Chicago Trip, Day 13, Scenic Highway 313, Dead Horse Point State Park, Arches National Park

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North America » United States » Utah
May 11th 2023

Published: May 26th 2023

Jamie and Laura

Today was another magical day! We started our day with a drive along scenic Highway 313 on our way to Dead Horse Point State Park, and then spent the rest of the day at Arches National Park. We did two major hikes: a long steep hike to the Delicate Arch Viewpoint (not to the arch itself) and a long, less steep hike to Sand Dune Arch, Broken Arch, and Tapestry Arch that ended our day with a glorious sunset. What a day!

Additional photos below

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We started our day with a scenic drive along Highway 313. This is Cliffline Viewpoint, where we can see where we are going.

We started our day with a scenic drive along Highway 313. This is Cliffline Viewpoint, where we can see where we are going.

We started our day with a scenic drive along Highway 313. This is Cliffline Viewpoint, where we can see where we are going.

It was also full of the usual red cliffs.

It was also full of the usual red cliffs.

It was also full of the usual red cliffs.

The next stop on the scenic drive was Monitor and Merrimac Buttes viewpoint

The next stop on the scenic drive was Monitor and Merrimac Buttes viewpoint

The next stop on the scenic drive was Monitor and Merrimac Buttes viewpoint

where we saw lots of flowers

where we saw lots of flowers

where we saw lots of flowers

and the obligatory lizard - this one a Side-blotched Lizard.

and the obligatory lizard - this one a Side-blotched Lizard.

and the obligatory lizard - this one a Side-blotched Lizard.

The last stop was the Plateau Viewpoint, where we can look across a vast distance towards Arches National Park which you can see faintly in the distance.

The last stop was the Plateau Viewpoint, where we can look across a vast distance towards Arches National Park which you can see faintly in the distance.

The last stop was the Plateau Viewpoint, where we can look across a vast distance towards Arches National Park which you can see faintly in the distance.

Here is a zoom in on an arch in Arches National Park

Here is a zoom in on an arch in Arches National Park

Here is a zoom in on an arch in Arches National Park

and in the lower left corner you can faintly see Arches' Balanced Rock.

and in the lower left corner you can faintly see Arches' Balanced Rock.

and in the lower left corner you can faintly see Arches' Balanced Rock.

At the end of the drive we went to Dead Horse Point State Park, which is full of entrenched meanders of the Colorado River.

At the end of the drive we went to Dead Horse Point State Park, which is full of entrenched meanders of the Colorado River.

At the end of the drive we went to Dead Horse Point State Park, which is full of entrenched meanders of the Colorado River.

We then spent the afternoon at Arches. Here we are looking across the Petrified Sand Dunes at some arches.

We then spent the afternoon at Arches. Here we are looking across the Petrified Sand Dunes at some arches.

We then spent the afternoon at Arches. Here we are looking across the Petrified Sand Dunes at some arches.

Here are some hoodoos with the LaSal Mountains in the background.

Here are some hoodoos with the LaSal Mountains in the background.

Here are some hoodoos with the LaSal Mountains in the background.

And here is Balanced Rock close up.

And here is Balanced Rock close up.

And here is Balanced Rock close up.

We then set off on a hike across an astonishing amount of slickrock to the Delicate Arch viewpoint

We then set off on a hike across an astonishing amount of slickrock to the Delicate Arch viewpoint

We then set off on a hike across an astonishing amount of slickrock to the Delicate Arch viewpoint

Where we saw blooming cacti

Where we saw blooming cacti

Where we saw blooming cacti

and views into the distance

and views into the distance

and views into the distance

and Delicate Arch across a canyon from us.

and Delicate Arch across a canyon from us.

and Delicate Arch across a canyon from us.

We are going to do the hike to the arch itself tomorrow.

We are going to do the hike to the arch itself tomorrow.

We are going to do the hike to the arch itself tomorrow.

We took a walk around some fins of rock

We took a walk around some fins of rock

We took a walk around some fins of rock

and saw two ravens perched on a balanced rock.

and saw two ravens perched on a balanced rock.

and saw two ravens perched on a balanced rock.

Our last hike of the day was to Sand Dune Arch, Broken Arch, and Tapestry Arch.

Our last hike of the day was to Sand Dune Arch, Broken Arch, and Tapestry Arch.

Our last hike of the day was to Sand Dune Arch, Broken Arch, and Tapestry Arch.

Here is Sand Dune Arch.

Here is Sand Dune Arch.

Here is Sand Dune Arch.

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