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Arches National Park

Moab Utah (January 2010)

Canyonlands National Park and Newspaper Rock State Park Utah
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From nearby Moab we woke well before dawn to visit Arches National Park as the Sun spread over it. The temperature was 0 degrees F, which got our toes numb standing around in the fluffy snow, but watching from the La Sal Mountains Viewpoint as the sun and clouds swirled around the buttes of Arches made it very worthwhile.

From there we drove into the roads of the park, taking the many short hiking trails out to fanciful sandstone arches. Our route took us around to many different places, including Courthouse Towers, Tower of Babel, Petrified Dunes, Balanced Rock, Garden of Eden, Cove Arch, Parade of Elephants, Turret Arch, North Window arch, South Window arch, Panorama Point, Delicate Arch, Fiery Furnace, Sand Dune Arch, Broken Arch, Skyline Arch, Devil's Garden, Landscape Arch, Partition Arch, Navajo Arch, and more.

Lots to see in a long day, and most arches were accessible except for the occasional snow and ice covered sedimentary rock. Every arch had its own character, framing completely different vistas through a unique shape and perspective.

Arches National Park sunrise through clouds from La Sal Mountains Viewpoint

Sunrise through clouds above the La Sal Mountains and buttes of Arches National Park

 

Arches National Park buttes viewed from near Balanced Rock

Buttes and La Sal Mountains, viewed from near Balanced Rock

 

Arches National Park butte near La Sal Mountains Viewpoint at sunrise with snow

Butte near La Sal Mountains Viewpoint, at sunrise with moon setting in background

 

Broken Arch at Arches National Park

Broken Arch

 

Arches National Park snow covered branches

Snow and frost covered branches

 

Balanced Rock of Arches National Park

Balanced Rock

 

Navajo Arch in Arches National Park Utah with snow and trees

Navajo Arch

 

Sandstone wall and snow covered tree near Navajo Arch canyon in Arches National Park Utah

Warm bounced sunset light on the sandstone wall contrasting with the bluish sky-shadow under a snow-covered tree

 

Turret Arch in Arches National Park Utah with snow covered bushes

Turret Arch

 

Interactive 360 degree panoramic view of South Window, North Window, Turret Arch, plains, and La Sal Mountains in Arches National Park near Moab, Utah.

To control the 360 degree panorama you can click in the image with your pointer and move your mouse back and forth while holding down the mouse button, or else use the control buttons at the bottom. (If a security message appears at the top of your web browser which indicates "active content" or "blocked content", click on that message and allow blocked content to be able to see the panorama.)

 

 

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