Arches National Park

I lived in Utah for five years, and somehow this was my first time in Moab. And no, my husband didn’t take me—my company did. Apparently, the corporate perk package occasionally includes red rocks instead of another meeting invite.

Moab is surrounded by some truly beautiful country, with plenty of shorter hikes and two national parks to explore: Arches and Canyonlands. Let’s start with Arches.

Just five miles north of Moab, Arches covers about 73,234 acres of desert and contains more than 2,000 natural sandstone arches, plus enough towering red rock to make your neck sore from looking up.

We visited:

• Delicate Arch: The famous freestanding arch and the park’s signature landmark.
• Balanced Rock: A 128-foot-tall formation that looks like it’s ignoring several important laws of physics. There’s a short 0.3-mile loop to see it.
• The Windows Section: North Window, South Window, and Turret Arch, all along a family-friendly 1.2-mile loop.

Delicate Arch was my favorite. Standing there, it’s peaceful and beautiful in a way that makes you wonder how nature managed to create such an incredible piece of art. Then someone’s camera timer goes off and you remember you’re sharing the moment with a crowd.

The hikes are short enough that you can see several arches in one day, which is great—because the park gets crowded. My advice: go outside summer if you can. The desert heat is no joke, and nobody needs to become a human puddle halfway to an arch.

Quick tips:

• Expect crowds, especially at popular viewpoints.
• Bring plenty of water and sun protection.
• Pick a cooler season if you have the choice. Your legs may be fine; your enthusiasm at 100°F may not be.

https://www.alltrails.com/explore/trail/us/utah/delicate-arch-trail?u=i&sh=gcbxxi