10-9 and 10-10-2016 Arches National Park, Utah

On the morning of the 9th, we returned to Canyonlands where we viewed the Green River from an overlook.

For the rest of that day and the next, we explored nearby Arches National Park.

We hiked to two huge arches, North Window and South Window.

Then we hiked a primitive trail behind the arches and through red rock.

The Park Service constantly reminds visitors to stay on trails to protect the desert floor's biological soil crust, which forms when microscopic cyanobacteria bind sand and other soil particles together.   The bumpy surface holds water and prevents soil loss creating a place for algae, moss and fungi to grow.

There is much more to see in Arches National Parks than the arches, such as immense and unusual rock formations,...

...ancient sand dunes that have turned to stone, and...

...colorful valleys,...

...including Salt Valley, the site of a 10,000-foot-high and 70-mile-long salt dome that collapsed millions of years ago, creating many of the unique rock formations here.

The Moab Fault is located in Moab Valley, just west of Arches.

We stayed in Moab during our visits to Canyonlands and Arches.  It is a center for outdoor enthusiasts and adventure lovers, as is evidenced by outfitters, bicycle shops and off-road vehicles up and down Main Street.