I’m a proud Wisconsinite, but, hey, when it comes to National Parks and Monuments, Utah holds a Royal Flush! My top three might be Arches, Bryce and Zion. Arches was first designated as a National Monument by President Herbert Hoover in 1929. It was changed to a National Park by an act of congress in 1971. Massive sandstone formations overlie a salt deposit. Over the millennia the sandstone has split into “fins” and erosion has created arches in many of these fins. Many varied and interesting formations can be found in the sandstone in addition to those that give the park its name. There are plenty of great trails for hikers and scenic roads for the more casual visitor. The photos in this gallery were all taken in September 2013 except for the last one, which was taken in October 1973.
By the way, if you’ve not yet read Desert Solitaire by Edward Abbey you might want to check it out. This is a memoir from when Abbey was a seasonal ranger in Arches National Monument in the late 1950s.
