SOUTHEASTERN PART OF DEVILS GARDEN TRAIL, viewed northwestward. Narrow slot between fins of Slick Rock Member indicates local spacing of joints. (Fig. 51)
At the northwest end of the one-way loop is a large parking area for use by people hiking the Devils Garden trail. This trail leads to seven of the most interesting arches in the park, all of which are in the Slick Rock Member, and there are many more farther to the northwest. The approximate distances to the seven arches are given in the paragraphs that follow. The trail is paved for about 1 mile as far as Landscape Arch ([fig. 53]), but from there to Double O Arch ([fig. 56]) the trail is primitive, and the Park Service recommends rubber soles as part of the trail is on bare sandstone. For these reasons, many visitors hike only as far as Landscape Arch.
PINE TREE ARCH, viewed northeastward. Opening is 46 feet wide and 48 feet high. Fin is 30 feet thick. (Fig. 52)
Much of the trail, particularly the first part, lies in a narrow slot between fins of the Slick Rock Member, as shown in [figure 51]. After about half a mile, a side trail to the north leads to a Y, the right-hand fork of which goes to Tunnel Arch ([fig. 14]). The left-hand fork leads to Pine Tree Arch, obviously named for the piñon pine framed by this arch ([fig. 52]).
At the end of the improved part of the trail, we reach Landscape Arch ([fig. 53]), claimed by the Park Service to be the longest known natural arch in the world. According to Ouellette (1958) it is 291 feet long and 118 feet high, but Professor Stevens’ measurements indicate it to be 287 feet long and 106 feet high. At its thinnest point on the right, the span is only 11 feet wide and 11 feet thick. In 1958 three young men made what was claimed to be the second known ascent of Landscape Arch, using ropes and other climbing gear, after which they walked across (Ouellette, 1958). This crossing was made with the permission of a park ranger, but such permission is no longer given, for the safety of both the arch and of would-be climbers.
Wall Arch is about a quarter of a mile beyond the end of the improved part of the trail, and another three-fourths mile brings us to Navajo Arch ([fig. 54]) and Partition Arch ([fig. 55]). A distant view of Partition Arch may be had just before reaching Landscape Arch. Part of the remaining trail to Double O Arch ([fig. 56]) is on the top of a low sandstone fin, in part between somewhat higher fins and in part above lower slots.
LANDSCAPE ARCH, viewed southwestward from near end of improved part of Devils Garden trail. Note that ground beneath arch is covered by slope wash and near the middle with what appears to be a small landslide. Slick Rock Member here is more nearly buff than salmon colored, because of a smaller content of iron oxide. Fresh breaks and angular blocks of stone at right abutment indicate relatively recent rock falls. See text for size. (Fig. 53)