Delicate Arch

If not the best known arch in the world, Delicate Arch certainly qualifies as the most iconic rock formation in Arches National Park.

The hike to the arch begins from the Wolfe Ranch parking area, located in the east-central portion of the park. If you wish to go home with some great photos the park recommends hiking the trail in the late afternoon. However, summer afternoons are usually quite hot. You may want to consider hiking in the morning or in the evening when temperatures are a little cooler and the crowds are a little thinner.

The first stop on the trail is the Wolfe Ranch. John Wesley Wolfe settled at this location in the late 1800s, and was joined by his family in 1906. Although the cabin they built on this 100+ acre homestead was a little rustic, it was still stocked with fine china ordered from the Sears Catalog.

Beyond the cabin is a petroglyph panel depicting bighorn sheep and Ute hunters on horseback. It was carved sometime between 1650 and 1850. The side path leading to the petroglyph re-joins the main trail further up-trail, and can be taken on your return trip from the arch if you prefer.

The first three-quarters of a mile are relatively flat as the trail passes through desert scrub, but then turns sharply up a steep, slickrock slope. Hikers should keep an eye out for rock cairns to help guide the way for most of the remainder of the route (or just follow the crowds - see photo below!). After climbing for roughly a half-mile the trail levels out. However, just before reaching Delicate Arch, the path traverses a rock ledge for about 200 yards while passing over a fairly steep drop-off.

Once past this section Delicate Arch comes into view for the first time:

Delicate Arch stands 65-feet high, and has an opening roughly 46 feet in height and a width of nearly 32 feet. In the background, roughly 35 miles away, are the La Sal Mountains.

With virtually no shade along the way, this can be a very hot hike. You should take at least 1 quart of water per person.


Trail: Delicate Arch
Roundtrip Distance: 3 Miles
Total Elevation Gain: 535 feet
Max Elevation: 4820 Feet

Best Easy Day Hikes Canyonlands and Arches National Parks: this fully updated and revised edition includes trail descriptions and maps of the best short hikes that venture into some of the most scenic sections of Canyonlands and Arches National Parks.

Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com

A Walk Down Park Avenue

Back in September my wife and I had the opportunity to take a three-week tour of the southwest. After spending a few days in Rocky Mountain National Park, Kathy and I paid a visit to Arches National Park near Moab, Utah. It was Kathy’s first venture into this park, and my second.

One of the first stops along the main road in the park is the Park Avenue Trail. Although the overlook at this stop may appear to be a little touristy, you really shouldn’t pass this hike up, even if you’re only spending a couple of hours in the park. The trail travels one mile through an incredibly beautiful red rock canyon, and can be done as a one-way hike if you have another car parked at the Courthouse Towers parking area.

From the Park Avenue overlook the trail drops roughly 320 feet onto the canyon floor, and continues down a dry wash bed towards the Courthouse Towers. Along the way you’ll have commanding views of massive fins (vertical slabs of rock), balanced rocks and lofty monoliths, including the Three Gossips, The Tower of Babel, and the Courthouse Towers.

As you might expect, the inspiration for the trail’s name comes from the towering spires, which to early visitors reminded them of Manhattan's famous skyscrapers:

If you wish to go home with some great photos the park recommends hiking this trail in the morning or late in the afternoon.

Trail: Park Avenue
Roundtrip Distance: 2 Miles
Total Elevation Gain: 320 feet
Max Elevation: 5000 Feet

Best Easy Day Hikes Canyonlands and Arches National Parks: this fully updated and revised edition includes trail descriptions and maps of the best short hikes that venture into some of the most scenic sections of Canyonlands and Arches National Parks.

Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com

Exploring the Indian Peaks Wilderness

Along the southern border of Rocky Mountain National Park lies the 76,711-acre Indian Peaks Wilderness. This spectacular preserve stretches roughly 18 miles along the Continental Divide, and is roughly 15 miles at its widest point. Located primarily within the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests, the Indian Peaks Wilderness contains rugged peaks, alpine tundra, glacially-carved valleys, cirque basins, remnant glaciers, more than 50 lakes, six passes that cross the Continental Divide and seven peaks that climb above 13,000 feet. The area ranges in elevation from 8,400 feet to just over 13,500 feet, with roughly 35% of the land lying above treeline.

Many of the mountains within the wilderness, which became part of the National Wilderness Preservation System in 1978, are named after western Native American tribes, such as Apache Peak, Arikaree Peak, Kiowa Peak, Navajo Peak, Paiute Peak, Ogallala Peak, Pawnee Peak, and the highest point, North Arapaho Peak, at 13,502 feet.

The Indian Peaks are home to a wide variety of wildlife, including moose, elk, mule deer, mountain lions, black bears, bobcats, coyote, red fox, beaver, ptarmigan, marmots and pica, among others.

As you might expect the wilderness offers numerous recreational opportunities, such as hiking, backpacking, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and fishing. The lakes and streams in the Indian Peaks are inhabited by native cutthroat trout, and introduced rainbow, brook, and brown trout.

