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Arches National Park, UT

Sep 10 - Sep 17, 2022 -- $1375 ★

In the remote Utah backcountry, lies a magical world of naturally formed sandstone arches, canyons, mesas, and buttes called Arches National Park We will be day-hiking almost every established trail in this popular and colorful park. Colossal sandstone arches, monolithic rock faces, spires, windows, natural bridges, canyons and various other rock formations dot the landscape. While you may have to scramble over the rock terrain at times, mileages are low and rewards are often easy to come by. Everyone should see Arches once.


Our trek will visit just about every arch in the park that is accessible by established trail. We'll see many famous formations such as Delicate Arch (it's on the Utah license plate), Landscape Arch, Balanced Rock, The 3 Gossips and Double O Arch. Just about everywhere we'll hike has beautiful canyons and incredible mesas with visually stunning, unobstructed views.


Our mileage will be kept low and we will be carrying day packs only. In September, the days are still pretty warm. Expect great sunsets and amazing star-gazing.


If you prefer day-hiking only, this is the trip for you. Why not join us for an unforgettable trip?



Weather

Weather is always an important concern when hiking. Expect daytime hiking temperatures in the 80s and nighttime temperatures in the 40s. However, be prepared for the possibility of day temperatures as high as 100 and as low as 35, with a small chance of rain and on rare occasion, snow. Here is the historical Arches weather. Bring with lots of sun protection and water containers that add up to 6 liters of capacity.



Difficulty


The trails through Arches National Park are often easy to navigate and enjoyable to hike, but not always. There will be some sandy patches, slickrock with dropoffs and a few places where scrambling (using hands and butt) are necessary. It's pure hiking pleasure.



Probable Trip Leaders

Bruce Cannon

Cost

$1375 per person double occupancy. Here, double occupancy means that you will share a room with another participant during the 2 hotel nights. You will also be responsible for transportation to and from Salt Lake City (SLC), personal equipment, restaurant meals eaten off the trail and any gratuities for guides.


Covered expenses include 2 hotel nights, Round Trip transportation from Salt Lake City to the National Park, 6 days of trail meals, ground transportation, National Park permits, campground fees and awesome guides.


Tipping: In order to keep our prices competitive with (and hopefully favorable to) other outfitters, we shamefully can’t pay our guides as much as we think they deserve. Like most other guiding services, we rely on the generosity of our participants to make up this shortfall by tipping the guides. While tips are not required or expected, if your guides have served you well, please consider a gratuity so they can continue living their extravagant lifestyles of eating powdered meals, sleeping in the dirt and pooping in smelly outhouses and small holes they've dug.



Important Notes

Day-Hiking / Base Camping only


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Packing List
Itinerary
Weather
Guides for this trip
Cost
Important Note
Difficulty (Please Read)
Packing List
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Itinerary


Saturday, September 10, 2022

Fly into Salt Lake City Airport (SLC). The best time to arrive is between around Noon-3PM. However, if you can save a substantial amount on your flight by arriving at say, 11AM or 5PM, then do so.


Take the free airport shuttle to our local hotel Four Points by Sheraton Salt Lake City Airport, 200 North Admiral Byrd Rd, Salt Lake City, UT, 84116, (801) 746-5200


Equipment shakedown


"Before" body composition measurements taken


Make Your Own Trail Mix bar from our surfeit of items


Go to REI Salt Lake City, 3285 E 3300 S, Salt Lake City, UT 84109, (801) 486-2100 for last minute equipment


Go out for welcome dinner (Dinner not included in trip cost)



Sunday, September 11, 2022

Early wake-up in order to leave by 6AM


Second set of "before" measurements taken


All the items that you won't bring on the trail will be set aside and put in storage. Try to keep this to a small amount of stuff.


Free breakfast at Hotel or continental breakfast provided by guides


Car shuttle 4 hours to Moab


Stop at Arches National Park Visitors Center


Watch 10 minute video and pick up permit for Fiery Furnace at Visitor's Center


Drive to Park Avenue Viewpoint, elevation 4550'


Day-Hike 1.0 miles on the Park Avenue Trail past the 3 Gossips to the Courthouse Towers Viewpoint, elevation 4250'


Day-Hike 1.0 miles back to the shuttle vehicle(s)


Drive to Balanced Rock, elevation 4950'


Day-Hike a 0.3 loop around Balanced Rock


Drive to Devil's Garden Campground and set up camp for the week at Canyon Wren Group Campsite, elevation 5200'


Base Camp at Devil's Garden Campground - Canyon Wren Group Campsite, elevation 5200'


Miles today: 2.3. Total miles: 2.3


Monday, September 12, 2022

Drive to Delicate Arch Upper Viewpoint Trail, elevation 4350'


Day-Hike 1.5 miles to Delicate Arch, the iconic image of Arches, elevation 4750'


