In Which We See the Textures and Shapes of Arches

Arches National Park is one of the most popular nature destinations in Utah, and an incredible popular national park overall.

With more than 2000 natural arches, hundreds of pinnacle rock formations, and even fascinating balanced rocks, this is a spectacular desert landscape without question.

But there is more than just the massive and immediately obvious monuments. I like looking a little closer and seeing the details of the landscape, the shapes and textures that lead to the grandiosity of the vistas we are so impressed by.

Just entering the park, the first thing you might notice is the piles of red rocks, many of which do still bear the marks of man as the landscape was cut into to make the roads. They look amazing regardless, and the variety of color always amazes me.

After winding through the park for a bit, you might see the rising sun shedding light on rocky shapes.

Pull over to the side of the road -- there are handy little pull-outs throughout the park, take advantage of them! -- and you will see countless rocky shapes, as well as sandy textures and plant life adding interest.

It's especially awe-inspiring when you start to hit the really RED red rock, rather than the more subtle colors of the earlier parts of the park. That red tone is what makes this area of the country so famous.

One of the places I especially enjoyed as a pull-out view was what I call the "eyes" of Arches. There are actually three arches in the process of being formed, but two of them, framed just right, reminded me of a pair of eyes watching the park and its visitors.

Every time I go to Arches, I see something different and experience the park in a different way. I look forward to still more trips in the future!