Arches National Park has more than 2,000 stone arches that range from thin cracks in the rock to the magnificent 300-foot long Landscape Arch. They are the result of millions of years of erosion, deposition, and other geological events that have affected the soft sandstone.

For a short visit, you can take the 18-mile long scenic road, but you will see much more by hiking one of the narrow unmarked trails. Walk with care, as the surrounding desert plants are fragile. Humans have been living in the area for 10,000 years and you can see colorful, large pictographs a few miles north of Moab.

Arches National Park is one of the most famous places to visit in Utah. The best times to go are early spring and fall. Park rangers offer very informative tours, from a one-mile easy interpretative hike to the adrenaline-pumping Fiery Furnace Hike that includes some serious rock scrambling.

The seemingly lifeless desert is home to a surprising number of animals such as desert rodents, ringtails, skunks, foxes, mountain lions, bobcats, bats, owls, and many others.

Arches National Park Zion National Park Monument Valley Great Salt Lake Canyonlands National Park Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument Homestead Crater Bear Lake Capitol Reef National Park Bryce Canyon National Park Mount Timpanogos Goosenecks State Park Grand Canyon North Rim Mesa Verde National Park Cedar Breaks National Monument Natural Bridges National Monument Heber City - Heber Valley Historic Railroad Dinosaur National Monument Dead Horse Point Golden Spike National Historic Site Timpanogos Cave National Monument Hovenweep National Monument Flaming Gorge Dixie National Forest Paria Canyon, Utah

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