Devils Garden Trail, Part 1

Today was our first day “off”, so we wanted to hike one of the longer, more difficult trails in the Arches National Park. We hiked the full Devils Garden Loop, going out on the main trail and returning via the Primitive Trail, about 8.5 miles in total, since we walked to the trailhead from our cabin. It was a beautiful day — crisp, clear, stunning blue sky, temps getting to the 60s — perfect for hiking. The trail was great — so many arches and changing landscapes, and some challenges along the way.

First we came to the Landscape Arch (#7) ¹, which we had seen in the snow earlier this week, but this time fully illuminated in the morning sunlight. A portion of the Partition Arch (#8) is visible to the right …

Landscape Arch, the longest stone span in North America, stretches 306 feet, yet is only 11 feet thick at its center. Arches can erode at any time, and in September 1991 a 60-foot-long slab dropped from the arch’s thinnest section.

Next we ascended a steeper section of the trail …

Which lead to spur trails that took us to the aptly named Partition Arch (#8) …

and then to the very cool Navajo Arch (#11).

Back on the main trail, we ascended a fin to a narrow ridge, maybe 100 yards long and 2-3 yards wide, with steep dropoffs left and right, which reminded Nancy of the Angels Landing hike she did in Zion National Park. But she got thru it.

We paused at the Black Rock Overlook to admire the stunning scenery to our north. Black Rock Arch (#12) is seen in the distance.

[In Part 2 tomorrow, we’ll described the Double O Arch, the Dark Angel, lunch at the Private Arch, and the walk out on the Primitive Trail.]

1. List of arches seen on this trip:

1. Tapestry

2. Broken

3. Tunnel

4. unnamed, adjacent to Tunnel

5. unnamed, adjacent to Tunnel

6. Pine Tree

7. Landscape

8. Partition

9. Sand Dune

10. Skyline

11. Navajo

12. Black Rock