National Park Spotlight:
Arches National Park

Arches National Park preserves over 2,000 natural sandstone arches. Among these are the world-famous Delicate Arch, as well as many other unusual rock formations. In some areas, the forces of nature have exposed millions of years of geologic history. The extraordinary features of the park create a landscape of contrasting colors, landforms and textures that is unlike any other in the world.

The entrance to Arches National Park is found 5 miles north of the town of Moab. The park's paved scenic drive gives dramatic and sweeping views from atop a plateau. Visitors can see many of these geologic wonders, including the infamous arches from which the park takes its name, from a distance or up close.

These natural arches were formed over millions of years of deposition, erosion and other geologic events. These layers continue an ongoing shape of life in Arches today, as their erosion influences elemental features like soil chemistry and where water flows when it rains.

Arches is a desert environment and the plants and animals here have many adaptations that enable them to survive these conditions. Some species are found only in this area. The diversity of organisms reflects the variety of available habitat, which includes lush riparian areas, ephemeral pools, dry arroyos, mixed grasslands and large expanses of bare rock.

The most widespread plant community here is the pygmy forest: a Woodland of Pinon and Juniper trees that cover more than forty percent of the park. There are more than 100 other plant species in the diverse understory of this open community of forest. Mountain Mahogany and Cliffrose often grow alongside the trees where their roots take advantage of the extra moisture that the Pinon and Juniper foots has penetrated.

An interesting fact about the area of Arches National Park is that Native Americans never inhabited Arches on a year-round basis, though they roamed the area searching for wild game, useful plants and rocks for tool-making. Petroglyphs near Wolfe Ranch are thought to have been created by Indians from the Ute-Paiute cultures.

Petroglyphs are only one of the astounding things to see at Arches. Other sights include the “Windows” Section with see some of the park's largest arches, balance rocks and amazing sunsets that light Arches National Park on “fire.”