CDT 2024 - Day 3 in Transit - Arches Nat’l Park

A Day in Arches National Park, Moab, UT

Beau ready for the tour, Arches National Park, Moab, UT

The campground we're in turned out to be a really nice spot for 2 nights. It has a pool, hot tub, and a nice dog-run where Beau was able to get the run-down on the national park from his pooch pals there. It has a gift shop and is only a short walk from a nice little coffee shop. So this morning we slept in a bit and then took a chance and ran across the four-lane highway and towards town to the the resort. We had a couple of lattes and a fruit yogurt parfait before walking back to the trailer. We did a bit of relaxing and read before taking the truck into Arches for our one o'clock timed entry reservation.

While I had been to Arches before some years ago, Peggy had not and I was not sure she would like it as it really doesn't have much in the way of trees. Or at least not many. She absolutely loved it. The vast colors of rock walls, shapes, and the imagination of nature and God were so abundant. She started out by having me stop at every single pull-out. Then she started taking off on every short hike that was practical. I would keep Beau cool and entertained and would meet her at the other end of the trails where appropriate. I loved it, Peggy loved it, and Beau loved it. If you've never been to Arches, I would say it is well worth the trip. If you have been there, then you know what I mean. I/ve been to a lot of national parks and I would say that Arches has the greatest amount of diverse terrain crammed into the smallest area of any of the parks. Most of it can be seen from the road. TIP: between 7 AM and 4 PM reservations are required for entry (unless you are lucky enough to score a campsite in the park). BUT, like Glacier, if you enter the park before 7 AM or after the entry closes, meaning the ranger goes home for the night, you don't need a reservation. ALSO, the best light for photos is early morning and early evening. Just say'in.