Double Arch

Utah 2025 #3

2025-06-13

In a perfectly lovely morning, the juniper tree blocks the direct sun on our open net topped tent. From this, we have a less abrupt wake-up call, and cool comfort pervades. After laying relaxed, looking up at the sky, encouraged by the day’s agenda, I roll into breaking camp mode. DF prepares a breakfast of chopped bananas in the delicious ground almond porridge stuff that she often brings from home.

Heading down the road that we came in on, up the eroded steep sandy hill, we find the turn off which goes to an obvious double arch off of the main road.

The turn off looks like an obscure and rough side-road, judging from the map. There is more road and open space to see out here, but we have other plans and prefer to beat the heat in the shade of some intriguing geology. We’re going to investigate an unusual form, a double natural arch.

The distance has been shorter than it looks on the crude map. The arches are obvious and not far off of the road. It is obvious that it is not even a hike as we approach. Off of the side of the road is a turn off with a parking lot, a tree and a toilet! This isn’t the obscure non-touristy naked place in our plans, but there are no signs of anyone else at this time. It is early. A site being prepared for tourist, doesn’t always mean they come in droves. Perhaps they are thinking in terms of the sort of, “build it and they will come.”

A space in a rail border fence reveals a sidewalk! Yes, a concrete sidewalk, like a city. It is wheelchair accessible! “I didn’t see that one coming from the description that the rangers gave us at Kodachrome.”

“Nobody here, let’s check it out. Maybe there’s something beyond, off of the beaten path.”

Just a few feet more, as we are reading the signs at a kiosk, we hear the distant sounds of ATV engines.

We begin to walk to get a head start on them. If they are coming here, and they probably are, we’ll get a distance between us. We find that the low lying vegetation won’t give us much line of sight protection.

We are still tiny, but maybe totally flesh colored figures as the vehicles pull up and park. They are involved with themselves. We express a hope that they may not even walk up, but put some cover over our bodies. I consider what I can make out of their forms and that might compare with what they can see of us. I also consider that many ATV people are known to carry binoculars.

We can see them, and we feast in the wondrous sight above, just ahead of us.

I see a sort path to my left, which heads toward another set of cliffs and some taller vegetation. It could be a worthy walk and maybe these others will be gone by the time that we return. Perhaps at that time, we can have the place to ourselves, indulge our photography and all of our senses.

From the rough excuse for a trail, I can see them beginning up the cement walkway in the distance. I’m far enough along to drop the sarong wrapped around my waist and taste the air and feel some of the heat of the morning sun, which from here, is still behind the cliffs and casting shadows.

I can figure that those other visitors will not arrive until I am over a short rise. By their current pace. I’m free.

The path continues winding along the sandy ridges created by debris dropping from the cliffs.

There is drainage through here when it rains, so the vegetation gets thicker and taller. Rocks are in fun shapes from erosion wearing at their various consistencies.

It is a special place, a grand formation, even without the arches. We sit.

Through the brush, I can see that one of them, one who is more adventurous, has found our path. He proceeds along it a distance, but looks behind at his compadres that are not following. He must go with their flow, not his own leadership and returns to them.

We will soon have the park mostly to ourselves. We bide our time enjoying the serenity and flavor of this small box canyon.

The sun has yet to pass over the cliff west of the arches when we start our return. There is an extra, unmentioned arch, or just a bridge, up there. It is but a hole filled with beaming morning light.

Up there, it is much larger and right next to the other two grand arches.

We return along the path, our textile coverings only pads for our cameras and water bottle straps. The other visitors are in the distance hanging around their vehicles. We pass on to where some obstacles block their line of sight and explore the cliffs in closer proximity, before heading back.

Our intent is to get down the main road to a slot canyon. We must head back to the main road and turn away from our morning’s encampment to reach it. The ATV’s are still at the parking area when we arrive.

I’m hoping that they are not also going in the same direction, or to one of the slot canyons.

As we leave, I fall back, just enough to watch their direction by their dust. It appears that we are in luck, when they blow past the intersection and turn back toward Kodachrome State Park.

There is only a sign marking the trail and a worn down stop on the side of the road for parking. A few entrance paths trail off of the graded road and navigate down into a wash and then into what looks like it might be a tight little canyon. There is a choice, right upstream, or left down. There are no other cars, so no other people. We’re on our way, as God intended, into what is promising to be a beautiful slot canyon narrows.  

I am on the forum of FreeRangeNaturism.com often, if you would like to converse.

© The owners of TheFreeRangeNaturist.org as of the year 2015 declare. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to TheFreeRangeNaturist.org with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.