Delicate Arch welcomes the morning sun as snow-capped mountains form a backdrop.
Sue stands on a ledge on the path to Delicate Arch.
Violent forces lasting millions of years have produced one of the most peaceful and inspiring sites on Earth, Arches National Park in Utah.
We knew that small parking lots at trail heads fill up quickly on busy days so we left early this morning, thinking a Monday would be a good bet. It worked.
Formed by water and ice, extreme temperatures and salt movement underground, more than 2,000 arches grace the park.
We started with the most popular, Delicate Arch, and the three-mile trek was almost as spectacular as the destination. By the time we returned to our car, the parking spaces were full. The park is expanding the lot, making us speculate about the resulting crowded conditions at the arch.
Another trek took us to Landscape Arch, the park's longest, at 306 feet.
At the Fiery Furnace, top photo, we learned the redness in the rocks is caused by oxidized iron. They turn white when the iron is washed out.
This park has much more than arches, as you will see when you visit the Courthouse Towers.
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