisk named Dark Angel.

Streamlined Rock

Giant Squid

Dark Angel

At Its Base

After returning on the spur, I then began the long section that was marked "primitive trail" and warned that it involved difficult hiking. Quite a few people chose to stop at this point and go back. I decided to continue and figured if I became uncomfortable, I could turn around then. I shortly came to Private Arch, the only arch in this primitive section of the trail loop.

Private Arch

After leaving the arch, I came to the most difficult time of the entire hike. It was a section of slickrock sandstone where I had to walk along a narrow ledge with my feet slanted outwards and then make my way down off the ledge. Let me tell you, it involved using both my hands and feet for most of the way and sliding on my butt at the end.

Trail Goes Along the Right Edge
(to the right of the largest green bush)

Notice the Two Hikers Climbing Down to Understand the Scale
(they are midway up the ledge and to the right of the largest green bush)

Looking Along the Ledge to Understand its Steepness

This was the beginning of a slow descent off the sandstone until I came to rolling, sandy soil and proceeded through mostly open ground to where I closed the trail's loop.

Flowing Ribbon

All Lined Up in a Row

Grandeur of Devil's Garden

Sandy Trail

I explored one more spur to see the final two arches. Off the main trail between the beginning of the loop and the trailhead stood Tunnel Arch and Pine Tree Arch.

Tunnel Arch

Yacht

Pine Tree Arch

The Windows

After finishing the hike, I decided to visit other areas of the national park. The most popular ones were packed with cars and people.

For example, in The Windows Section, it was stop-and-go traffic on the one-way road through the parking areas. It was so congested that I decided not to keep looking for a parking spot and then fight the crowds.

On the bright side, traffic stopped often and long enough that I was able to take these photos from the driver's seat.

The Windows

Another Part of The Windows

Garden of Eden

Parade of Elephants

Double Arch
(left side...not a great angle)

Park Landscape

As I made my way back towards the entrance of the park, I pulled over into many turnouts and overlooks along the road. I was greatly impressed at how visually interesting Arches National Park is and how much there is to see outside of the popular stops.