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With Willingness To Sacrifice, Arches National Park Can Be Enjoyed With Pets

6/19/2014

16 Comments

 
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Typist: Bethany
Pets are only allowed in parking lots, at viewpoints, on roads and in the campground of Arches National Park. Pets are not allowed on any trails. During our recent trip to Moab, Utah, I hadn't planned to visit pet unfriendly Arches National Park. Then I realized that the entrance to the park was very near the trail head of the pet-friendly desert hike I had planned outside of the park. I just couldn't resist a detour into the world famous desert park. I knew I would have to sacrifice seeing a lot of what Arches National Park has to offer by taking the dogs and cockatoo Leo along. But we had a wonderful time!
We made four stops on our two hour drive through Arches; La Sal Mountains Viewpoint, the Windows Section, Garden of Eden and Balanced Rock. This wasn't much but Wilhelm, Brychwyn and Huxley deserved a real hike and Leo was getting tired. I was willing to forfeit a grand tour of the entire park in order to experience a small portion of it safely and pleasurably with my pets. Still, I felt like I saw so much! What an amazing feast for the eyes Arches is. There was something beautifully unique in every direction just gazing from the air conditioned van.
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Wilhelm, Brychwyn, Huxley and the La Sal Mountains.
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Leo gazes North into Arches National Park from the La Sal Mountains Viewpoint parking lot.
If you're not willing to forgo seeing everything at Arches National Park and most especially hiking even short trails to interpretive signs, attractions and viewpoints, do not take your pets. Follow the National Park Services advice and board them in pet-friendly Moab. Pets cannot be left in the car, water should be available to them at all times during your visit and paw protection is highly recommended (I use Musher's Secret.)

When we followed the road into the parking lot loop to view The Windows Section, I almost didn't stop. It was very crowded and I wasn't sure I could safely walk the dogs along the narrow, mostly shoulder less road and through the over flowing parking lot. As I gazed in awe at the North and South Windows from the van, I briefly felt a little deprived because of being there with the pets. The trails from the parking area lead to several windows and arches that hoards of people were standing in and admiring. The left-out feeling passed quickly into gratitude for traveling with pets; I wanted nothing more than to get away from that mass of people. I did get lucky and got one of the only two parking spots in the entire area. The parking spot also happened to be one I could safely get the dogs and Leo out of the van. Obviously, it was meant to be for us to stop for just a few photos.
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Wilhelm, Brychwyn and Huxley admiring Parade of Elephants and Double Arch.
Our next stop was just minutes from the mob scene at The Windows Section, Garden of Eden. This was my favorite stop. I highly recommend it. We had the entire viewpoint area to ourselves. The 360 degree view was breathtaking and the dogs had space for a safe and pleasant stroll.  The road had a wide gravel shoulder and the parking lot had a gravel curb to walk on. It wasn't very hot for the Utah desert but as Cascadians, any temperature over 70 Fahrenheit takes some acclimation. The short walk around Garden of Eden was perfect.
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Garden of Eden with the La Sal Mountains.
Our last stop was at Balanced Rock.  I got worried about being able to safely walk the dogs here since the parking lot was almost full. Fortunately, cars park on the opposite side of the gravel overlook. This was a short but sweet stop that Leo enjoyed most of all.

All of the pets were so well behaved on such a boring-for-pets car tour of a not-pet-friendly national park. I was beaming with pride and decided we should quit while we were ahead. There was so much more I wanted to see! When we first began the drive back to the entrance I had planned to make a few more stops. But that wasn't in the best interest of my animal traveling companions, so we left Arches National park.
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Leo and Balanced Rock.
With a willingness to sacrifice, Arches National Park (or any pet unfriendly National Park) can be enjoyed with pets. I do hope to someday go back to Arches without my pets, I will always treasure the memories of seeing such amazing natural wonders with my best friends by my side.
Tomorrow we'll share the stunning pet-friendly Moab hike we took outside of Arches National Park after our park tour ended.
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16 Comments
Taryn link
6/18/2014 09:20:16 pm

Beautiful! I have a feeling that a lot of these places are pet UNfriendly because a lot of people are disrespectful when bringing along their animals and ruin it for the rest of us.Sad but true. Plus, in the long run, it is in the best interest of the pets because these same disrespectful people would not take good care of their pets while walking out in the desert.

