Arches National Park
I’m back with another edition of Travel Thursday! Last week I give you a glimpse into my Utah and Colorado road trip, and today we’re going to take an up close look at one of my stops…Arches National Park! I only stayed for a few hours but my time there was filled with absolutely amazing views and I can’t say it enough…schedule a trip to Utah…there is sooo much beauty! The Park has more than 2,000 natural stone arches (wow!) and a wide assortment of other red rock features…including some rocks so carefully balanced they look as if they will topple over any minute! If you plan to visit in the middle of the summer (like I did!) I would recommend getting to the Park early to beat the heat and the crowds. And now without further ado, a virtual trip through Arches National Park…
My first hike was the Park Avenue Trail where I was amazed to see balanced rocks (how in the world do they stay up there like that?!?) as I hiked along the canyon floor. If you’re heading to Arches National Park in the summer I would highly recommend going first thing in the morning. This will not only allow you to avoid the heat of the day but it will help you avoid the large crowds. As a bonus, if you get started early in the day you’ll be able to enjoy shade for the beginning of your hikes!
Do you have a favorite National Park? Which National Parks would you recommend I add to my travel bucket list? Which National Parks are on your travel bucket list?
43 Comments
Karla Cook
Arches is on my bucket list! Maybe this fall, even! Or we may wait till next year and get an annual pass to the national parks so we can go to Rocky Mountain NP several times, and work in Arches as well. We are close enough to RMNP to make it a day trip. Arches would be a weekend.
Let’s see… I’ve been to Yosemite, Mount Rainier, Glacier, Yellowstone, Brice Canyon, Grand Canyon, Rocky Mountain, Denali… and maybe a couple others that I’m not remembering. I would have a hard time picking a favorite. All of them are worth going out of your way for! Yosemite would probably be close to the top because I love the waterfalls.
jmdenouden@gmail.com
I’ve been to several of those parks, but not all of them…I need to do some more traveling!
Katy
Arches National Park looks amazing! A must see. <3
jmdenouden@gmail.com
Absolutely!
Terumi
What a gorgeous park! We don’t have a favorite National Park but this one needs to go on our list of parks we need to see in our lifetime. Thank you for sharing!
jmdenouden@gmail.com
It’s really difficult to have a favorite park but I would highly recommend this, and the other parks in Utah…all of them are just so gorgeous!
Sharon
Love Arches NP! Such a great place! So many great national parks, but I’d say one of my most favorites is Mount Rainier NP only because that’s my hometown and I love Mt. Rainier!
jmdenouden@gmail.com
I haven’t been there yet but it’s on my bucket list…hopefully soon!!!
Married And Naked
Went there when I was a teenager. It still stands out as one of the coolest places I have visited. Great pictures!
Lauren
Wow those pictures are beautiful! What an amazing landscape!
sara
The pictures are awesome!! We are going for spring break next year! I. Can’t. Wait!!!!
jmdenouden@gmail.com
I’m sure y’all will have a fabulous time!
Chris
What a beautiful place!
It is something the US seems to do very well, is their National Parks.
Just a shame you only had a short time there!
jmdenouden@gmail.com
I was so bummed to only have a short time there and I couldn’t agree more, the US does National Parks well!
katja - globetotting
I’ve read a few posts on Utah’s national parks in recent months and it’s gone from a place that I had never considered visiting to right up near the top of my travel wish list. Arches National Park looks particularly stunning – I love the contrast of the red rock against that deep blue sky. Beautiful!!
jmdenouden@gmail.com
I think it’s easy to forget about Utah because there aren’t a ton of big cities to draw people in but, WOW is it a gorgeous state!!! I would highly recommend going there for a visit!
Kristin
How beautiful!
Stephanie
I look forward to going there soon as we moved to Utah not long ago! Thanks for sharing!
jmdenouden@gmail.com
If you live in Utah then you definitely need to go! On a side note, also go to Swig and get one of their sugar cookies…AMAZING!
