#The trail underneath the landscape arch series

But, Landscape Arch is just one of seven arches (and probably more unnamed ones) along the longer Devils Garden Loop, which involves 7.5 miles of hiking. ItвЂ™s about one mile (one way) out to Landscape Arch, and if you hike straight back, youвЂ™ll have a two-mile trip. The hike to Landscape Arch is just part of a longer hike through Devils Garden. It was hard to believe I was in one of AmericaвЂ™s most popular national parks, and I had it all to myself. The hikeВ begins at the trailhead at the end of the road and immediately squeezes between some rocky cliffs and sandstone formations.Д®verything was nicely frosted with snow, and the sky was still overcast.

There were only a couple of other cars there, and just a few sets of footprints in the snow, so I knew IвЂ™d have the hike to Landscape Arch in winter almost entirely to myself. I ended up at the end of the road, at the north end of Arches National Park, at Devils Garden, just as the snow was turning to flurries. You can see that part of my visit on the Arches in Winter page. I enjoyed a nice drive through the park in the snow while the sky was still dim and blue. The forecast had predicted two or three hours of snow, right around sunrise, and it was exactly right. The parkвЂ™s dark sky and frequent star parties are a few more highlights for those who choose to stay overnight.I arrived in Arches National Park before dawn. Photographers dream of the chance to see these rock landmarks in the fleeting light of day, adding more color to the rich earth hues found throughout the park. The Devils Garden Campground offers a great opportunity to enjoy the parkвЂ™s backcountry, and an unhurried visit to these magnificent natural wonders.

#The trail underneath the landscape arch series

Returning over the Fin Canyon Trail, a little more of a challenge to the hiker, puts arch hunters on a quest for a series of well hidden spans, such as Private, Crystal and Hidden arches. Taking on the entire Devils Garden Trail, this hike leads to a cluster of the parkвЂ™s most prominent arches, including the spectacular Double O Arch, Black Arch and Pine Tree Arch. For those filled with a spirit of adventure, hikers may find the parkвЂ™s largest concentration of these rock wonders in the Devils Garden. Sometime during the night of August 4, 2008, the 71 foot Wall Arch collapsed, giving park visitors some insight on the life cycle of an arch.ДЄlthough Arches National Park catalogs over 2000 arches, there are only about 100 that are considered significant. Here in Arches National Park, collapsing arches isnвЂ™t something new. With visitor safety in mind, park officials quickly closed the pathway under the arch. Caught on video, on September 1, 1991, a 73 foot slab fell from the thinnest section of the arch. During the 90s, on two occasions, massive sections of this natural rock arch peeled away.

But, like any other records, it may not last. Composed of Entrada sandstone, Landscape Arch may also hold the record as the longest span in the world. Found in the Devils Garden Section, Landscape Arch is the longest rock span in the park, measuring a fraction over 290 feet. This extremely thin ribbon of rock may lead some to think it's the famous icon of Arches National Park, Delicate Arch.