History of Arches National Park

Arches National Park in southeastern Utah has more than 2,000 natural sandstone arches. There are also many other wondrous formations like giant stone bluffs, pinnacles, and red-rock canyons within this preserved area. Arches were designated a national monument before being changed to a national park in 1971 by President Nixon. Native Americans lived in this region further back in history for thousands of years.

The Arches National Park lies on top of a salt bed which underwent extreme climate changes millions of years ago. The debris from floods and ocean waters compressed into rock, pushing the earth upward into domes and down into hollow pockets. Faults also occurred such as the park's Moab Fault – one of the most highly studied geologic zones in the country. Vertical arches resulted from these conditions, and the only rock layers that weren't eroded away with time still stand today. Petrified sand dunes can also be found here which indicate where ancient lakes covered the area.

One of the most famous arches in the park is Delicate Arch. This arch has become widely recognized as a symbol of Utah, appearing on a U.S. Postage stamp and the state license plates. This sandstone formation stands alone, unlike most arches in the park. The largest natural arch is Landscape Arch, which is a thin ribbon of rock spanning 290 feet in length. Other features of the park include Fiery Furnace, which is a collection of narrow rock canyons. There are also tall sandstone fins and columns such as The Organ and the Courthouse Towers. All of these structures make up an impressive landscape on the Colorado Plateau.

The park's desert location can make it a difficult place to hike in the summer sun. It often reaches over 100 degrees, dropping quickly into the 60s at night. The winter is the least visited time at Arches National Park, as the temperature falls dramatically in these months. There is an occasional light dusting of snow over the area, which only adds to its unique coloring contrasts. There is a lot of plant life throughout the park such as prickly pear cacti, moss, Utah juniper, pinyon pine, and various grasses. The bright blue backdrop of the sky against the vivid rock towers is scenery that makes for beautiful photography.

There are many popular hikes for people to take around the park. You can climb between the sandstone fins of Devil's Garden or walk to the field between Sand Dune and Broken Arch. There are also many scenic drives along the park grounds that provide views of balancing rocks and more of the world's largest arches. The sunsets here are incredible and bring out the crimson hues of these immense rocks. There is also an array of wildlife to see including toads, jackrabbits, falcons, eagles, foxes, lizards, and deer. Another intriguing thing to observe in the park is the ancient rock art carved into stone near Wolfe Ranch. Visitors to this area also like to go horseback riding, mountain biking, skydiving, 4-wheeling, or cool off in the nearby rivers. Arches National Park is located next to many other national monuments and parks as well as nice tourism towns in Utah.

With so much to do and see in Arches National Park you'll want to be sure that you book a hotel close to it all, check out some of these great lodges, inns and motels: Bighorn Lodge, The Apache Motel, Canyonlands Inn, Aarchway Inn, Gonzo Inn and the Best Western Greenwell Inn. Not sure which one is right for you? Let a National Park Reservations specialists help you decide!

Call toll-free 855.238.0510 today!
 

Arches Lodging & Activity Options