Monday, August 17, 2015

Video of Arches N.P.’s The Windows

Day hikers can walk across the remnants of dinosaur-era desert on The Windows Trail at Arches National Park near Moab, Utah.

About 180-140 million years ago during the Jurassic, shifting dunes of fine-grained sand covered what is now Utah and parts of Colorado and Arizona. Over time, as sediment filled over dunes, they hardened into salmon-colored rock known as Entrada Sandstone.

Fast forward to the modern day. Rain, wind and freezing has eroded away much of the rock covering the Jurassic-era sandstone and shaped it into interesting geological features. One common sight in the national park is an arch, such as The Windows:


More than 2,000 cataloged arches have been found in the park’s nearly 120 square miles. The Windows are among the easiest to reach by day hiking the 1-mile round-trip Windows Trail.

Also see:
Children will love day hike on Windows Trails in Arches National Park
Best trails for seeing Arches National Park’s numerous wonders

Learn about other great national park day hiking trails in my Best Sights to See at America’s National Parks guidebook.