SAND DUNE ARCH, in recess along southwest wall of narrow slot shown in [figure 45]. Slick Rock Member. (Fig. 46)
Salt Valley and Klondike Bluffs
Before proceeding to the end of the paved road, let us take an unimproved side road, which turns south about a third of a mile beyond the last stop, in order to see more of Salt Valley and to visit Klondike Bluffs in the northwestern part of the park. After descending 2.3 miles of winding road we reach the normally dry bed of Salt Valley Wash, and turn abruptly to the northwest. For the next three-fourths of a mile the “road” is simply two tracks in the loose, sandy bed of the wash, which obviously should not be travelled when flooded or when there is even a hint of rain. In dry weather, however, this road may be travelled by ordinary passenger car. This stretch of the wash cuts through an intruded block of the Paradox Member of the Hermosa Formation consisting mainly of gray and brown gypsum, the common salt having been dissolved out by ground water. Such an intrusive block of salt-bearing rock is known to geologists as a diapir—not to be confused with the garment (diaper) worn by infants.
From here on the road traverses a rather uninteresting stretch of valley north of Salt Valley Wash. Eleven miles from the starting point, the road reaches an intersection from which a side road leads southwestward three-fourths of a mile to a parking area at the foot of Klondike Bluffs, which form the south side of Salt Valley. From here, one may make a strenuous hike over a primitive trail about 1½ miles long to beautiful Tower Arch ([fig. 47]).
The valley road continues northwestward from the intersection to and beyond the northwest end of the park and connects with roads to Crescent Junction, Thompson, and the Yellow Cat mining district, north of the park ([p. 14]).
Let us return to the paved road and continue our tour of the park.
Devils Garden
Turning left (northwest) at the intersection with the paved park road, we enter Devils Garden—another large maze of towering red fins separated by narrow slots, which resembles the Fiery Furnace. After a third of a mile, we reach stop 24 and walk 100 feet or more to the north for a good view of Skyline Arch ([fig. 48]). This arch is very appropriately named, as it forms the skyline viewed either from the road on the south or from the campground on the north, from points south of the amphitheater. Less well known is the fact that Skyline Arch is clearly visible to the naked eye or through binoculars from stretches of Highway I-70 (or old U.S. Highways 6 and 50) about 11 miles to the north. Most arches and other erosion forms do not change appearance much from day to day or year to year, but some, like “Baby Arch” ([fig. 15]), show evidence of relatively recent origin. In November 1940 (Abbey, 1971, p. 42) Skyline Arch suddenly doubled in size by the fall of a large rock that occupied what is now the northwest half of the arch. Photographs taken before and after this event appear on pages 24 and 25 of the road guide and also in the museum at the Visitor Center.
