Arches National Park in Utah
A few years ago Cosmopolitan Magazine, selected Utah's beautiful Arches National Park was as one of the sexiest places to visit in the United States.
As for the park's sex appeal you'll have to be the judge, I can tell you the park, five miles north of Moab, is an exquisite place filled with striking rock formations and hiking trails.
Spectacular scenery encircles visitors in all directions, as far as the eye can see, nature has been a sculptor.
With more than 2,000 natural arches, the park holds the world's largest variety of sandstone spans.
The remarkable landscape is part of what is better known as the Colorado Plateau.
The Colorado Plateau began rising more than 15 million years ago and includes much of Utah, parts of Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona.
Pink, purple and brilliant red rock forms that have eroded into spires, balanced formations and arches punctuate the area.
The formations seem to change color, even shape, depending on the position of the sun and the movement of the clouds.
With more than 10 maintained trails for all levels of walkers and hikers, you might even trek along stone-walled trails that follow in the footsteps of the Anasazi and other American Indians who, centuries ago, freely roamed what is now southern Utah.
Exploring the park, visitors may encounter petroglyphs scratched into the walls by early tribes.
Henry David Thoreau wrote, "The finest workers in stone are not copper or steel tools, but the gentle touches of air and water working at their leisure with a liberal allowance of time.
" He may well have been describing Utah's Arches National Park.
Grains of sand cemented together form the landscape of the park.
Boulder formations millions of years old have been redesigned by wind and water erosion throughout the ages.
Much of the park is made up of what is known as Navajo sandstone.
Some geologists think that rocks in the area are from the upper Jurassic period, which began 205 million years ago.
Early autumn is a good time to visit any of America's 390 parks, monuments, battlefields, recreation areas, historic sites and other areas, the weather is generally good and the crowds have slackened off.
Another great recreational area to visit while in southeastern Utah is nearby Canyonlands National Park, which is less crowded than Arches.
If You Visit If you are visiting Las Vegas, Nevada consider Arches as a side trip.
The park is about 450-miles from Las Vegas to Moab.
You can get there by taking highway I-15 north like you were going to Salt Lake City.
Approximately 250 miles from Las Vegas exit onto I-70 going toward Denver, travel about 180 miles eastward to US-191 which takes you into Moab.
There will be countless directional signs for the Arches National Park and other tourist information available throughout the area.
It is best to take along layered clothing and your own snacks and drinking water to consume while in this or any national park.
End
As for the park's sex appeal you'll have to be the judge, I can tell you the park, five miles north of Moab, is an exquisite place filled with striking rock formations and hiking trails.
Spectacular scenery encircles visitors in all directions, as far as the eye can see, nature has been a sculptor.
With more than 2,000 natural arches, the park holds the world's largest variety of sandstone spans.
The remarkable landscape is part of what is better known as the Colorado Plateau.
The Colorado Plateau began rising more than 15 million years ago and includes much of Utah, parts of Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona.
Pink, purple and brilliant red rock forms that have eroded into spires, balanced formations and arches punctuate the area.
The formations seem to change color, even shape, depending on the position of the sun and the movement of the clouds.
With more than 10 maintained trails for all levels of walkers and hikers, you might even trek along stone-walled trails that follow in the footsteps of the Anasazi and other American Indians who, centuries ago, freely roamed what is now southern Utah.
Exploring the park, visitors may encounter petroglyphs scratched into the walls by early tribes.
Henry David Thoreau wrote, "The finest workers in stone are not copper or steel tools, but the gentle touches of air and water working at their leisure with a liberal allowance of time.
" He may well have been describing Utah's Arches National Park.
Grains of sand cemented together form the landscape of the park.
Boulder formations millions of years old have been redesigned by wind and water erosion throughout the ages.
Much of the park is made up of what is known as Navajo sandstone.
Some geologists think that rocks in the area are from the upper Jurassic period, which began 205 million years ago.
Early autumn is a good time to visit any of America's 390 parks, monuments, battlefields, recreation areas, historic sites and other areas, the weather is generally good and the crowds have slackened off.
Another great recreational area to visit while in southeastern Utah is nearby Canyonlands National Park, which is less crowded than Arches.
If You Visit If you are visiting Las Vegas, Nevada consider Arches as a side trip.
The park is about 450-miles from Las Vegas to Moab.
You can get there by taking highway I-15 north like you were going to Salt Lake City.
Approximately 250 miles from Las Vegas exit onto I-70 going toward Denver, travel about 180 miles eastward to US-191 which takes you into Moab.
There will be countless directional signs for the Arches National Park and other tourist information available throughout the area.
It is best to take along layered clothing and your own snacks and drinking water to consume while in this or any national park.
End
Source...