Arches at Night

One of the options for an evening event here in Arches was a Ranger program on star gazing. I would've loved to have gone to that, but it didn't involve a hike and it was pretty cloudy that day, so we thought the star gazing might've been a little obstructed. There was no way to feasibly do both in the same night, so we chose hiking to Delicate Arch at sunset. We made the right choice!

We drove back through the park again on the same road we took yesterday, but in the later light (it's now 2 hours before sunset instead of late afternoon), it already looks different. Check out the Three Gossips:


The hike to Delicate Arch is described on climb-utah.com's website: "The first part of the hike is on a wide and well defined trail that leads to the base of a steep sandstone hill also known as slickrock. Once you have begun hiking on the slickrock you must follow cairns (stacks of rocks) as the route slowly climbs over the sandstone hill. The route is well traveled and easy to follow. As you near Delicate Arch you will pass Frame Arch on your right. The arch is often used as a picture frame for photographing Delicate Arch. Just before you reach Delicate Arch the trail follows an impressive 200 yard ledge which was blasted from the sandstone. Just past the ledge you will reach Delicate Arch."
Length: 1.5 miles One-Way.
Time: 1 1/4 hours One-Way.
Trailhead: 4,300'
Arch Elevation: 4,800'
Skill Rating: Easy, there is nothing difficult.
Season: Year Round
Equipment: None
Water: 2 liters per person.
Difficulties: None.
Circle Trip: No, Out and Back

As an out-of-shape old lady, I choose to differ with their opinion that "there is nothing difficult." The 1.25 hours one-way description is fairly accurate but that 500 foot climb was a bit much. Lots of panting and stopping to consume some of that 2 liters of water. I brought my new hiking poles (thank you, Rodney!) and was glad to have them.

Was it worth it? Oh yes!! "Delicate Arch has become the unofficial symbol of Utah.  Towering eighty feet over hikers, Delicate Arch is one of the highlights of Arches National Park and is possibly the most beautiful arch in the world. This arch needs to be experienced in person to be really appreciated." The view along the way on the hike was great, too.

Obviously, we weren't the only ones who made the hike. And we're not even at the height of tourist season. Rodney described the crowd as paparazzi. That was exactly what it felt like...and we were part of it. 

                                                                               

The lighting at sunset is just spectacular. Also, look at the mountains in the background through the arch. Those are the La Sal mountains and that is fresh snow on the peaks.

The climb back down was uneventful and much easier than the climb up. We had our flashlights but didn't need them. We left a little before complete sunset because the good photo ops were over and we wanted to get a head start on the big crowd. There was enough light in the evening dusk to make it back to the car.

We were so tired but also hungry, so we drove to Moab and found a cute little place--The Moab Brewery. The homemade root beer was fabulous as was the service. Fortunately, the drive back to camp wasn't too long.