How well do you know Arches National Park?
Arches National Park has the highest density of natural stone arches in the world. Six questions, from easy to hard, with explanations.
Did you know?
- Balanced Rock, a massive boulder perched on a narrow pedestal, stands about 128 feet tall. Its top rock is estimated to weigh about 3,600 tons.
- Edward Abbey, who worked as a seasonal ranger at Arches in the 1950s, wrote about the park in his book 'Desert Solitaire', which became a classic of American nature writing.
- Double Arch, two arches sharing one end, has the tallest opening in the park at about 112 feet. It appears in the opening scenes of the film 'Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade'.
How stone arches form
Arches National Park, near Moab, contains the greatest concentration of natural stone arches in the world. The park's red rock landscape also includes balanced rocks, fins and spires, all shaped by water, ice and time. Its dramatic scenery has made it one of Utah's most visited national parks and a favorite of photographers.
Salt beneath the surface
Hundreds of feet below the surface lies a thick layer of salt left by an ancient sea. Over time, the salt shifted under the weight of rock above, causing the land to bulge and crack. These cracks created long, narrow walls of sandstone called fins.
Water and ice at work
Rain and snowmelt seep into cracks in the fins. When water freezes, it expands and slowly breaks off pieces of rock. Over thousands of years, this process can hollow out openings that grow into arches. Eventually, erosion causes arches to collapse, and new ones form elsewhere.
Living soil
Much of the park's ground is covered by biological soil crust, a living layer of bacteria, lichens and mosses that holds soil in place and adds nutrients. It can take decades to recover when stepped on, so visitors are asked to stay on trails and slickrock.
Visiting the park
Arches can be very crowded, especially in spring and fall, and the park has used timed-entry reservations during busy seasons in recent years. Summer temperatures often exceed 100°F (38°C), so early morning and evening visits are more comfortable and offer the best light.
Dark skies
Arches is a certified International Dark Sky Park. On clear nights, visitors can see thousands of stars and the Milky Way framed by stone arches, a popular subject for night photographers.
Rock climbing and canyoneering
Arches attracts climbers and canyoneers, but many famous formations are off-limits for climbing to protect them. Permits are required for some activities, including exploring the maze-like Fiery Furnace without a ranger. These rules help preserve delicate rock and biological soil crust while still allowing adventurous visitors to experience the park's hidden corners.