Arches National Park, Delicate Arch

On my roadtrip back to Colorado from Antelope Canyon, I made a pit stop at Arches National Park. It was only a quick stop, but I had a plan in mind. My sights were set on hiking to the infamous Delicate Arch.

The drive into the park was absolutely beautiful. I could have literally spent a week and not even scratched the surface of it's wonders.

Arches National Park has over 2,000 natural arches, but the Delicate Arch is one of the most popular. It's almost an iconic symbol for the state of Utah and is on the state's licenses plates.

Before I embarked on my adventure, I did a little bit of research. Roundtrip the hike is about 3.2 miles. It took me about 2 hours to climb, but I also hung out at the top for awhile to enjoy the scenery.

The best time to see the Delicate Arch is when the sun is setting. There were lines of photographers waiting for the perfect moment to capture the free-standing stone structure.

The trail can be a bit tricky at times and isn't for the faint of heart. There were a couple times I glanced over the cliff and felt instantly dizzy from the drop. The trail is very heavily trafficked, so you don't have to worry about hiking alone, like I did at Corona Arch.

When I got to the top I waited in line to get my picture taken under the arch. One poor guy had gotten stuck taking tourists' photos for about 15 minutes.

Can you see me?

After I got my picture taken, I found a comfortable seat and enjoyed the views. I pulled out a picnic I had prepared, which consisted of only the essentials: Diet Coke and Oreos.

I picked the perfect time to hike down, because it started to rain almost immediately. Fortunately the way back was easier and much less strenuous. I even stopped to see some petroglyphics from the Ute Indians!

When it was my turn, I carefully crept out to the middle. I've recently realized that I have a small fear of heights, so as I was making my way my stomach was in a knot and I could feel my heart racing.