This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
A quick, cool hike sheltered from the desert sun, Sand Dune Arch is a great stop at Arches National Park. The path takes you into a narrow fortress of rock walls and outcroppings that are fun to play in.
Directions • The hike is at the north part of the park, about 17 miles from the visitors center on Arches Scenic Drive. The parking lot and trailhead are on the east side of the road.
Hike • Take the trail northeast from the parking lot. After a few minutes, take the branch southeast into a corridor between rock walls, as narrow as an indoor hallway. The hallway opens to open-air rooms of rocks to play among as you head up a gentle incline. Sand Dune Arch appears in a nook to the west.
The passage continues south, but the park has ended access to what otherwise would promise to be a fun continuation of the hike. "Due to ongoing vandalism, the area beyond this sign is closed," states a notice on a fence, with a photo of rock formation scarred with dozens of initials. One final vandal has scrawled onto the sign itself a message on behalf of disappointed hikers to come: "Thanks, stupid people."
However, what remains open still is a delightful stop, especially for young children and adults of limited stamina.
Digital map available at http://www.mapmyrun.com/workout/1266514263.
— Erin Alberty
Destination: Sand Dune Arch
Hiking time • 1 hour
Round-trip miles • 1 mile
Elevation gain • 100 feet
Difficulty • Easy
Trail head restrooms • No
Dogs allowed • No
Bikes allowed • No
Fees • $25 per vehicle (park entrance fee)