Established as a National Monument on April 12, 1929, the standing of the Arches was changed to a National Park in 1971. Comprising 83 thousand acres of red rock country in southeastern Utah, Arches National Park contains an unusaul array of natural sandstone rock formations. Water and ice, temperature variations and persistent earth movement are responsible for the sculptured rock scenery. The Colorado River forms the very southeast boundary of the park before wending its way southwestwardly over three hundred miles to the more well known Grand Canyon country.

Enter the park at the south end and take a self guided auto tour to view the arches, spires, balanced rocks, sandstone fins, and eroded monoliths. From parking areas hike trails ranging from a 100 yard (91 km) hard surface to 4.2 miles (6.8 km) of marked dirt classified from easy to difficult by Park rangers.