Slightly north of Moab, Utah you’ll find yourself at Arches National Park — it’s more than 76 thousand acres of oceanic bed turned salt flat turned sandstone sediment deposit. These sediment deposits have dissolved over time forming literal arches all over the park, hence the name.

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Arches National Park

Since 1929, travelers have come to see this remarkable landscape which looks astonishingly similar to ruins of a grand, ancient city.

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Do you see the walls of an ancient fortress?
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The Turret Arch or Eye of Fatima?

Summertime is peak season for travelers, but as we drove through the park in early December, warning signs of traffic congestion seemed misplaced.

Peak temperatures during the summertime can surpass 100º F and dips below 0º F is not uncommon in winter. A bonus to visiting in the warm season, when camping is more favorable, is to see the nighttime sky. Due to the park’s remote location and high elevation, it’s an astronomer’s field day (or night).

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Looking through the Turret Arch is like a window to the world
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The view is dubbed the “Garden of Eden”
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Do you see a Sphinx or only sediment deposit?
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These men-like figures are known as “The Three Gossips”
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La Sal Mountains

Beyond the park, the La Sal mountains stand colossal in the backdrop. Mount Peale peaks above them all at 12,721 feet above sea level.

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Nature, Immense

And here is my favorite shot from the day.

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