Arches National Park
By fishtiger58
@fishtiger58 (29823)
Momence, Illinois
March 30, 2017 11:39am CST
One of the National Parks my son was really looking forward to seeing was Arches National Park in Utah. He had plan to stay there a couple of days to really get to do some serious hiking and see all the wonderful arches in the park but those plans were foiled. He visited 5 National Parks in Utah and 4 of those had full campgrounds no camping to be had. He was very disappointed. He ended up camping over 20 miles away and had to cut short some of the things he wanted to do.
He told me he went back to Arches from his campsite and got there very early because he was afraid he would have to wait forever just to get in. He was right. He told me that when he got there a total of 2 cars were ahead of him in line. He hiked around for about 3 hours and then left to see another National Park before continuing on his trip. When he left the park he told me that there were over 100 cars waiting in line to get in. He was really hoping for a quiet day hiking but he said all the National Parks in Utah were busy. He was confused as it's March but apparently that doesn't matter in Utah.
His finger got in the way of this picture but just a tiny bit and I love this shot so decided to share with you all. I have his permission to use his pictures.
14 people like this
14 responses
@andriaperry (116860)
• Anniston, Alabama
30 Mar 17
I would LOVE to see this park. Aren`t those rocks so pretty?
2 people like this
@JohnRoberts (109857)
• Los Angeles, California
30 Mar 17
I have been to Arches. Very striking and unique scenery. Didn't know that was such a busy park.
2 people like this
@fishtiger58 (29823)
• Momence, Illinois
1 Apr 17
He didn't either, but as it turned out he visited 5 National Parks in Utah and 3 of them were extremely busy. He found that odd as it was March. He figured they would be all but deserted
1 person likes this
@Shellyann36 (11385)
• United States
12 Apr 17
Wow, I wonder when the down-time for the parks in that area is? Glad he got some good shots and at least some hiking done.
1 person likes this
@Shellyann36 (11385)
• United States
12 Apr 17
@fishtiger58 I guess if I ever get to go see these places I will need to research thoroughly when the down times are. I hope he was able to see a few of the sites at Grand Canyon National Park.
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29823)
• Momence, Illinois
14 Apr 17
@Shellyann36 He did but not as much as he wanted to see, he was quickly sick of all the crowds and moved on in his trip to the next stop,
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29823)
• Momence, Illinois
12 Apr 17
He sure thought it was when he was there but the place was packed. He ran into the same thing at Grand Canyon National Park.
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29823)
• Momence, Illinois
1 Apr 17
I found that strange too and he found this to be true at like 3 of the 5 National Parks in Utah.
@DianneN (246720)
• United States
1 Apr 17
@fishtiger58 I passed through with my parents, two brothers, and the dog on a road trip to CA. Loved it.
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29823)
• Momence, Illinois
1 Apr 17
lol yea he wasn't happy about his finger in there but the pic is still good. Utah is beautiful I passed through many many years ago on my way to California to help my brother move.
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29823)
• Momence, Illinois
2 Apr 17
@DianneN Yes gorgeous area I wish I had had more time to stop and see the sights.
1 person likes this
@ridingbet (66857)
• Philippines
31 Mar 17
those are sunning shots of those arches, maybe made by the winds of the desert?
1 person likes this
@ridingbet (66857)
• Philippines
2 Apr 17
@fishtiger58 but isn't the location a desert?
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29823)
• Momence, Illinois
2 Apr 17
@ridingbet I'm thinking these were formed millions of years ago and there could have been water
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29823)
• Momence, Illinois
1 Apr 17
Or water perhaps, I'm not really sure. Yes they are just beautiful.
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29823)
• Momence, Illinois
1 Apr 17
There are several National Parks in the US that are very popular and hard to get in
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (458006)
• Switzerland
2 Apr 17
@fishtiger58 This is what I have noticed too.
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29823)
• Momence, Illinois
2 Apr 17
They are so much less busy the farther east you are from the west in the US. He didn't experience long lines until he got into the western part of the United States.
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29823)
• Momence, Illinois
2 Apr 17
@LadyDuck Glad he went and now I know when to show up to the National Parks I plan to visit out west.
1 person likes this
@sueznewz2 (10409)
• Alicante, Spain
31 Mar 17
I'm glad he got to see it...even if it was not for quite as long as he hoped...i've been to the parks they are beautiful .... and very popular throughout the year...
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29823)
• Momence, Illinois
1 Apr 17
He was smart and got in early or he could have waited for hours.
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21854)
• Canada
2 Apr 17
Wow that is a gorgeous sight. I have been in the state but not in a car, just in a plane, I would love to see it for myself, maybe in my next life.
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29823)
• Momence, Illinois
2 Apr 17
I'm also hoping to make it there sometime. I drove through Utah once a long time ago but no time to stop and see the sights.
1 person likes this
@just4him (306090)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
2 Apr 17
@fishtiger58 I'm sure he was.
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29823)
• Momence, Illinois
1 Apr 17
So was he, he was stunned on the way out how many cars were waiting to get in.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325720)
• Rockingham, Australia
2 Apr 17
@fishtiger58 Some can be busy from time to time but I've never heard of queues.
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29823)
• Momence, Illinois
2 Apr 17
@JudyEv He was pretty surprised as it was March, he was expecting deserted National Parks
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29823)
• Momence, Illinois
1 Apr 17
I think Arches is one of the most popular in our country. Along with The Grand Canyon National Park. He told me Grand Canyon was really busy the day he visited too.
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29823)
• Momence, Illinois
1 Apr 17
Thanks yes I would love to visit here and hopefully someday I will.
@fishtiger58 (29823)
• Momence, Illinois
7 Apr 17
I suppose so, but this was middle of March he was pretty amazed that many people were out there.
