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<title>Arches National Park</title>
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    <tr><td class="DateDiv">September 14, 2007</td></tr>
    <tr><td class="TitleDiv">Big stones with big holes</td></tr>
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<p>The strategy of driving all the way to the end of the park was not as successful as other times - the parking lot at the Double Arch trailhead was completely full. After turning around and - finally - finding a parking spot, we started touring the arches. The trail was very busy for the first part and stayed busy for the most accessible arches (Tunnel, Pine Tree, and Landscape). Following the guidance from the Visitor Center, at Landscape Arch we went counter-clockwise on the Primitive Trail. For quite a while we seemed to be some of the very few people on the trail. While having lunch - very close to the Double O Arch - we decided that we weren't interested in the Dark Angel (mostly because of lack of time). We closed the loop after seeing Black, Navajo, Partition, and Wall Arches.</p>

<p>Next we stopped at a few attractions which were visible from the parking lot: The Fiery Furnace (where you need a guide or a special permit to hike), the Balanced Rock, and the Garden of Eden. A few other spots were concentrated along a short hike: the North and South Windows, Turret Arch and the Double Arch. The highlight of the day, however, was the Delicate Arch. We got there in about half an hour, right on time for front-row seats during the sunset spectacle. Lida was convinced that she witnessed the most beautiful thing of her life. I think that people who didn't see the Delicate Arch at sunset cannot claim visiting Arches. </p>

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This is part of our trip to several canyons:
<UL>
<LI><a href = "0908.html">Bryce Canyon</a></LI>
<LI><a href = "0909.html">Zion Canyon</a></LI>
<LI><a href = "0910.html">Grand Canyon - South Rim</a></LI>
<LI><a href = "0911.html">Grand Canyon - North Rim</a></LI>
<LI><a href = "0912.html">Lake Powell</a></LI>
<LI><a href = "0913.html">Needles District in Canyonlands</a></LI>
<LI>Arches</LI>
<LI><a href = "0915.html">Bridges and Capitol Reef</a></LI>
<LI><a href = "0916.html">Salt Lake City</a></LI>
</UL>
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