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Arches National Park

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About the Photo Photo: Johnboy11267, Fodors.com member

Arches National Park Travel Guide

The red rock landscape of Arches National Park awakens the spirit and challenges the imagination: balanced rocks teeter unthinkably on pedestals; sandstone arches -- of which there are more than 2,000 -- frame the sky with peekaboo windows; and formations like the Three Penguins greet you at points throughout the 73,379-acre park. Far from a stereotypical beige-tone palette with the occasional cactus, the desert here is adorned with a rich tapestry of colors: red, orange, purple, pink, creamy ivory, deep chocolate, and even shades of turquoise. The Fiery Furnace burns like a wildfire at sunset, and acres of petrified sand dunes rise across the horizon.

The sky is big here, so it's easy to spot many of the arches from your car. But despite the endless horizon, you should really step outside and walk beneath the spans and giant walls of orange rock. This gives you a much better idea of their proportion. No doubt you will feel as writer Edward Abbey did when he awoke on his first day as a park ranger in Arches: that you're walking in the most beautiful place on Earth.

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Arches in One Day
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About the Photo

About the Photo Turret Arch, Arches National Park, Utah
"Red rocks and blue skies go together perfectly. I've seen this little gem three times in my life, and each time I reach the end of the trail, I just stop, take a deep breath and smile. It's best enjoyed without a large crowd, but then, isn't everything?"

—Johnboy11267

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