Day-Hike 1.5 miles back to shuttle vehicle(s), elevation 4350'


Lunch


Drive to Delicate Arch Lower Viewpoint Trail, elevation 4300'


Day-Hike 0.5 miles to the Delicate Arch Viewpoint, elevation 4500'


Day-Hike 0.5 miles back to shuttle vehicle(s), elevation 4300'


Drive to Devil's Garden Campground, elevation 5200'


Base Camp at Devil's Garden Campground - Canyon Wren Group Campsite, elevation 5200'


Miles today: 4.0. Total miles: 6.3


Tuesday, September 13, 2022

Fiery Furnace may be closed in 2022. We expect it to be open, but if not we have 2 options


 

Option A


Drive to Fiery Furnace Trailhead, elevation 4750'


Day-Hike 2.0 miles through Fiery Furnace. This trip will take at least 3 hours.


The following is directly from the Arches National Park Website


Everyone attending the tour should be aware of the demanding nature of this hike and properly equipped for current conditions. During the hike, participants must walk and climb on irregular and broken sandstone, along narrow ledges above drop-offs, and in loose sand. There are gaps which must be jumped and narrow places that you must squeeze into and pull yourself up and through. In some of these places, you must hold yourself off the ground by pushing against the sandstone walls with your hands and feet. Due to the maze-like nature of the terrain, all participants are committed to completing the hike once they enter the Fiery Furnace. To better judge the hike's difficulty, you can watch a video or view a photo gallery.


All participants must wear good hiking shoes or boots that have gripping soles. No sandals or high heeled shoes are allowed. Each person must carry at least one quart or liter of water. Water and other gear should be stowed in a backpack so that hands are free to be used to navigate the terrain.


 

Option B


Drive out of the park to Deadhorse State Park, elevation 5900'


Day-hike 5.0 miles on the Rim Loop Trail, elevation 5900'


Return to Devil's Garden Campground, elevation 5200'


Base Camp at Devil's Garden Campground - Canyon Wren Group Campsite, elevation 5200'


Miles today: 2.0 or 5.2. Total miles: 8.3 or 11.5


Wednesday, September 14, 2022

Drive on dirt and gravel road to the Tower Arch Trailhead, elevation 5100'


Day-Hike 1.0 miles to Tower Arch via the Marching Men, elevation 5100'


Day-Hike 1.0 miles back to the shuttle vehicle(s), elevation 5100'


Drive to Balanced Rock, have lunch here.


Drive to Double Arch Trailhead.


Day-Hike 0.5 round trip miles to Double Arch


Drive to the Windows Trail


Day-Hike 0.7 miles to Turret Arch, North Window and South Window


Day-Hike 0.7 miles on the Windows Primitive Loop Trail back to the shuttle vehicle(s)


Drive to Pack Creek Campground


Drive to Devil's Garden Campground, elevation 5200'


Base Camp at Devil's Garden Campground - Canyon Wren Group Campsite, elevation 5200'


Miles today: 3.9. Total miles: 12.2 or 15.4


Thursday, September 15, 2022

Day-Hike 1.0 miles to Devil's Garden Trail


Day-Hike 0.4 miles to Tunnel Arch, elevation 5400'


Day-Hike 0.3 miles to Pine Tree Arch, elevation 5400'


Day-Hike 0.8 miles to Devil's Garden Primitive Loop Trail, elevation 5400'


Day-Hike 1.6 miles to Private Arch Trail, elevation 5400'


Day-Hike 0.3 round trip miles to Private Arch and back


Day-Hike 0.3 miles to Double O Arch


Day-Hike 0.4 miles to Dark Angel


Day-Hike 1.2 miles to trail intersection


Day-Hike 0.7 miles to Navajo Arch and Partition Arch


Day-Hike 1.1 miles past Landscape Arch back to the trailhead


Day-Hike 1.0 miles to Devil's Garden Campground


Drive to Pack Creek Campground


Base Camp at Devil's Garden Campground - Canyon Wren Group Campsite, elevation 5200'


Miles today: 9.1. Total miles: 21.3 or 24.5


Friday, September 16, 2022

Day-hike 1.3 miles via Broken Arch to Sand Dune Arch


Day-hike 0.9 miles back to camp


End of hiking. Break camp


Miles today: 2.2. Total miles: 23.5 or 26.7


Shuttle 4 hours back to Salt Lake City


Check back into local hotel (TBD) Four Points by Sheraton Salt Lake City Airport, 200 North Admiral Byrd Rd, Salt Lake City, UT, 84116, (801) 746-5200


After measurements taken


Dinner and awards Ceremony. Dinner not included in trip cost.


This is the official end of the trip. You are welcome to spend the night at the hotel, however if you drove and would like to get on the road or if you flew and would like to schedule a late flight (or a red-eye if this is a West Coast trip) you can definitely do so.


Saturday, September 17, 2022

Take Airport Shuttle


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