From nearby Moab we woke well before dawn to visit Arches National Park as the Sun spread over it. The temperature was 0 degrees F, which got our toes numb standing around in the fluffy snow, but watching from the La Sal Mountains Viewpoint as the sun and clouds swirled around the buttes of Arches made it very worthwhile.
From there we drove into the roads of the park, taking the many short hiking trails out to fanciful sandstone arches. Our route took us around to many different places, including Courthouse Towers, Tower of Babel, Petrified Dunes, Balanced Rock, Garden of Eden, Cove Arch, Parade of Elephants, Turret Arch, North Window arch, South Window arch, Panorama Point, Delicate Arch, Fiery Furnace, Sand Dune Arch, Broken Arch, Skyline Arch, Devil’s Garden, Landscape Arch, Partition Arch, Navajo Arch, and more.
Lots to see in a long day, and most arches were accessible except for the occasional snow and ice covered sedimentary rock. Every arch had its own character, framing completely different vistas through a unique shape and perspective.
Sunrise through clouds above the La Sal Mountains and buttes of Arches National Park
Buttes and La Sal Mountains, viewed from near Balanced Rock
Butte near La Sal Mountains Viewpoint, at sunrise with moon setting in background
Broken Arch
Snow and frost covered branches
Balanced Rock
Navajo Arch
Warm bounced sunset light on the sandstone wall contrasting with the bluish sky-shadow under a snow-covered tree
Turret Arch