Trail Head: Take 1-70 to the HWY 191/Moab Exit. Take 191 south until you get to the Arches National Park turn off (approximately 25 miles). After the park turnoff, travel just over 9 miles to the Delicate Arch/Wolf Ranch turnoff, then another 1.25 miles to the Wolfe Ranch parking area. Detailed Description: The Hike to Delicate Arch is a moderate hike with an elevation gain of around 560 feet spread over 1.5 miles (the biggest elevation gain happens in the last half mile). There is no shade anywhere on this trail and the red rock will reflect most of the heat back to you well through the afternoon and evening. As you leave the parking lot and start on the trail, the Wolfe Ranch corral and house is still standing after 100 years thanks to preservation efforts. If you plan on looking at this we suggest doing it before the hike as you probably will only be interested in your air conditioned car when you get back. Just after the Ranch, the trail will cross over Salt Wash which leads to the Colorado River and then up the first incline. There is one big switchback up this incline with a gain of about 50 feet. The trail will continue for about half a mile on a packed dirt trail at which point you will start to cross onto slickrock. You will then be following the slickrock for the rest of the hike; the path on the slick rock will be faint at times but you will see rock cairns set up by the park rangers to guide you past these points. As you get near the arch, the rock formations will start to be amazing so keep your head up as you pass these rills and channels carved into the slick rock. The last push will take you around a giant petrified sand dune with a steep wash and mini slot canyon that you will skirt and some careless hikers have been known to fall in. As you round the last turn the Delicate Arch will come into a spectacular full view with a slickrock bowl on one side and a steep cliff on the other. The view is awesome and through late spring the distant snow-capped mountains give a great contrast to the desert you are surrounded by. Additional information: The Park Service suggest you take a liter of water for this hike, especially in Summer when temperatures reach 110° F. or more. Maps:
Overview: Arguably the most recognized rock arch in the world, Delicate Arch is a wonder to behold. Not only is the Delicate Arch amazing, the hike through the great Utah slick rock and surrounding desert is a great preview to the main event!
Trail End
©Google Earth
Pictures:
2 comments
Hiking to Delicate Arch at midnight and during the winter is, in my humble opinion, the very best time to go there. Of course, living in Moag allows me to do that whenever I want.
Posted on September 8, 2009 1:42 PM
Beautiful photos, reminds me of things I have left to do (I've been through the Utah area hitchhiking and on meandering road trips but haven't hiked there much, slept by the road usually). Another area where I lived and hiked a lot, the Ozarks, used to be desert canyon country about ten thousand years ago. There are quite a few rock formations similar to these but obscured by forests, not so famous. The Pedestal Rocks area in the Quachita Mountains is one of the best. Well worth a day of hiking if you're ever on Highway 7. Better for photography about ten thousand years BC.
Posted on May 21, 2010 8:34 AM
Post a Comment