'Although Arches is in the Great Basin Desert, it is a cool desert and a high one. The most common plant community here is a pygmy forest of Juniper and Pinion Pine, which covers forty percent of the park. More than 350 other plant species thrive here as well, including Yuccas, Blackbrush, Indian Paintbrush, Dropseed, Indian Ricegrass, Prickly Pear Cactus, Rockrose and Mormon Tea. A diverse profusion of wildflowers also bloom from April through June including Larkspur, Prince's Plum, Peppergrass, Mule-ears and Columbine. Willows and non-native Tamarisk line the riverbanks and narrow floodplains. Most species of mammals are nocturnal in Arches, but you might also see Mule Deer, Kit Fox, Jackrabbits, Desert Cottontails and Kangaroo Rats. The Western Rattlesnake, Collared Lizard, Red-spotted Toad and Tadpole Shrimp are also common.' (With acknowledgement to the Arches National Park Website)

The Turret Arch in The Windows section of the Arches National Park.

Balanced Rock is a good example of the geological feature called a hoodoo. It is formed by both wind erosion, and erosion by water seepage. A resistant block of Slickrock Sandstone (from the Entrada layer) is balanced on a softer layer of Dewey Bridge Beds, which in turn rests on a Navajo Sandstone base. The huge cap rock weights 3500 tons and stands 55 feet high.

Snow on the bushes at the southern entrance to Moab.