Arches: Part 1 – Colors In The Angle of The Sun

The Highest Concentration of Arches in The World!

Arches National Park is home to over 2,000 natural stone arches,  hundreds of soaring pinnacles, massive fins, and balancing rocks!

It’s one of the most visited parks in the United States and there’s no wonder why it’s on our list of destinations.

As We Arrive

Surviving the Taco-tastrophe. we’ve completed our drive from Zion National Park and arrive in Arches.

The sky greets us with gloom…

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We’re heading to the very back of the park, a 30 minute drive from the park’s gate.

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There’s only one campground in the park, and we need to make sure we grab a spot.

Despite the gloom, we can’t help but continue to snap photos from the van.

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Not sure what this formation is called…

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With a half hour until we’re at the campground, we have plenty of time to gaze at the scenery.

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We round a bend just as clouds begin to part and color begins to fill the valley.

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Changing altitudes creates dramatic fog effects.

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Grabbing A Campsite

We easily find Devils Garden Campground at the end of Arches’ main road.

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Luck finds several campsite options, so we quickly secure one.

With high hopes that the fog continues to clear, we immediately get back to the van and venture out to the park’s main road!

Just as we do…

Even Scenic Drives Deserve Second Chances

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Blue Skies!!!

The sun starts to break through the departing storm clouds!! ☀

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Mixed with the wet rock and scattered snow, the entering beams of sunlight causes the color to explode around us!

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We exit the van to get a better look

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How did we get so lucky?

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Now on to some of the more easily accessible arches.

On the way we pass Balanced Rock, glad to see it’s still there!

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The Windows, and the Turret Arch

Let’s play: How close can Kali get to an Arches crow?

Can she get this close?

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Closer?

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Closer still?!?

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This close. This is how close she can get to an Arches crow.

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Back To Business

Games aside, we’ve arrived at The Windows (a pair of arches in the same rock formation)

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and the smaller, but more intricate Turret Arch.

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The Windows section is considered by some to be the beating heart of Arches National Park.

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Our hearts are beating to experience these natural wonders with such amazement.

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Kali’s onto a great idea…

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Lets have some fun with it!

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What is it we’re jumping for??
Maybe the views as we look through The Windows…

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Or maybe the views right in front of us!

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The clouds swirl around the sun, forming their own galaxy.

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With so much amazement around us, it’s hard to sit still!!

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The longer we stay, the more ridiculously marvelous everything becomes…

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The sun begins to set.

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Bundled up, we’re going to hang out as the sun goes down…

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…and share what we see with you.

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How is it that every sunset, is the best sunset?

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As the sun goes down, we head for our campsite and dream of a tomorrow equally amazing.

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