Arches National Park

Arches National Park was unlike anything I'd ever seen before. I was reminded how vast the United States really is. Arches requires a timed entry if you want to go into the park between 7AM-4PM from April to October (this can be found on rec.gov). I was NOT early to the game getting a permit but was able to secure one on October 19th for 2PM. I was super excited, and as I got ready for bed the night before, I thought to myself... 2PM doesn't give me much time before the sun sets, so maybe it'd be better to just get in before 7AM (it was a 2 hour drive away), and just like that, I was packing my backpack to leave early the next day. I woke up at 4:30AM, grabbed my stuff, and hit the road. Driving from Grand Junction, CO to Moab, UT is boring when it's dark, but I happened to look at the sky and could see so many stars because of how dark it was on this highway with no service stops, so it wasn't all bad.

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Delicate Arch

I made it to the Delicate Arch trailhead by 6:30AM, put on my headlamp, and started

hiking. As it started getting light out, I got excited, and when I made it to the arch, I felt all the air leave my body. It was STUNNING, and because it was pitch black when I drove out, I didn't realize there was a backdrop of snow-capped mountains (top left photo in the gallery). I watched the sunrise over Delicate Arch with a multitude of other photographers and fellow travelers. At the beginning of this hike, you can also loop through Wolfe Ranch and Petroglyph Trail (0.5 miles) for a bonus!

3.5 miles	620 feet elevation gain	1 hour 35 minutes

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Double Arch

Double Arch was very different than Delicate Arch because it was part of a larger rock formation, which was, overall, covered in arches. It was a super easy hike that people of all levels could do and was also right next to the Windows Loop and Turret Arch Trail where you can see the North and South Window Arches. This was also incredibly easy and the stats below are from both hikes combined.

2 miles	167 feet elevation gain	50 minutes

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Overall, I think you could spend one full day in Arches National Park and feel fulfilled. If you had 2 days, you could definitely hit a few hidden gems in the park and do something a little longer, but you get the feeling of the area from the hikes listed above. There are also multiple viewpoints and outlooks that take just a moment to check out and will fill up the rest of your day. A few of those include Balancing Rock, Fiery Furnace Viewpoint, and La Sal Mountains Viewpoint. Make sure you bring food, water, and layers! It's pretty cold in the mornings/evenings but very comfortable and warm when the sun is shining.

La Sal Mountains