There are two ways to experience Delicater Arch in person. One is to see it from the Delicate Arch Observation Point. The viewpoint is an easy walk of just under a mile. Once at the viewpoint you can see it from across a canyon off in the distance.

The other alternative is to hike up to the arch itself. This is about a mile and a half, most of it up a steep rock face, with littl or no shade most of the way.

I’ve been to Arches National Park several times over the course of my life. But it wasn’t until this most recent visit in August 2008, with the encouragement of R9 that I actually made it to the arch itself.

The hike was grueling. It started out flat and easy, but it didn’t take long for things to get really tough. We had to stop a few times along the way. The trail takes in a huge change in elevation from the trailhead to the arch.

The hike itself is an exercise in faith. I say this because you can’t even see the arch itself until right at the end when you actually get to it. It is hidden for the whole way. On the way up, you keep asking people who are on their way down just how much further it is. They tell you that you’re almost there, but it’s hard to believe, because you can never see it.

But when you finally get there, the view is breath taking. It is amazing to see in person.

Oh, and the hike back down is a piece of cake. :-)