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Hike to Delicate Arch in Arches National Park

Published by Jason Hussong, Writer

Country: United States

The Experience

Hiking to the Delicate Arch in Arches National Park in Utah is an experience not to be missed when in the area. The Delicate Arch trail is one of the most popular hikes, but is not for the faint of heart. As an exposed hike, the summer months and afternoon sun can be blistering hot, but it is well worth it to sit under the Delicate Arch and gaze out over huge expanses of Arches National Park laid bare before you. With no buildings to mar the panorama, it’s an amazing vista to relax and enjoy after a hard slough up the bare rock.

The Delicate Arch trek begins innocently enough at the remnants of the John Wesley Wolfe house, a Civil War veteran who homesteaded the area at the end of the 1800s in the new state of Utah. It is believed ancestral Pueblos and modern day Indian tribes, like the Utes, also settled in the area, but not like the Wolfe homestead as the remains of any settlements, particularly like those at nearby Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado, have not been located in Arches National Park. What has been located, just a little ways up an easy portion of the trail from the Wolfe homestead, are some pictographs though – a worthwhile short detour from the main trail to the Delicate Arch.

From Wolfe Ranch and the pictographs, the Delicate Arch trail becomes much more difficult as it’s up a steep rock that gives little noticeable evidence of it actually being apart of the route. The huffing and puffing in your lungs becomes more intense as the incline increases, but it is possible for even the most novice or out of shape hikers; setting an appropriate pace and bringing plenty of essentials, like water and snacks, is a necessity.

Those looking for a good dose of exercise will definitely appreciate that the Delicate Arch trail gets only slightly easier on the final third once over the big slick rock. Oddly enough, the Delicate Arch wasn’t initially included in the national monument designation in 1929 by President Herbert Hoover. Various expansion over the years of the monument ultimately brought the Delicate Arch under the control and care of the National Park Service, but it wasn’t until 1971 that congress designated the area as apart of the Arches National Park. In that designation is now a total of 2,000 sandstone arches, including Delicate Arch, and a great many other amazing rock formations.

The rest of the 1.5 mile long one-way Delicate Arch hike is well over 4,000 feet above sea level, weaving around various rock formations and hugging sharp cliff plateaus. The effort is well worth it though as the 52 foot (16m) tall Delicate Arch finally comes into view, revealing a spectacular sight that is sure to be memorable. And that’s just of the arch. Other arches and rock formations, like the Balanced Rock, are also distantly visible in the panorama.

It’s obvious while admiring the Delicate Arch after carefully climbing around the bowl at its base, why it’s represented on the Utah state license plate; it is a beautiful symbol for a state that has a wealth of stunning natural formations. It’s also clear why the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympic torch run found its way through the park, but probably more obviously why the Delicate Arch was originally known as “the Chaps” or “the Schoolmarm’s Bloomers” as it holds a certain resemblance to two giant legs.

No matter what you want to call the Delicate Arch though, it’s surely a gem in the 119 square mile (310 km2) Arches National Park, and well worth the hard hike up to it. With some 43 arches having collapsed due to erosion since 1970, it’s best to get to this one before it too falls prey to the forces of nature. Delicate Arch may not currently be the most endangered of all the arches in Arches National Park, but there’s no point in putting off such a great and memorable experience.

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When to Go to Delicate Arch

It's nothing short of suicidal to try to hike to the Delicate Arch in the hot summer months, especially under the afternoon sun, as temperatures can easily exceed 100F. Play it smart and go in the spring, definitely the best times of year to visit as it can get quite cold in the desert in the winter, and the fall is the rainiest time. It's also best to do the hike early in the morning to avoid the crowds on the Delicate Arch trail, as well as to capture a bit of tranquility as the sun's rays light up the arch and the surrounding area for great photographic opportunities.

Odds n' Ends

If you're doing the Delicate Arch trek, the biggest thing to keep in mind is to to bring plenty of water. The three miles roundtrip isn't exactly a long trail, but it's uphill the whole way there. If you go when the sun is out, especially in the hotter months, you'll be hurting if you don't have a good amount of hydration. Drinking a lot of water will also help battle the elevation sickness that can affect people who are not accustomed to being nearly a mile above sea level.

Places to Stay Nearby

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Mountain Bike The Red Rock Terrain of Moab, Utah: The terms "mountain biking" and "Moab" are almost synonymous, and it's difficult picturing the one without the other. This wasn’t always the case in the Utah city of Moab, in Grand County, U.S., which is now known for its adventurous mountain biking trails. It's only in the last couple of decades that the western U.S. city of Moab has become such a hotbed for outdoor enthusiasts. Quickly becoming one of the best mountain biking areas in the world, Moab offers more the just incredible off roading, it puts visitors right in the middle of beautiful red rock mesas and buttes. ...12 miles away.

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