Please enjoy the spectacular view from a distance!īecause the Devils Garden Primitive Loop is closed during the winter, we cannot, unfortunately, visit the several breathtaking arches that lie beyond Landscape Arch. Because of this uncertainty, visitors cannot stand directly under Landscape Arch, like you can with many of the other arches. We, as visitors, don’t know if these arches will fail in the next 100 years or the next 100 days. Landscape Arch is a reminder that all arches will eventually come crashing down. The exact cause of this arches structural failure is not known, however, it is likely heavy rains caused the delicate sandstone to saturate with water, making the arch heavier than it could bear at the time. In 1991 that exact event transpired! Visitors at the time remember hearing a cracking and popping sound coming from above, and then they fled the scene as approximately 180 tons of rock came crashing down onto the ground below. It looks as if the slightest breeze might knock it down. Once you arrive at Landscape Arch, the first thing you notice is how thin it is. Please stop by Moab Gear Trader on your way out to Arches National Park this winter and grab a pair of traction devices if you don’t already have some, you will not regret it. Having traction devices or even walking poles would have greatly improved my hiking experience. There were several occasions where, while researching this piece, I slipped and fell. This section of the trail is extremely slippery when ice is present. This arch is not close enough to the trail to walk underneath, but there is a pleasant little viewing area that gives you a great view of Tunnel Arch.Īfter visiting both Pine Tree and Tunnel Arch, you can continue on to the crown jewel of the hike: Landscape Arch. Stay on trails, please!Īfter enjoying Pine Tree Arch, you can turn around and walk a short distance to Tunnel Arch. The desert is a sensitive ecosystem and with the density of people who visit Arches National Park can do serious damage to the environment if led off-trail. There is clear signage indicating that the trail ends under the arch. There are several social trails leading away from this arch, please don’t follow them. It’s named so because of a pretty little pine tree you can see right at the center of the arch. Pine Tree Arch is a quaint little arch that you can walkthrough. Both are just a few minutes off the main trail and should be prioritized. The trail will lead you to an intersection and you can decide to hike downhill a short distance to see Pine Tree Arch and Tunnel Arch. The right side of the trail drops off and in the distance, you can see the rest of Arches National Park, as well as the La Sals and Castle Valley. The way the light hits the empty sandstone walls is quite breathtaking.Īfter you pass through the corridor, you will come to a wide snowy trail that meanders along a few more beautiful sandstone fins. The hike itself starts off down a beautiful sandstone corridor. The bathrooms are closed for the winter, so make sure you go before you reach the parking area. Drive past the turn off for Delicate Arch, and keep driving until you come to a short cul de sac with a parking lot and a bathroom at its end. The hike starts at the very end of the Arches National Park Road. However, simply hiking to Landscape Arch is worth the trip! Unfortunately, the full Devils Garden primitive trail after Landscape Arch is closed in the winter due to snow and ice. Moab Gear Trader has Moab’s best selection of winter gear and is Moabs winter sports headquarters!Īdditionally, the bathrooms at this end of Arches National Park are closed! So please use the restroom earlier on in the park.Īrches National Park has many cool arches to hike to (hence, the name…), but the Devils Garden trail to Landscape Arch has to be one of the coolest trails with the highest density of arches. I did not have my traction devices while doing this hike and I really wished I did! I slipped a few different times and ended up having to scoot down a very short hill. The trial is primarily North-facing, and there are a few short hills that can become extremely slippery. If you do decide to visit Landscape Arch Trail, you should definitely bring traction devices. So whether you’re a seasoned adventurer, or just getting started exploring your local hiking trails, the Landscape Arch Trail in Arches National Park should be high up on your list of must-do hikes. Getting outside and into the wild spaces around Moab can bring joy to even the most resistant hikers. The days are crisp and clear, you have the trails all to yourself, and the red desert cliffs contrast beautifully with the fresh white snow. Hiking during wintertime in Moab is a joy.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |