Arches National Park
Chasing a Childhood Dream: The Trek to Delicate Arch
As our Summer 2025 Road Trip started through the "Mighty 5," we set our sights on Arches National Park. Since we were staying in our camper van at nearby Dead Horse Point State Park—the perfect strategic base camp for hitting both Arches and Canyonlands—we had an early start for the day I had been waiting for since elementary school.
From Library Books to Red Rock
For me, this wasn't just a hike; it was a pilgrimage. I vividly remember sitting in my elementary school library, flipping through Highlights magazines and nature books, and seeing photos of Delicate Arch. Even as a kid, that freestanding curve of sandstone looked impossible, like it defied gravity. I promised myself back then that I would see it with my own eyes one day. Deciding as a family to make that trek was a big moment.
The "Around the Corner" Hike
We knew going in that the 3-mile hike wasn't a walk in the park. It involves climbing 480 feet in elevation, mostly over open slickrock with zero shade. We hit the trail at 8:30 AM to beat the heat, but the desert sun warms up fast!
The hike became a family endurance test. Our youngest had the best seat in the house, riding in the child carrier and enjoying the view without the work. The two older kids were troopers, scrambling up the rock face, though their energy definitely started to fade as the heat rose.
My wife, however, got the most entertainment out of my optimism. I kept telling everyone, "It’s just around the corner!"... for about a mile. It became the running joke of the morning. But once we got past the slickrock and navigated that final narrow ledge (which actually is around a corner), the struggle vanished.
Standing Under the Arch
Seeing Delicate Arch in person was everything I hoped it would be. Photos don't do justice to the scale of it—60 feet high and framing the La Sal Mountains in the distance. We sat on the rim of the sandstone bowl, drinking plenty of water (essential advice for anyone doing this hike!), and just took it in. It was a rough journey, and the older kids were worn out by the end, but we made it.
A Scenic Cool Down
After conquering the main event, we didn't have much hiking legs left, so we spent the rest of the day enjoying the park's scenic drive. We cruised past Park Avenue, Balanced Rock, and the Windows Section, hopping out for quick photos but mostly enjoying the AC.
Arches is a surreal landscape, but walking up that trail to fulfill a childhood dream—with my own children in tow—was the undisputed highlight of the summer.
