Spring Vacation Part 3: Arches

This is the 3rd post in a series about our Spring Break Vacation this year.

On Day 3 of our vacation, the Monday morning of March 24, we packed some lunch and drinks and everything we'd need for the day and left our hotel in Moab for a day at Arches National Park. Our first stop in the park was the longest hike of the day: Delicate Arch. Last time Josh and I went to Arches, we saved the Delicate Arch hike for last and it was a mistake. I was so worn out, it was hot in the afternoon sun, and it took me forever to make it to the top. So, we decided it would be best if we did it first this time with the kids. And that turned out to be a fantastic choice! It wasn't too hot or crowded yet, and the boys were energetic and ready to go!

On the last stretch of the hike up to Delicate Arch, it's a narrow walkway along a ledge with a steep drop-off, and it freaked Micah out a bit, but he continued to press on!

It is such a beautiful sight to behold after the hour-long hike--especially because at no point along the hike can you even see it.

Josh had to gently lead Micah and Kanyon over to Delicate Arch because they were so afraid of falling off the edge of the mountain that the arch is on. This photo makes me laugh because it looks like they are being dragged against their will (which is only partially true!).

Josh and all the boys at Delicate Arch.

Josh & Kala at Delicate Arch

We spent about two hours at Delicate Arch: between the hike up, taking photos and snack break, and the walk back down to the car.

Our next stop was a picnic lunch at Devil's Garden, and then we began the walk to the Landscape Arch. Part of the walk includes a long stretch of walking in sand!

This arch is about the length of a football field, and because part of it fell off about 20 years ago, it is now fenced off, and this is as close as you can get to it. (You can see the rubble under the right side of the arch where it fell in the 90's).

We were all a little tired at that point, after already walking/hiking for miles and having lunch, so we took a little nap break!

Then we headed to Pine Tree Arch, which is one of my favorites! I love the short walk in sand to it, and the trees that grow at its base, and that you can walk through it and see so much of the landscape of the park behind it. Here's my boys sitting on a dead branch under the arch:

And here's a close-up of them. This photo makes me laugh!!! Can you see why?!!

As the boys explored the area, I was happy to sit in the sand and soak in all my surroundings!

On the way back to the car, the boys played in this awesome narrow incline of sand!

That stretch of sand is sandwiched between two tall rock walls, and is semi-hidden when you walk into this section of the park, but on the way out, it's really noticeable.

Our last stop at Arches was the Windows section. We started out on foot towards Double Arch (on the left). We explored that and hiked all over rocks underneath it, and then the boys hiked into the dark cave (on the right).

Made it to the top of the ridge in the 2nd arch!

And a close-up at the same location:

I stayed at a spot in the rock pile under the 1st arch.

Kanyon found a sun beam!

Ammon fits right into the surroundings in the next photo, don't you think?!!

In case you couldn't find him in the above photo, here's a close-up:

On the way back down from climbing to the 2nd arch.

The boys found some carvings in the rock behind me, so they got some small rocks and carved the rock, too!

Kanyon carved the name of his friend "Abby".
He said it was shorter than carving his own name! ;)

Micah was the first to begin the hike into the large cave that has two smaller cave inlets at the top.

Ammon thought he would be able to hike up to this "Key" shape hole that's in between Double Arch and the large cave, but he only made it about halfway before it became too steep to climb.

While we were waiting for the boys to climb the caves and Key hole, Josh and I found some more sand to sit in. When the boys were done climbing, they joined us!

Then we walked across the parking lot to the Windows. This is Turret Arch:

The boys thought they could make it to that little "eye hole", and they gave it a good effort, but it was impossible. They did make it to the peak in the center of the arch, though!

Here's North and South Windows--which to me look like Quasimoto's face!

The boys climbed as high as they could reach at North Window. I like Jonah's location--it looks like a perfectly recliner-shaped spot in the rock! And Kanyon was happy with standing by the boulder--that's as far as he wanted to get!

By late afternoon, we'd toured the major sites that have easy access in the park. It had been a beautiful day, and we all really enjoyed our time at Arches!