After waking up pretty early and driving through Capitol Reef National Park (post coming later), I was truly anxious for a great time at Arches National Park – and I was by no means disappointed. I loved the drive through the Park, which made it very easy to check out a variety of arches and formations and that freaking balanced rock!!!

If you think you’re going to get pics of the arches without people in their clearing, you’re going to have to get there VERY early. I can’t say as I minded the people at all, however, as they provide a nice perspective to the size of what we’re dealing with.

Due to time constraints (and the heat), I didn’t do the hike to Delicate Arch. Instead I did a much shorter hike that took me to this vantage point. I would absolutely do the full hike that the people who can be seen in the pics did if I were to go back, however.

Perhaps my favorite part was seeing both the North and South Windows (above) and the Turret Arch (top), which I don’t feel gets the recognition it deserves. It’s an absolutely beautiful arch, in my mind.

Double Arch just takes your breath completely away – and when you see it in person you understand why Spielberg used it in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.

And then there’s Balanced Rock… You get up to this thing and then you’re just dumbfounded at how it can possibly remain standing. So.darn.cool.