The Windows
The Windows Section of Arches National Park offers the most “arches” bang for your buck, i.e. dozens of arches can be seen with just a stroll along short, mostly flat/rolling trails.
Most prominent are the North Window (#17) 1 and South Window (#18). “Window” is just another term used to describe an arch that frames a beautiful view.
Here’s the North Window …
Here’s the South Window …
Notice the shadow cast by the arch …
Opposite the North and South Windows is the Turret Arch. Well, actually it’s two arches: the larger arch on the right is the Turret Arch North (#19), and the smaller arch on the left is the Turret Arch South (#20) …
We took the Primitive Trail, looping behind the North and South Windows. Here they are as seen from behind and fully illuminated in the morning light …
The Double Arch is another prominent feature here. And again, it’s actually two arches: Double Arch West (#21) and Double Arch South (#22), which come together and share a common end …
And here’s the view from high up within the Double Arch looking back to the parking area and the La Sal mountains in the distance …
Next to the Double Arch stands a set of prominent rocks called the Parade of Elephants. Can you make out the elephants?
The arch in the picture above is Parade of Elephants North (#23), and the arch in the picture below, taken from a slightly different angle, is Parade of Elephants South (#24) …
(Hint: One elephant is the tower in the center. Another elephant is behind it and to the left. Both elephants are facing left.)
If you have just a little time in Arches National Park, be sure to stop by the Windows Section. You won’t be disappointed!
List of arches seen on this trip:
Tapestry
Broken
Tunnel
unnamed, adjacent to Tunnel
unnamed, adjacent to Tunnel
Pine Tree
Landscape
Partition
Sand Dune
Skyline
Navajo
Black Rock
Double O
Private
Delicate
Frame
North Window
South Window
Turret Arch North
Turret Arch South
Double Arch West
Double Arch South
Parade of Elephants North
Parade of Elephants South