That is the Delicate Arch at the Arches National Park, Utah. I remember my Geology professor refer to it as one of the most popular natural arches. It is gigantic as you can see and beautifully located at the edge of a cliff. It is one of the several arches at the park. The Delicate Arch in particular needs some patience and good energy before you can view it up close. It is located at the top of a hill so you need to hike for about an hour or so with a few breaks on the way. During summers it can be very tiring but the trip is rewarding once you reach the arch. On the way there are a few petroglyphs - simple but arousing curiosity. One wonders what are they trying to say. The one below probably indicated a grazing herd of sheep guarded by men on horses and sheep dogs. The park area is more like a dessert so plant life like cactus can be seen all over the place.
One of the ways to reach the park is to fly down to Salt Lake City and drive down South to the park. A vehicle with a 4WD proves to be handy as the terrain is rough at many spots in the park. Moab is the closest town further south of the park. There are a good number of places for lodging and dining. I cannot take my mind off Sage's Cafe in Salt Lake City though. If you are into organic vegetarian food then you will love this restaurant.
After paying the fees at the park entrance a stop by the visitor's center is helpful. Park rangers at the center provide useful information about navigating through the park. The gift store has some very good souvenirs and of course one needs maps. The way out of the park to Moab and back is time consuming so a good stock of food and water is of great help that one realizes much later during the day.
The park basically has a number of natural arches and other geological formations caused due to weathering and erosion over a large time period. Most of these formations are amazingly huge - only to be experienced. For example the Balanced Rock (left), The Three Gossips (center) and Park Avenue (right)
Light plays a very important role in enhancing the beauty of this park. An ideal day to visit would a bright sunny day in the fall season. It should not get too hot during the daytime and one could enjoy some awesome vistas until 6pm or so. Especially towards sunset and even after that some of the places like Park Avenue are a sight to see. Rocks of various shapes and sizes coupled with one's imagination brings them to life. I called this one the Lion King (below left) and there is the Egyptian head at Park Avenue (below center). The next one on the right looks like a whole city or more aptly a kingdom.
It is a photographer's paradise. The reddish brown color of the rocks with the varying play of sunlight at various times of the day makes this place very photogenic. In fact I did notice an artist lounging on one of the rocks and sketching away happily. Such a timeless experience. I am not big on photography but I do have my moments. I enjoyed taking pictures all over the park. The place triggered the creative self in me. I shot these pictures with a Nikon Coolpix 5700.
This is just a nutshell of what the park has to offer. The more time one spends the more there will be to be discovered. Also, there are other parks in the vicinity that one could visit. More details can be found on the park's website.
One of the ways to reach the park is to fly down to Salt Lake City and drive down South to the park. A vehicle with a 4WD proves to be handy as the terrain is rough at many spots in the park. Moab is the closest town further south of the park. There are a good number of places for lodging and dining. I cannot take my mind off Sage's Cafe in Salt Lake City though. If you are into organic vegetarian food then you will love this restaurant.
After paying the fees at the park entrance a stop by the visitor's center is helpful. Park rangers at the center provide useful information about navigating through the park. The gift store has some very good souvenirs and of course one needs maps. The way out of the park to Moab and back is time consuming so a good stock of food and water is of great help that one realizes much later during the day.
The park basically has a number of natural arches and other geological formations caused due to weathering and erosion over a large time period. Most of these formations are amazingly huge - only to be experienced. For example the Balanced Rock (left), The Three Gossips (center) and Park Avenue (right)
Light plays a very important role in enhancing the beauty of this park. An ideal day to visit would a bright sunny day in the fall season. It should not get too hot during the daytime and one could enjoy some awesome vistas until 6pm or so. Especially towards sunset and even after that some of the places like Park Avenue are a sight to see. Rocks of various shapes and sizes coupled with one's imagination brings them to life. I called this one the Lion King (below left) and there is the Egyptian head at Park Avenue (below center). The next one on the right looks like a whole city or more aptly a kingdom.
It is a photographer's paradise. The reddish brown color of the rocks with the varying play of sunlight at various times of the day makes this place very photogenic. In fact I did notice an artist lounging on one of the rocks and sketching away happily. Such a timeless experience. I am not big on photography but I do have my moments. I enjoyed taking pictures all over the park. The place triggered the creative self in me. I shot these pictures with a Nikon Coolpix 5700.
This is just a nutshell of what the park has to offer. The more time one spends the more there will be to be discovered. Also, there are other parks in the vicinity that one could visit. More details can be found on the park's website.
