Arches National Park (Day 2)

Nov 15, 2008 :- The day began with a briefing of the park at the Visitor Centre. The 15 minute orientation film seemed more informative, having been to some points of interest the previous day.

I then drove to the Windows Section that has a small concentration of Arches. The trails to these Arches were short easy walks. Turret Arch, North and South Windows and Double Arch are some of the arches one gets to see in this section.

Turret Arch:-


North Window :-


South Window:-


Double Arch :-


Lower and Upper Viewpoints of the Delicate Arch provide distant views of Delicate Arch.



Most of these arches are shaped so crisply that one wonders whether these are indeed natural formations and not man made ones. Having seen, most of the park (with the exception of "Eye of the Whale Arch" and "Tower Arch" that require a drive on unpaved road or on a 4 wheel drive road) it was time to explore some areas outside the park in Moab. I headed on US 279 to an arch known as the Corona Arch. It is said that a person flew a small plane through the arch since not only is it huge but it also protrudes out and provides easy aerial access.

US 279 passes beside the Colorado river. There were numerous groups of climbers, sharpening their climbing skills right beside the highway where there were steep rock walls. There was some evidence of the fall colors along the river, although it was mid November.

From the parking lot, I took the wrong trail and headed in the incorrect direction. This hike turned out to be an extended trail, not that well marked and completely isolated, devoid of any hikers. I kept wondering where all those who had parked their cars had headed to. It took me through a dry stream right upto a waterfall in the hills but it was worth the exploration. With the landscape and views being totally in contrast with what I had read, it was time to head back to the parking lot. I did my best to avoid stepping on to cryptobiotic soil but the trail was not that well frequented and at times I was close to such patches in the rocks.

Upon reaching the parking lot, I finally had a look at the correct trail having trudged back and forth almost 3.5 to 4 miles. Seeing some folks come back that trail, I was even more determined to make it to Corona Arch, a distance of 1.5 miles one way. The trail had an initial ascent after crossing the rail tracks and then passed through a level area at a height. After traversing over a ridge one crosses a gurad rail and gets the first view of the arch in the distance. One then passes over a rock patch that had a chained rail with grooves in the rock to climb over. Next one comes across a short ladder to get over a rock ledge. Thereafter it is a smooth walk over rocky ledges to get in close proximity of the Corona Arch.





As one walks through the arch there is rock face that one can climb over and get onto the top of the arch. The rock face is completely exposed with a drop of some 800 feet, and without any hand rail but with grooves carved into the rock that one can use as hand or foot holds. I avoided any temptation to get onto the top. The hike back was in the fading evening light but hikers kept coming along the way in order to make it to the arch just before sunset.