Reply
Bethany
6/19/2014 03:44:10 am

In most places, it is disrespectful people who cause no pet policies to come into effect, but National Parks that are pet unfriendly are that way to protect the wildlife. I actually spoke to the ranger at the entrance of Arches about it (and edited the story about that conversation from my post.) Desert or not, it is in the best interest of pets because you're right, too many people would be irresponsible with the privilege, and not only would the protected wildlife enjoying the park be disturbed, pets having run ins with the wildlife would be injured and killed.

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Molly The Wally link
6/18/2014 10:18:12 pm

What a stunning place and glad you were able to find some less crowded places. Just loved that picture of Leo by balanced rock. Have a tremendous Thursday.
Best wishes Molly

Reply
Bethany
6/19/2014 03:47:27 am

I got so much pleasure in seeing Leo's reaction to all that we saw on our trip. When he got so excited about seeing Balanced Rock, and flapped his wings and cheered, I knew he truly understood how amazing the natural wonders we saw were.

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Mary Hone link
6/19/2014 12:03:44 am

It forever bugs me that national parks are closed to pets. We have smuggled Roxy into Teton National park on remote hiking trails. Torrey is a little too big to smuggle though. But, we almost always find great hikes around the parks.

Reply
Bethany
6/19/2014 03:52:42 am

Being from a state with amazing but completely pet unfriendly national parks (that I basically never visit) it is disappointing but as an animal lover I am all for allowing the wildlife a protected and undisturbed place to thrive. You're right that there is plenty of spectacular scenery outside of the park too. In fact, I prefer finding those hidden gems, off the beaten path, where there are less tourists and pets!

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Jessica @ YouDidWhatWithYourWeiner link
6/19/2014 03:32:56 am

So I guess I will find out tomorrow but what do you do with Leo when you take him on road trips and hike? I wonder if where you hiked is a trail that I have biked before. It leads up to the boundary of the park. We took a trail but I believe the view spot is accessible by a abandoned dirt road. You probably could have pushed Leo's cart there :)

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Bethany
6/19/2014 03:58:20 am

When the stroller isn't an option, Leo goes on short hikes with us riding on my hand (just like he does for walks around our neighborhood.) The trail you've been on sounds beautiful but I purposely sought out a bike and horse free pet friendly trail- one (or two) less things to worry with dog safety makes a hike more enjoyable!

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Marci Koski link
6/19/2014 08:42:43 am

What amazing pictures! I love Arches and have been there a few times - it is spectacular, even from a vehicle. Your dogs and Leo were fortunate to see the place, and it sounds like they were very well-behaved; I hope your hike outside of the pet-unfriendly park was fun for everyone! Safe travels :D

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Bethany
6/20/2014 12:44:05 am

Thank you,Marci. The boys were all excellent sports about hopping in and out of the car so much for short jaunts and photo shoots. That's partly why I just couldn't make them do it any longer! Arches is very well designed to see and enjoy so very much of it's beauty from a vehicle- we are so lucky to have gotten to experience it!

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Christina Berry link
6/19/2014 02:12:19 pm

Great photos, as always! Leo just cracks me up! Does he know he's a bird, or does he think he's one of the dogs? He just fits in so perfectly! Gorgeous!

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Bethany
6/20/2014 12:47:10 am

Oh, Leo knows he's not a dog and he takes every advantage! Birds are very flock/family oriented so he definitely always likes to do what the crowd does... in his own unique way, of course! Thank you for the compliments.

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melf link
6/20/2014 02:31:09 pm

My sister and I did a road trip out to Arches and Moab. That was before I had my dogs. It's nice to see how much you did get to see and do given their unfriendly pet policy. I am thoroughly impressed. It is an amazing place and one I want to return to some day.
I bet the dogs loved exploring the new terrain and smelling all the unusual scents. I am jealous.

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Bethany
6/22/2014 04:28:39 pm

Oh I forgot all about how much the dogs and Leo loved the warm breeze at Arches, Mel! It was tough to get them to look towards the camera for photos (the outtakes may be a future- hilarious- post!) because they were all sniffing, reveling and gazing about. I hope to return again someday too!

Reply
Arches Ranger
6/21/2014 03:35:21 am

Thanks for the great article! Do I have your permission to share it on Arches' Facebook page? I would love to use Leo's photo, with the copyright mark intact of course.

Thanks,
Karen
Park Ranger, Arches National Park

Reply
Bethany
6/22/2014 04:23:04 pm

We'd be honored for you to share this post and any watermarked photos you'd like, Karen. Thank you!

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