One of our favorite destinations at Arches National Park is the Windows area, which has two large arches cut from the same sandstone fin. The Windows arches are also known as the Spectacles, with a large “nose” fin remnant separating the two windows when viewed from the southwest.
The Windows, Arches National Park, Utah, September 24, 2007
The Windows trail is a loop trail that leads to three massive arches, North and South Windows and Turret Arch. The 1 mile (1.6 km) mostly gravel trail has a very modest change in elevation. An alternative, slightly longer, return to the parking lot is by way of a more primitive trail around the back of the two Windows, starting at the South Window viewpoint. While there is ample parking in the Windows parking lot, this is a popular destination and, at times, the parking lot may be full.
North Window Arch and the Nose bridge sandstone fin,
Arches National Park, September 24, 2007
North Window Arch, Arches National Park, September 24, 2007
North Window Arch, Arches National Park, September 24, 2007
North Window Arch, Arches National Park, September 24, 2007
North Window Arch, Arches National Park, September 24, 2007
North Window Arch, Arches National Park, September 24, 2007
Turret Arch is in the sandstone formation on the left.
South Window Arch, Arches National Park, September 24, 2007
Quick References
Arches National Park
- National Park Service, Arches
- Wikipedia
- Wikitravel
- Recreation.gov – Devil’s Garden Campground (a favorite for us, reservations often required well in advance)
- flickr – photos from the National Park Service
Windows Trail
- Utah.com
- hikespeak.com
- Your Hike Guide
- ProTrails – Windows Primitive Loop
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Hi Mike – love the spectacle of the Arches – it looks like a pair of glasses to me … lovely shots though .. cheers Hilary
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Thanks. That area of Arches N.P. is pretty neat. There are some other arches near these that we’ve just not made it to. We had plans to visit those on our trip last fall, but headed elsewhere when we saw the area was forecast was for near 100°F.
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