Lisa Serrano
Oh, I like the looks of this park, but there isn’t a park I don’t like. You look like you have been to Yellow Stone National Park & The Grand Canyon. Those are both parks that I always recommend. I love red rocks in the grand canyon and the beauty views. I love all of the hot springs in Yellow Stone. I love all parks, I love State Parks also. Thanks for introducing your blog to us at Boss Girls.
jmdenouden@gmail.com
Thanks for stopping by! I need to check out more of the state parks…and the rest of the parks on my National Parks list…there are just so many places I still want/need to see!
Doreen Pendgracs
I loved our trip thru Arches National Park, but it was years ago. I remember also loving Zion National Park. I’d love to go back to Mount Rushmore and see the Crazy Horse memorial, as it wasn’t there last time we visited.
jmdenouden@gmail.com
Mount Rushmore is great and Zion is on my list for next summer!
Natalie Deduck
Mother Nature is just Perfect!
How all those rocks can stand like that??!! Stunning, beautiful landscape.
Thanks for taking us in a tour with you!
Nat 😀
jmdenouden@gmail.com
How those rocks stand like that just fascinates me!!!
Theresa @DearCreatives
I’ve been to the Arches & loved it. But, need to get Sammie to that part of the country she has never been. Have you been to Yosemite National Park? Early summer when the waterfalls are full or later spring. Amazing! I could tell you more but, it’s like I’d be writing a book. lol
jmdenouden@gmail.com
I’ve been, but for a very brief stop so I’d love to go back for longer!!!
Kimberly Erin
This looks very nice, Some great rock formations, Utah is on my list for future trekking zones for sure
karla
This has always been in my bucketlist. I really love it. What a nice park and awesome photos by the way
Elizabeth
We went to Arches many years ago. It is an amazing place, I had several of our pictures enlarged and hung on the wall. People always comment on them. I agree with you about Utah- if you can get there you should make a trip. It is amazing scenery.
Gabby | The Globe Wanderers
Wow! What a truly stunning place. Your photographs capture it perfectly as well! Officially added to my list :). Thanks so much for the inspiration!
Gabby
Gemma Two Scots Abroad
It definitely reminds me of Monument Valley with the deep red/orange tones. I loved Yosemite and have ‘done’ The Grand Canyon. Need to check out more from your list!
Sanket D.
The US seem to love their National Parks don’t they? Though I must admit I’ve never heard of Arches before. Yellowstone’s the dream of course, but I hope I’ll be able to see Arches for myself someday too 🙂
jmdenouden@gmail.com
We definitely love our National Parks here in the US…I think because it’s one thing we do really really well!
Tracie Howe
Utah has incredible beauty! Arches is definitely one of the best and most unique parks I’ve ever visited. I’m glad you enjoyed your visit there!
jmdenouden@gmail.com
I am pretty much obsessed with Utah and want to spend even more time there because there is so much I still want to see!
Trisha Velarmino
What a lovely experience! I am planning to do a roadtrip in the US anytime soon and would want to complete visiting all its National parks!
jmdenouden@gmail.com
My dream bucket list is a great American road trip adventure!
Stacey Valle
Like you said, so much beauty!!! I only went to Utah for a very short time to Bryce Canyon National Park and tried to camp at zion but didn’t had the right clothing for snowy conditions (it was snowing in early May!). I still have to explore more of Utah and I want to go to Colorado as well! 😉 Arches National Park is definitely on my list for Utah 🙂
jmdenouden@gmail.com
Yikes, snowing in May! There is just so much beauty in Utah and Colorado!
Marta
I would love to see Arches National Park. I haven’t had the chance to spend a lot of time in the US but I managed to go to Yosemite: very different landscape from this, but so incredibly beautiful, I loved it
Rob Taylor
Solid tip about hiking first thing in the morning. We did Bryce Canyon National Park at 1pm in the afternoon and truly thought we might die. Arches is so different and not to be missed…or to suffer heat stroke while exploring.
Ajay Sood
Nature at its scenic best!