Arches National Park, Utah

In the summer, the High Desert of Arches National Park is a rocky oven with temperatures often soaring well above 100ºF (38ºC) for days on end. That said, it can get quite chilly in the winter, with even a possibility of snow,

So why would you want to go there?

Because the landscapes and natural rock sculptures are simply breathtaking, that’s why!

With over 2000 natural rock arches within its boundaries, the densest collection in the world, it doesn’t take a genius to work out how Arches National Park got its name. But it’s also home to hundreds of rock pinnacles, fins and balanced rocks.

Delicate Arch is perhaps the most famous in the park

It stands atop a high promontory

With some friends at one of the Delicate Arch viewpoints

The sheer number of arches and associated features is thanks to the perfect combination of geology and climate… Just the right rock types and layering. Just the right amount of rain. Just the right annual temperature variation. And a lengthy period of geological stability in the region.

Approaching the fins and pinnacles of Devils Garden

Entering Devils Garden

An arch inside Devils Garden

Looking out between the fins of Devils Garden

You and I are also around at just the right moment in the Earth’s history! Geologically speaking, the landscape of Arches National Park is a fleeting one. A million years ago it was a rather dull, flat plain. A million years into the future the rock strata that produce so many arches will have completely eroded away. So all of us who have visited Arches can count ourselves extremely lucky!

Skyline Arch

And while the High Desert may look almost totally barren, it’s full of life, often in the most surprising places.

A gnarly sagebrush (I think!) with Skyline Arch in the distance

Add all that to the fact that most of the exposed rocks in this part of Utah have a distinctive red colour, which gives the whole region a warm feeling no matter what the air temperature.

Broken Arch

The bottom line is, now is the perfect time to visit Arches National Park!

This post was inspired by Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge, which this week is Things That Are Hot and Jennifer’s One Word Photo Challenge, which is Balance, Dale’s Thursday Challenge, which is Unusual Things, and Jo’s Monday Walk, of course.

For more images of our adventures in Utah, visit Rich and Sue’s Flickr Album 2012: Southwest USA revisited.

The total height of Balanced Rock is 128 feet, with the boulder on the top weighing a massive 3500 tons!

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