Just past this is the still-impressive remaining structure of Landscape Arch. Nearby are the remains of Wall Arch – a 71 foot wide and 33 foot tall arch that collapsed on the evening of August 4th, 2008. In another tenth of a mile, you’ll see some of the results of that erosion. If you follow the full route described here, you’ll be coming back on the primitive trail that meets here. The arches themselves are constantly growing as they continue to be eroded until they eventually collapse – something that will be on display in just a short while.Īt the 1.3 mile mark, keep left to stay on the main trail. Most of the arch formations you’ve been seeing in the park so far are birthed from these stone slabs – as the softer dirt and sand near them weathers away, the exposed sandstone is eroded by wind, sand, and water. From this angle, many of them look like Bryce Canyon hoodoos, but they’re actually long, narrow sandstone fins. To your right the landscape is mostly flat, but to the left and straight ahead you’ll be able to see the strange angular rock formations you’ll be exploring the rest of the route. When you’ve had your fill, return 0.2 miles back to the main trail and take a right to continue heading into the Devil’s Garden.įor the next half a mile, the trail maintains an easy-to-follow path heading toward the northwest. You can walk directly through this arch or, as this group did, just have a little picnic there, too. Pine Tree Arch is a smaller, stouter affair than Tunnel Arch and is named for the junipers that grow almost directly underneath the arch’s ceiling. At the 0.3 mile mark take another right at the signed junction to reach Tunnel Arch – which is actually a full arch through a particularly thick section of sandstone (hence the tunnel) as well as a nearby second arch.īacktrack to the main trail and continue straight at the junction to check out nearby Pine Tree Arch at the 0.6 mile mark. Even in the off-season, the trailhead parking can be a crowded affair.įrom the trailhead, hike north for 0.2 miles on the wide dirt path as it squeezes through two large sandstone fins, then take a right at the signed junction to get to the side trail to your first major formation – Tunnel Arch. The trail begins at the end of Devil’s Garden Road, which is literally the end of the paved road in Arches National Park.īecause this trailhead is also near the Park’s one campground, this can sometimes be the busiest section of road even though it’s the farthest you can drive into the park without a 4WD vehicle. Once you get past the early sections you’ll be scrambling up and over long, narrow sandstone fins (future arches!), ducking under and crawling through existing arches, and trekking through ruggedly beautiful backcountry that few of the more casual tourists in Arches will ever get to see. The Devil’s Garden Trail is the longest and most difficult maintained trail in Arches National Park – and it’s also one of the most fun.
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