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Dave Beedon | profile | all galleries >> Places >> Utah >> Arches National Park >> Delicate Arch Viewpoint >> Delicate Arch Viewpoint: the viewpoint and the ridge tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Delicate Arch Viewpoint: the viewpoint and the ridge | Delicate Arch Viewpoint: Terrain to the east | Delicate Arch Viewpoint: Circumnavigation

Delicate Arch Viewpoint: the viewpoint and the ridge

This gallery covers the trail hike to the viewpoint and and an exploration to the top of the tilted ridge above the viewpoint. I hiked to the top of the ridge because I always want to know what’s around the corner or take in the view from another angle.

The uphill hike to the viewpoint is fairly easy and leads to an astiounding view from the precipice above a huge amphitheater. But when I looked up the ridge and saw hikers up there, I knew I had to explore it.

An easy walk up the gently-tilted and rather flat ridge yields better and better views as elevation is gained. Because most visitors to the viewpoint do not bother to explore beyond there, ascending the ridge gets the hiker away from the crowd.

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Parking lot at trailhead of Delicate Arch Viewpoint
Parking lot at trailhead of Delicate Arch Viewpoint		 Interpretive viewing area at the start of trail to Delicate Arch Viewpoint
Interpretive viewing area at the start of trail to Delicate Arch Viewpoint		 Trail to Delicate Arch Viewpoint
Trail to Delicate Arch Viewpoint		 Attractive trail steps made with local materials
Attractive trail steps made with local materials		 Looking down at the trail
Looking down at the trail		 View from the viewpoint
View from the viewpoint
People descending from the upper precipice
People descending from the upper precipice		 Precipice formation
Precipice formation		 Arch view from the dirt road
Arch view from the dirt road		 People near and far
People near and far		 Coming and going
Coming and going		 Overview: tower
Overview: tower
Overview: amphitheater
Overview: amphitheater		 Panorama #2: powerful tower (but not Tower of Power)
Panorama #2: powerful tower (but not Tower of Power)		 Detail #3: base of tower
Detail #3: base of tower		 The top of the ridge calls to me...
The top of the ridge calls to me...		 High point of the hike
High point of the hike		 As far as one can go atop the ridge
As far as one can go atop the ridge
Park road in the distance
Park road in the distance		 Local valley color
Local valley color		 Highest view of Delicate Arch
Highest view of Delicate Arch		 Descending the valley to the pebbly bowl
Descending the "valley" to the pebbly bowl		 Holy sandstone, Batman!
Holy sandstone, Batman!		 Pebbly bowl
Pebbly bowl
Winter Camp Wash amphitheater
Winter Camp Wash amphitheater		 Winter Camp Wash panorama
Winter Camp Wash panorama		 20081015_1583...Starry Delicate Arch calls to me (what else is new?)
20081015_1583...Starry Delicate Arch calls to me (what else is new?)		 20091017_0961...Contorted sandstone east of Delicate Arch Viewpoint
20091017_0961...Contorted sandstone east of Delicate Arch Viewpoint		 20091017_0160...My backpack leaked
20091017_0160...My backpack "leaked"

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exzim20-Oct-2009 20:22
Another superb gallery Dave, as they always are when you trip to Moab.
Long Bach Nguyen14-Feb-2009 06:51
Dave As usual you have a way to tell a story through your pictures...It's wonderful to travel with you and your lovely sense of humor to the story. keep it up.
Dave Beedon01-Jul-2006 23:03
Lee, the temperature was in the high 90s. When I returned to the car in late afternoon, the thermometer in my car said 116 F. Outside the car it was 100 F. Even though the humidity was very low, the heat was oppressive. Maybe that's why so few people walked to the top of the tilted slab. My April trip this year was much more comfortable in that regard: temperatures in the 70s and 80s.
Lee G01-Jul-2006 17:14
Now thats a visual I'm glad I missed dan dunn. Great pics, how hot was it? Looks like you had lots o people on some of those trails.
Guest 01-Jul-2006 07:20
An excellent visual diary! (I've been close in my shots:, visual diahrea)
1moremile01-Jul-2006 00:44
Nice entertaining gallery.
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