Due to its close proximity to Denver and Boulder, Indian Peaks is one of the most heavily used wilderness areas in the United States. As a result, backcountry permits are required for all overnight camping between June 1st and September 15th. Permits are also required for all organized groups for day use and camping at any time throughout the year. Additionally, campfires are prohibited on the east side of the Continental Divide, and around most lakes on the west side. You may also want to note that mountain biking is prohibited, and that dogs are allowed on trails, but must be kept on hand-held leashes at all times.

If you’re seeking solitude you may want to consider hiking and camping on weekdays, or use less popular areas. The 17,000-acre James Peak Wilderness, directly to the south of Indian Peaks, may be an option as well.


Hiking in Indian Peaks Wilderness:

Within Indian Peaks are 28 trails that travel roughly 133 miles. They visit waterfalls, alpine lakes, tarns, high elevation passes and mountain summits. The six passes that traverse the Continental Divide provide access to some of the most spectacular alpine scenery in the Rocky Mountains. The wilderness area also contains many notable mountaineering routes.

Some of the most popular hikes in the wilderness include Lake Isabelle, Pawnee Pass and Pawnee Peak from the Long Lake Trailhead, Mt. Audubon from the Mitchell Lake Trailhead, Arapaho Glacier and Lake Dorothy from the Fourth of July Trailhead, Buchanan Pass from the Beaver Creek Trailhead, and Crater Lake from the Monarch Lake Trailhead. East of the Divide, near the town of Ward, is the Brainard Lake Recreation Area. It contains a fairly large campground, and serves as a hub for many trails into the wilderness.

Please note that many trails in the wilderness can remain snow-covered through June and into July.

The following are a list of trailheads that lead into the Indian Peaks.

East of the Divide (from north to south):
* Mt. Saint Vrain Trailhead
* Middle Saint Vrain Trailhead
* Beaver Creek Trailhead
* Mitchell Lake and Long Lake Trailhead (both near Brainard Lake)
      - Pawnee Pass
      - Lake Isabelle
      - Long Lake Loop
* Rainbow Lakes Trailhead
* Fourth of July Trailhead
* Hessie Trailhead
* Rollins Pass Trailhead

West of the Divide (from north to south):
* Roaring Fork Trailhead
* Monarch Lake Trailhead
* Meadow Creek Trailhead
* Devils Thumb Park Trailhead
* Rollins Pass Trailhead


Additional Information:

* Indian Peaks Wilderness Alliance

* Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests

* Trails in Indian Peaks

* Colorado's Indian Peaks – by Gerry Roach

* Indian Peaks Trail Map – Nat Geo Trails Illustrated Map

For recorded voice information about the Indian Peaks Wilderness, please call 303-541-2519.






Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com

Ramble On (2nd edition book on the rich history of hiking)
Exploring Glacier National Park
Exploring Grand Teton National Park

Thru-hiking: What does it really take?

Everyone has seen videos and photos of hikers trekking on one the three great long-distance trails: the Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail or Continental Divide Trail. Most of those images highlight the incredible beauty of the trails. But what is it really like to thru-hike a long-distance trail? What does it really take?

Here's a video from Brett, Nate, and Tyler as they discuss their thru-hike of the Pacific Crest Trail. Most importantly, these guys are mere mortals, not uber adventurers like Andrew Skurka, or even Bear Grylls. Prior to their hike, none had a great deal of experience with backpacking. So, from this perspective, they provide their thoughts on what it's really like to thru-hike a long distance trail. This video was produced for The Clymb:




Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com

Trail etiquette: What’s the protocol when passing a hiker?

Is it just me, or does it bug you when you pass someone on the trail and they don’t say hello, or even acknowledge your existence? I can understand not saying anything when you’re on a short, popular trail, with a ton people passing by every minute. But when you’re five miles deep in the backcountry, and there’s no one else around, I just think it’s impolite to ignore a fellow hiker.

Although this happens fairly often, I’m writing this specifically in reference to two guys that passed us while hiking on the Appalachian Trail in the Great Smoky Mountains earlier this year. Not only did they fail to acknowledge us, they didn’t even look at us!

I should point out that most people actually do say hello. There are many who will even start up a conversation for a minute or two. In fact, I love meeting people on the trail. As I’m sure is the case with most seasoned hikers, but I’ve meet quite a few interesting characters over the years while out on the trail. My wife and I once met several Buddhist monks from Vietnam, all dressed in traditional clothing, while hiking in Rocky Mountain National Park several years ago. They were taking part in a Buddhist monk convention in Estes Park, and decided they wanted to do a little hiking while in the mountains. We chatted with a couple of them, and even had our picture taken with one of them. They were all very friendly. It was probably one of the most unique and memorable hikes that I’ve ever been on.

Last summer we ran into a guy at Ptarmigan Tunnel in Glacier National Park who could probably pursue a career as a stand-up comedian. He had the five us in stitches while telling some of his crazy hiking and camping stories from over the years.

Maybe it’s just a pet peeve of mine, and I’m certainly not trying to become the Miss Manners for “trail etiquette”, but it does bother me, to an extent, when people don’t say hello. Am I the only one?





Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com