hikespeak

White Domes Trail crosses stunning landscapes that reinvent themselves around every turn. The views on this 1.1-mile loop with 150 feet of elevation change are both varied and extraordinary. The circuit passes sandstone formations with different shapes and colors. The trail also visits an old film set and lets hikers slip through a narrow canyon. The surroundings are diverse and the hike is... Read more.

Every road through Valley of Fire State Park is scenic. The biggest wows come on White Domes Road, an official state and national scenic byway. The main road through the park, Valley of Fire Highway, is honored for its surrounding beauty as well. Scenic Loop Road branches off Valley of Fire Highway and can be used to bike or drive a 3-mile circuit past numerous natural attractions. The... Read more.

Elephant Rock is a unique rock formation just off Valley of Fire Highway, next to the east entrance of Valley of Fire State Park. This is the sort of sandstone formation that can't be believed by people who haven't seen it. Is Elephant Rock an oddly shaped natural arch or perhaps a stone encased mastodon trunk? Get a close look at Elephant Rock on an easy 0.3-mile hike. Start from a... Read more.

This short loop visits a natural arch within the granite formations surrounding White Tank Campground in Joshua Tree National Park. The 0.3-mile hike is a must for anyone staying at White Tank and is an easy and enjoyable stroll for visitors traveling down Pinto Basin Road. To reach the trailhead, enter White Tank Campground and take the left split in the road. The trail begins alongside... Read more.

This one-mile loop visits three impressive arches in close vicinity. The North and South Window Arches form openings in the same sandstone fin, while Turret Arch stands within a more castle-like formation. The circle between the arches has three spurs leading to the base of each arch, creating an action-packed hike with just 150 feet of elevation gain. North Window Arch The first... Read more.

Wonders never cease in Arches National Park. For proof, hike Double Arch Trail, which visits two grand arches joined at a common pillar at a 90-degree angle. The 0.8-mile round trip hike passes a unique sandstone formation known as the Parade of Elephants while ascending 125 feet to the Siamese spans. The start of Double Arch Trail is just a few hundred feet from the trailhead for the... Read more.

Do not leave Arches National Park without seeing Delicate Arch. The emblematic arch appears on the Utah License plate, and while it is certainly not the largest in the park, it is probably the most memorable. Two overlooks provide a distant view of the arch, but the best way to see Delicate Arch is to hike right up to it. This incredible 3-mile trek is a must-do for anyone visiting... Read more.

Skyline Arch Trail is short enough to be overlooked when you are planning your itinerary for Arches National Park, but the impressive rock span at the end of the effortless trail is worth checking out. Located near the Devils Garden Trailhead (start of the hike to Landscape Arch), this 0.4-mile round trip hike ascends a mere 50 feet to the base of a sandstone fin that houses a large elevated... Read more.

The 290-foot long Landscape Arch is believed to be the longest natural rock span in the world. The impressive sandstone arch can be reached via a level two-mile out and back hike in the Devils Garden region of Arches Nation Park. The trek can be expanded to 2.5-miles round trip by visiting two other arches along the way, or extended beyond Landscape Arch to visit several more arches deeper... Read more.

Mesa Arch is an easy to visit landmark in the Island in the Sky region of Canyonlands National Park. This pothole arch spans across the mesa's edge, framing a scenic canyon vista. A 0.7-mile loop trail brings you right up to Mesa Arch, one of the park's most popular points of interest. A nature guide is available at the trailhead, and can be used to learn more about park vegetation and... Read more.