The National Park Foundation refers to Arches National Park as windows to the sky, and the park certainly delivers on this promise. The thousands of delicate rock archways throughout the park were carved and painted by the wind over millennia, and this same wind ensures that the arches are constantly evolving. Arches National Park lives up to all the hype and is a natural wonder that delights millions of visitors each year. If you are in the market for the perfect place to park your RV and call home while you explore, look no further than Esquire Estates MH & RV Park in Castle Dale, Utah.
ARCHES NATIONAL PARK
Esquire Estates MH & RV Park - Arches National Park
The Largest Density of Sandstone Arches
Arches National Park in Moab boasts the densest collection of natural sandstone arches anywhere. The arches provide a painterly representation of evolution over millions of years of geological events. The Arches is perched on what is known as a high desert, which has elevations that range from about 4,000 to about 5,600 feet above sea level in Southeast Utah. The landscape in the Arches offers unparalleled examples of all the following:
- Contrastingly colored rock striations of eye-popping reds, golds, oranges, and pinks
- Massive rock fins
- Impossibly balanced immense rock structures
- Soaring pinnacles
This wonderland of red rock does not disappoint.
Hikes, Hikes, Hikes, and More Hikes
If you love a good hike, you couldn’t have chosen a better destination. The Arches has gorgeous hikes for people with every level of ability – from novices to adrenaline junkies.
The Arches Visitor Center Nature Trail
Right behind the park’s welcoming visitor center is a short, paved path that highlights some of the desert’s native plants in all their glory.
Balanced Rock Viewpoint and Trail
Another trail that is accessible to most is Balanced Rock Viewpoint and Trail, which offers an up-close and personal view of this stunningly balanced monolith. The loop trail is partially paved and is a .3-mile hike that generally takes about 15 to 30 minutes to complete. Climbing on Balanced Rock is strictly forbidden.
Courthouse Wash Panel Trail
This trail allows you to hike a short path up to a rock markings panel above the Colorado River that provides an enticing glimpse into the lives of the area’s past inhabitants. This easy trail is partially paved and is a .8-mile round-trip hike.
Broken Arch Trail
The Broken Arch Trail crosses a glorious meadow on the way to Broken Arch then circles back through rock fins and sand dunes that require a bit of moderate scrambling. This round-trip hike is 1.2 miles and typically takes about an hour.
Double Arch Viewpoint and Trail
Double Arch is the tallest arch in the Arches at 122 feet, and while you can see it from the Windows parking lot, there is a relatively flat, easily traveled, gravel-surface path that leads to the scenic base of these expansive dueling arches. The total round-trip distance is .6 miles, and the 15 to 30 minutes of exertion is well worth the effort.
Delicate Arch Viewpoint Trails
These are the trails that afford the best views of the most famous arch in the park. Lower Viewpoint is a level path that is entirely wheelchair accessible with a round-trip length of 200 feet. Upper Viewpoint is a more challenging trek and comes in at half a mile.
There is also Delicate Arch Trail itself, which is a three-mile round-trip hike that is more considerably more strenuous. On the way, you’ll hike up more than 530 feet – crossing slickrock with no shade and passing historic Wolfe Ranch while climbing steadily along the way. Pay careful attention to the rock cairns and signs –allowing them to guide your way.Immediately before you arrive at Delicate Arch, you’ll need to traverse a narrow rock ledge for about 200 yards that is not suitable for those who are afraid of heights or who doubt their hiking ability. This beauty of a hike takes about 2 to 3 hours, and taking ample water is a necessity.
Landscape Arch Hike
Landscape Arch is another must-see arch in the park, and this 1.6-mile hike is geared for everyone – with flat, wide paths. Landscape Arch itself has a massive 306-foot spread, which puts it in the running for the world’s longest stone span. One of the oldest arches in the park, its extremely slender stone also makes it one of the most delicate.
Fiery Furnace Viewpoint
The Fiery Furnace gets its name honestly – for its vividly colored narrow slot canyons that mimic flames. This hike is a labyrinthian path through a narrow sandstone canyon that requires considerable hiking skill and agility. While the routes are marked, it’s still possible to get lost – and you shouldn’t go in unprepared. To explore on your own, you’ll need a permit.
Opportunities Abound
The Arches is one of the most visited parks in the nation – and the world – for good reasons, including its more than 73,000 acres of red-rock wonderland. When you’re in the Arches, the photo ops don’t end, and while the summer months are the busiest months, you haven’t seen anything until you’ve seen these majestic views dusted with snow. In other words, it’s always a good time to visit Arches National Park.
Don’t Forget the Night Sky
The International Dark-Sky Association has designated Arches National Park as a Certified Dark-Sky Park, which means that it boasts low light pollution and offers spectacular opportunities for stargazing. And to round things out nicely, there are also dramatic sunrises that pierce the never-ending sky.
You’ll Want to Extend Your Stay at Arches National Park
The beauty of Arches National Park cannot be overstated, and once you arrive, you may find it difficult to leave. Fortunately, Esquire Estates MH & RV Park, located at 425 Esquire Parkway in Castle Dale, Utah, can help you with that. Whether you’ve only got a few days to explore or are planning on spending more time with us, we offer the amenities, full hookups, and well-appointed RV pads that make spending time in the Arches that much more enjoyable. Don’t delay booking your stay by contacting or calling us at (435) 749-4920 today.