Delicate Arch is a world famous photography location. It is located within Arches National Park and the Delicate Arch Trail is the most popular hiking trail is the park. The Delicate Arch Trail is about 3.7 miles round trip with some elevation gains. It is recommended to do this hike early in the morning or late in the afternoon to avoid the hot weather. It can get as hot as 100 degrees during the day.
We got to Delicate Arch trail head around 6PM and it was still so hot. We had to make sure we carry enough water before we start. When we were at the parking lot, there were still many parking spaces but it was filling up fast. Thus we figured that we came at around the right time.
The hiking trail started flat but start to climb a little over the small hill. This was not a big deal. Then the trail came to a rock that requires you to climb upwards. This was the hardest part of the trail. The climb is about 0.5 miles long and many people were going very slowly here. The climb was actually not that difficult and we were able to keep up our pace without taking a break. Once we got to the top of the trail, we saw many piles of rocks lined up nicely on the side.
We continued down the trail through some sandy patches and over the rocks. There were places where the rocky trail was quite narrow and could only allow a single person to pass through. As we were close to get to the end, the trail went around the cliff with vertical drop on 1 side. The trail was only about 2 feet wide. For people with fear of height, it would be better to go when no one is coming from the opposite direction.
Once we got to Delicate Arch, there were so many people there. We weren't expecting such a big crowd. It was crazy. Everyone was there simply to enjoy the sunset. We even saw people resting there waiting for nightfall to come.
We saw there for about an hour to enjoy the breeze and the view. It was quite amazing and we loved it. When it was 8PM, we decided to head back while it was still bright. As we head back, we still see a lot of people coming up. When we got back to the parking lot, the parking lot was full!
Delicate Arch Trail is definitely a must do when visiting Arches National Park!
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