Arches and Colorado River

Arches National Park

This is our second time we have been to Arches. The first time was in September 2008 and it seemed much less crowded this time.  The funny part is that the weather right now is very unsettled.  The first day we didn't get rain or a thunderstorm but the skies were certainly right.

Here is a collection of rock features.  Some areas were closed to the public because of flooding and construction but with over 2000 arches and counting there is no lack of something to see.

Tower of Babel

Balanced Rock

North Window 

Confused Clouds

Courthouse Towers

Colorado River

Our next day we drove down to the river and crossed over the bridge and explored along the cliff face beside the river.  Our dog PD just loved it as we let him run loose on the undeveloped trail.  Lesson learned for today: Red mud is really hard to remove from boot treads!

Back to Arches

Broken Arch

Broken Arch the other side

Entrance to Sand Dune Arch

Sand Dune Arch

North and South Windows

Turret Arch

The skies were certainly full of rain and the whole valley was full of lightening and thunder.  I was thinking it was time to GET, especially when the thunder could be heard, first from the right and then from the left.  I guess that means the storm was upon us.

As I was dashing for the truck many people were heading up into the features.  The rain was so hard on the way out that the wipers wouldn't keep up and the water was pouring off the cliffs and on to the road in some spots.  Spectacular end to the day...