At the visitor center, you can shop the bookstore, use the restroom, check out the interpretive displays, talk to a ranger, and get your backcountry permits.

When we get to the top of this hill, I want you to cast your eyes to the right. You will see a tall canyon wall on the other side of the highway. That is the Moab Fault.  A small viewpoint will be coming up on your right. Feel free to make a quick stop if you’d like.

As you may know, a fault is a crack in the earth’s tectonic plate. About 6 million years ago, a period of intense tectonic activity  created enormous pressure that pushed down on the canyon wall we are driving on right now. The result? Instead of being on the same height, we are now 2,600 feet or 800 meters lower … than the other side of the canyon.

Troxel, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Delicate Arch is a 52-foot-tall (16 m) freestanding natural arch located in Arches National Park, near Moab in Grand County, Utah, United States. The arch is the most widely recognized landmark in Arches National Park and is depicted on Utah license plates and a postage stamp commemorating Utah's centennial anniversary of admission to the Union in 1996. The Olympic torch relay for the 2002 Winter Olympics passed through the arch.

Because of its distinctive shape, the arch was known as "the Chaps" and "the Schoolmarm's Bloomers" by local cowboys.[4] Many other names have been applied to this arch including "Bloomers Arch", "Marys Bloomers", "Old Maids Bloomers", "Pants Crotch", "Salt Wash Arch", and "School Marms Pants". The arch was given its current name by Frank Beckwith, leader of the Arches National Monument Scientific Expedition, who explored the area in the winter of 1933–1934.

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Image: National Park Service Photo, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Currently, the Fiery Furance area is open to self-guided exploration permits only. Self-Guided Fiery Furnace Exploration Permits are available on Recreation.gov. Ranger-led tours are not scheduled for 2021.

The Fiery Furnace is a natural labyrinth of narrow passages between towering sandstone walls. Hiking in the Fiery Furnace is a different experience from other trails in the park. There are few trail markers, you may encounter dead ends, and it can be easy to get lost. There are small markers for one counter-clockwise route in the Fiery Furnace, but there are many other possible paths, and getting lost is a real possibility. GPS units do not work well due to the towering sandstone walls. Navigating its complex passages requires physical agility and careful observation. To protect the wildlife and plants that inhabit sand dunes and drainages between the rock walls, you will need to choose your steps wisely. We recommend first-time visitors to the Fiery Furnace join a ranger-guided tour or go with someone who has been before.

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Image: Murray Foubister, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Alright my friends, hope you enjoyed our small period of rest. Because coming up, we’ve got some good arches just waiting to be explored.      

First one up is the Sand Dune Arch.   It’s  a short ⅓ mile walk to the arch, which is caught in a slot canyon between two fins. It’s surrounded by fine orange-colored sand that kids and the young at heart will love to play in. You’ll almost feel like you are at a beach. … well… kinda….

From the same trailhead you can continue to Broken Arch. about 2 miles round trip, this easy hike is usually less busy than others in the park. Although it’s called Broken Arch, it’s actually not broken at all. Well, sort of, it just has a big crack through the top. So maybe “Cracked Arch” would be a better name? You think so?

Next up, we are approaching the Skyline Arch. This large arch sits just above the horizon, framing the sky as a wonderful window arch. As we get closer, you’ll actually begin to see it in front of us to the right. No hiking is required. But if you want to, just 10 minutes by foot will get you up close to the arch. So when you see a large shoulder to your right ahead, let’s pull in for a quick view of the Skyline Arch.

Landscape Arch, one of the world's longest stone spans, stretches 306 feet (93.3 m), yet is only about 11 feet (3.4 m) thick at its center. You may wonder how such a narrow span of rock can stay in place. In fact, arches are constantly changing. In 1991 a 60-foot-long (18 m) slab of rock fell from the bottom of the arch. You can see remnants of this rock fall beneath the arch today.

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Image: Nikater, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

This is a great scenic viewpoint overlooking the picturesque lower Salt Valley and the La Sal Mountains in the distance.

Image: CC BY-SA 2.5

At Panorama Point, you can see a the La Sal Mountains, Fiery Furnace, Devil's Garden, and more!

Nature calls!

Image: Phil Armitage, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The Garden of Eden is a great place to wander around. This is an open terrain, dotted with fins, windows, and baby arches or arches still being formed.  Get ready to bust out your camera for some amazing shots with La Sal Mountain in the background. There is no designated trail though, so be sure to watch your step for any biocrust. 

Mobilus In Mobili, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Let me tell you about a special kind of arch, in this rock formation on your  right. Situated there is what’s called  the Pothole Arch. As the name suggests, this type of arch was created from recurrent potholes in the rock that eventually enlarged to become a genuine hole. So unlike other arches we see in the park that are vertical, these arches are horizontal. Now, They are difficult to spot because you will need to look up in order to see the hole. But hey, even if you don’t come across this pothole arch no worries, there are so many more amazing formations to see!

Frank Kovalchek from Anchorage, Alaska, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

This seemingly gravity-defying formation has a “big head” or ball at the top, made of the hardy entrada sandstone. The pedestal below is made of Carmel sandstone, softer and less resistant to erosion. Here is one of the few areas in the park where you can view this Carmel sandstone. ,You see, this type of formation usually erodes quickly and would be  gone by now. But here’s something wild: at the Balanced Rock, the large ball above acts like an umbrella, protecting the spire below from erosion, and keeping it tightly packed together.

NealVickers, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Petrified Dunes viewpoint can be found along the Arches Scenic Drive. From here, you can look out over a sea of petrified sand dunes that once covered an area larger than the Sahara Desert in Africa today.

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The Courthouse Towers Viewpoint affords views of features like The Tower of Babel, The Three Gossips, Sheep Rock, Ring Arch, and Baby Arch.

Image: MCM, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

La Sal Mountains Viewpoint is a 0.2 kilometer moderately trafficked loop trail located near Moab, Utah that offers scenic views and is good for all skill levels. The trail is primarily used for walking and nature trips and is accessible year-round.

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Image: RichieB_pics, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Just 3.6 miles (5.8 km) after Arches National Park Visitor Center, this is many visitors' first scenic stop. At Park Avenue, you can gaze down a grand boulevard of rock and let your imagination loose. Previous visitors named some of the rock features here "Queen Nefertiti," "Queen Victoria," and "Sausage Rock" (also known as "The Corndog").

Beyond the viewpoint, Park Avenue Trail is a moderate hike past a soaring rock skyline of massive fins and curiously carved towers.

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Image: Nikater, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons