The Part of Arches National Park that Nobody Visits! (SUV Camping/Vanlife Adventures)
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 6 ก.พ. 2025
- Utah's Arches National Park. It's accessible, gorgeous, and crowded-or is it? Join me on this adventure as I visit one of the country's greatest national parks and leave the throngs behind.
DATE FILMED: Late March 2021
► Adventure Know-How: adventureknowh...
► The SUV RVing Website: suvrving.com/
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GPS COORDINATES & LINKS
Want Google Maps links for the GPS coordinates below? Go here: suvrving.com/a...
** Poison Strip Mine: 38.8480, -109.5284
** GJHikes.com page for this hike: www.gjhikes.co...
** Where I parked: 38.8035, -109.5178
** Lightning Bolt Arch: 38.7899, -109.5173
** Cavern Arch: 38.7856, -109.5150
** Convert Arch: 38.7820, -109.5062
** Alternate trailhead to Convert Arch: 38.7735, -109.4885
** Campsite: 39.00396, -109.61087
** The shower: www.joolca.com...
IMAGE CREDITS
** Delicate Arch photo by James St. John on Flickr: www.flickr.com...
** Landscape Arch photo by Cacophony on Wikimedia: commons.wikime...
OTHER LINKS
** Gear I use: suvrving.com/gear
** SUV RVing the Book: amzn.to/2SUrtme (Affiliate link)
** The blog: suvrving.com
** The company I use for my web hosting: www.a2hosting.com?aid=5dd04ea50f139 (Affiliate link)
** Instagram: / suvrving
** My other TH-cam channel: / tenkaraaddict
#utah #archesnationalpark #hiking
Thanks for watching! If you enjoyed this adventure, check out my last visit to Arches, which was also blissfully crowd-free: th-cam.com/video/Tc9aLsxR_Bw/w-d-xo.html
Thank you for having just a normal conversation with us while you go on these adventures. I absolutely hate the overly excited, fake show a lot of travel people put on. I really enjoy just listening and hanging out watching these videos. It's a breath of fresh air for this type of content.
Thanks Hayden, I really appreciate that. That's one of the reasons I started making videos-the kinds of stuff I wanted to see didn't exist. Thanks for watching.
@@SUVRVing I'm 71, getting an old Caravan and a couple pop up tents and hitting the road. I cannot begin to do your kind of hikes, but will love the canyons, Idaho, Montana if only from a car give or take a few miles. Your videos are naturally inspiring. Thank you for all of them. Geoff in NC...
You said it for me Hayden.
Check out Kraig Adams channel and/or Mediocre Amateur
I am constantly amazed at the work people like yourself do on these hikes to show us you hiking or scrambling up a rock face by positioning your camera on a tripod, and then retracing your steps to retrieve your camera, and do the process all over again. Obviously a lot of work. I have been to Arches several time, one of my favorite National Parks. Thanks for taking me to a section of the park I will probably never see in person, but have seen because of your hard work.
It's some work, but it's not that bad. It's a relatively small portion of the overall adventure. But thanks for the kind words, John!
Yes, thank you Tristan.
The "baby" arch you found should be dubbed "Echo Arch". I have to say what I thoroughly enjoy about your videos is your literacy... seriously. It is *so* refreshing to hear someone speak with such eloquence, and utilize such a diverse vocabulary. (I mean that sincerely...). Hearing you narrate is like having a cool breeze blowing across my brain. I also appreciate that you seem to notice and genuinely find interesting the exact same kinds of things that I would notice and genuinely find interesting--like the different weathering patterns within the different rock layers. Lastly, I especially resonated with your statement under Convert Arch. It's a shame it's getting harder and harder to find those spaces where you can just sit and listen and quietly observe the world around you (more sadly, fewer and fewer people seem to appreciate how valuable those places and that time can be...sigh). What a treat for yourself that you found just such a place and had it all to yourself. What a treat for your viewers that you so generously shared that moment with them. Thank you for these wonderful videos.
Thank you for packing the rope out. Someone with less experience or are foolish might be tempted to use it. You probably saved someone's life for doing that. 5 Gold Stars for you Tristan.
At the very least, I saved other visitors to the area a bit of an eyesore 😁
Good on you for packing out other people’s trash! 💪
At first I thought you said, (25:00) “Oh, I just found this little *Karen* here,” when you saw the cairn, just after talking about how you hadn’t seen a soul all day. 🤣Obviously I’ve been watching too many “Karen” videos. Thanks for another excellent video in a beautiful location…really nice to take the vicarious hikes with you!
This location is now on my bucket list. Looks like I'm gonna have to get a bigger bucket. 😎
Lol you can never have a big enough bucket!
Welcome to the club!
Great comment..I agree with you. So I started a journal, no "bucket".😉
Such an enjoyable video. I thank you for the encouraging perseverance to acheive what you set out to do.
God bless you and your family
Saturday mornings aren't complete without living vicariously through your adventures. Thanks for all the effort that goes into putting these videos together, Tristan.
Thanks for watching!
Always enjoy being out and about with you. Loved this quote from you: "Doing the opposite of whatever 'wallowing in defeat is'."
Should be on a t-shirt!
I like it when you wax philosophical/spiritual about the reasons why you do what you do. Your thoughts articulated under the arch resonated with my own feelings when I am lucky enough to be completely alone in a deserted "chapel" in nature. Thanks for a brief window into your soul.
Thanks Timothy, I'm glad you enjoyed it. I appreciate you watching.
Agreed
And it wasn't lost on me that this all happened under Convert Arch. Must be something about the place others have noted in the past too.
I love that you can let us enjoy silence, too. No narration, no music. Just wind, sometimes birdsong, sometimes just the awesome, inspiring gift of silent beauty.
You really are a gifted content creator and editor.
Going off to figure out how to support you with more than just a view, a thumb, and a comment. If every viewer gave even just $0.25 per video, I figure you should be able to more than sustain yourself!
My wife and I took our kids under Landscape arch (when it was still allowed), up the cliff behind to a small alcove where on a Sunday morning at sunrise we were all alone. We stopped to watch the sunrise and say a prayer.
How magnificent a morning.
Nothing better than those red rocks against that blue sky! ❤
Agreed! It's gorgeous out there.
Your steps take me places I cannot go, so thank you for showing me (us) these incredible sites! I enjoy your informative narrations as well!
Tristan, I have watched literally scores of your videos over the past couple of years. Your description of your own comparison of arches and churches is the most spiritual thing I have heard you say. It has given me a new insight into you as a person. Walk in Beauty.
You may 'say so,' Tristan: you DO give great tips on spectacular, less-visited places! And I'm so excited to see how close you are to 100k subscribers! So glad that more people are finding and appreciating you.
Lol thanks Kathleen!
Thank you.
I beleive I asked you about this location sometime in the last year and you said you would put it on your list.
As for the solitude and majesty under a majestic arch alone, I felt that at Tapestry arch last summer.
Crawled under it to get some shade. I was stunned by the views out and the utter silence. Not even an insect or a bird. It may have only been a short hike from the campground, but aparently no one knew it was there.
My ears struggled to make sense of the lack of stimulation.
So nice to find place you can be alone. We had a gold mine spot at one time and I use to sit in the middle of the stream cold water running over me and birds flying right over my head such a peaceful wonderful experience.
What an epic and solitary place, just the way I like it. It's an effort sometimes, but worth it to be able to worship and ponder alone amongst such monolith structures, canyons, buttes and arches. Thank you Tristan.
Thanka Deanna!
Loved the analogy of the cathedrals! You created a special moment there, indeed. Great thoughts, totally agree with that comparison. Excellent video. Thank you very much. 😀 I'm starting my first leg of my minivan trip this week, finally, thank you for all the inspiration you have provided over the years!
Thank you for sharing this wonderful place. It’s comforting to know you can still see the park without the crowds.
Thanks for watching, Debbie!
Thank you for sharing this hike. I have to say, I've been to Delicate and Landscape Arch, arguably the two most well known arches in not just Arches National Park but in Utah. The arch you hiked to in this video is far more beautiful and impressive in my book, the surrounding landscape is amazing and the lack of people/crowds puts it above the other two I mentioned earlier.
One has to truly admire your skill and effort at film creating. Not only do you set up a camera to show yourself traversing mountainous terrain but then you have to go back down to retrieve your camera gear then rescale these challenging walls. Many hats off to you Tristan. 👏
I read quite a few of the comments. They made a great summation of the ways I responded to this video. I was smiling all the way through. Didn't you have an Arches video that had Yikes! on the thumbnail? It flashed in my head while you were waxing about the Arches and solitude. More good stuff, more good visits to memories. Thanks.
I love that you are so honest when you get stuck. Thanks for all your videos.
It's not interesting if things always go right according to plan, right? Thanks Jennifer!
So happy to See You with Sun Screen on your face! Also the long sleeve shirts, excellent!
I’m 76, grew up in Texas New Mexico, Boy Scouts, Explorers, hiking everyday… no sunscreen back then. Skin cancers galore now. So tired of going to dermatology procedures…smh. You lather up Son!
Arches I Approve Of by Tristan - Thanks Tristan, a most excellent tour, I really appreciate your efforts!
Great hike. Great video and I believe Toyota should sponsor you for showing all the places their RAV4 is able to go to.
Great setup for on demand hot water
I just love your videos, thank-you for taking us on your hikes with you!
Jacob Hamblin Arch near Escalante, Utah has to be a really great example of a natural cathedral!
A national park with no people lol that's awesome! Great video..thank you for sharing your adventures!
Do you ever update yourself on missing 411 hikers in the areas you explore? Incase you find some key piece of their belongings.
Arches is on my top 10 favorite National Parks. I was there once in early January and basically had most of it to myself. I found at 63 back then I felt compelled to do some rock climbing. Always good fun.
ABSOLUTLEY STUNNING! and you were the only person there! thanks so much for the WELL DONE VIDEO! Added to the "bucket list"!
I’d love to know about any wildlife in area, like snakes. You always make me hold my breath while I watch you put your hands on rocks when you don’t know what lurks there. I’m not familiar with this area at all so maybe no wildlife to be concerns about. Love your videos!
There are about 5 or 6 species of Rattlesnakes, Scorpions, Tarantulas, Giant Desert Centipedes, many different Lizard species, Mountain Lions, Coyotes, and many other desert creatures.
Absolutely brilliant! We’re stuck in Toronto under stay-at-home orders but as soon as we’re free to travel, I’ll be hitting up some of the incredible spots you’ve highlighted. Thanks for continuing to share. The angle/view at 26:13 is breathtaking!
You make good videos, dude, that's for sure! I'm a fan. You're looking for solitude in the amazing places you find. It's a really good thing :)
Thanks again Tristan for another really fine video! Wishing I were younger, but your enthusiasm and love of Nature's "cathedrals" inspire me! Keep it up!
Me too.
Thanks Dean!
I love Arches, the first time was 1992, followed by 1994 and 1997. The section shown here didn't exist during my visits. I used to wild camp in the early days. In 1997, I got really stuck in my Isuzu Rodeo 4wd on a flood plane in thick clay whilst driving thru an offshute of Salt Creek trail. I hiked 5 miles to a main road got a lift back to Slickrock campground with none of my gear until an expensive haul out the next day. Fun times being relived by an oldtimer Englishman. .Having read Desert Solitaire, Edward Abbey became my all time hero, he used to be a Ranger in this park, many years ago.
I hiked that same route a month ago. I didn't hike up to convert arch so it was cool to see your footage. I was curious to see if you'd mention millenium arch from gjhikes because it was so small. We continued up lost spring canyon and went into a cool slot canyon at the end. Like you we did not see anyone until we got to the slot canyon. Two girls rappelled into the slot canyon while we were there.
This was a great video. Low key, hiking "drama" and very enjoyable! Your videos are in my top 5 to watch! After your shower, you just seemed so relaxed and in your space in a very good way.
Thank you so much for sharing the adventure with me! 💖
Thanks Doreen, I'm glad you enjoyed it 😄
Greetings from the Land Down Under. Had to say as you walked around the corner to see Convert Arch (26:05) and with you in the frame giving the true perspective of the size and majesty of the arch was a true WOW moment.
Absolutely, reveling in victory! I so love the SW colors... sand, redrock of various hues.... Haha, your hair is hilarious!
Thank you for taking us to amazing places. We can hardly wait for the border to re-open. Nancy
Love your video's and sharing so much information on your hikes👍
Got my husband watching your videos too now. We loved this hike especially the lack of fellow walkers.
I want to thank you for giving practical advice, for respecting the land and terrain, for being careful, and not being a dare-devil. Your videos differ from others who may not be so responsible - no one needs to get injured or put themselves in danger to make a good video and we appreciate your wise decision-making. Always thoughtful and reverent ... thanks Tristan! 😄🏔🖐
Thanks!
21:22 - I was just looking down at that section yesterday thinking: "That fool is crazy!!" - looks scary from the top!
Thank you Great find also Thank you for packing out the rope . As always stay safe and healthy
You are a wonderful videoagrapher and put thought and effort into making sure we experience what you see eventhough that means backtracking to get your camera. The staining on the red rock is so beautiful.
Covert Arch was great! Thanks for taking us there! Luckily for us, we visited the Grand Canyon South and North, Mesa Verde, and the Utah 5 in May-June of 2020 when many people were not out so much due to Covid. We camped and had everything we needed to avoid people. It was an amazing trip with limited people. Once in a lifetime occurrence for those parks and us!
Nice of you to show the map - what is the name of the map?
Always enjoy your videos! And I'm going soon to SD - your video was very helpful in inspiring and planning!
Have a happy trip!
That was the Trails Illustrated map for Arches National Park. Thanks for watching!
Arches is probably the best. Thank you for this video.
Thank you for sharing the location of your adventures. Many other TH-camrs who do exploring videos don’t sharing locations because they don’t want to share what we all have the freedom to see.
As the channel gets bigger and more people watch the videos, I weigh more and more whether sharing the exact coordinates is the right thing to do. Thanks for watching.
We hiked up to Arches boy what a hike so crowded too. You have to go slow otherwise you will tank, we saw it happen to many people they start out like they want to beat everyone up there but then they get passed 😂
27:30 - "...beauty is meant to be contemplated, not captured..." Sir Roger Scruton - Why Beauty Matters
The Perfect Echo was my favorite! You were so taken by it and indeed we could hear :D
Creeping up on 100,000! I'm just surprised you're not already there as great as this channel is. Can't wait to see you meet that goal!! 👍
Thanks! Should be there in the next month or so 🤞
Of all the western U.S. channels I've watched, this is best👍
@@saginawdan Thanks Daniel!
No people all day, that is nice! Thanks for the hike.
Sure was! Thanks for watching.
Thanks Tristan for having us on your adventure.
As usual your photography is stunning. Thank you for bringing me back to a beautiful place.
Thanks Cathy!
Arches and Canyonlands are the most spectacular places Ive ever been. Incredibly varied desert terrain and always in the background snow capped peaks. Even got to go up the Lions Back in my friends jeep!
Another great video Tristan. I wasn't aware of the less popular trails. My experience at Arches NP was when a thunderstorm scared off all the tourists. We put on our rain jackets and ventured down the trail to see Landscape Arch and hid out in one arch during the height of the lighting. People didn't return for the remainder of the afternoon even though the rain quit with the departure of the storm. We had the trail all to ourselves. So, the storm was our friend to clear out the crowds. Happy Hiker! 😀
Arches is a magical place and special to me. I am going back again this year, and i will be spending much more time this time. Terrific video. I am going to save this for reference in a few months. Great job Tristan!
It's fantastic to know that places like this exist.
26:26 - To me Arches are the closest things in nature to Cathedral, to Temples, or Synagogues, or holy place you want to insert. Just beautiful structures that make you want to sit and think and ponder” This struck a chord with me. There are many locations in nature where I find myself alone, and allow me to reflect, but you’re right there is certainly a beauty and grandness, that makes being under an Arch that makes it more “holy.” Providing some shelter, protection from the elements. Thank you!
Glen Shellhammer
This has become my most enjoyed episode from your youtube channel. Thank you for your dialogue and desire to show the areas of our country not seen by the masses. I loved this episode
And btw your joy with the day shone through. I too loved that you saw no other people. Drone footage is always awesome.
That was awesome! I would love to see that one day.
I’m glad to see that water heater and 5# propane tank.
Your enthusiasm is contagious! You are so on target...arches have such a powerful, grand presence. If East, visit twin arches in Big South Fork NRA. Certainly not the stark landscape of Utah, but to suddenly come across them in the forest carries its own splendor.
I thought I saw everything in Arches, that was before they added this section, and now you gave me a reason to go again and put my SUV to good use! Thank you!
My mind is blown that such a well-kept secret could exist in such a heavily trafficked park. I feel like one of many swine unworthily partaking of pearls. My recommendation to those who want to escape the crowds is to visit Arches in winter. The red rock looks beautiful when punctuated with snow, and you can do the hikes without having heat stroke.
It is interesting to see you climb the face of the mountain and then to realize that you need then to go back for your camera and do it again. Impressive.
36:08 Off the road, off the public eye. Perfect place to enjoy a pressurized road shower🚿. The simple 3.8 Waterport has worked for me so far🥶😁
The Waterport looks interesting! But yeah, those kinds of showers can be chilly. Thanks for watching.
There is so much work put into your videos and it seems effortless but I'm sure it is not. Thank-you for all you do and taking us with you to your journeys. I would love to go to these place but not to climb (because I don't rock climb)- just to see the magnitude and magnificence. Your enthusiasm is just wonderful to hear.
Have a great day! 🙂
I loved how you figured out the way to the beautiful arch!❤️😀🇺🇸🚙
That Convert Arch looks as big or bigger than North Window Arch, which anyone can easily go underneath after short hike from parking lot. Gotta get there to see and experience, following your foot steps. 👍👍
In the SoWest you always seem to find old cars and trucks at the mines with engines missing. That engine and transmission came out of one of them. Cheap way to get an industrial engine .. buy an old vehicle and drive it to the mine and strip it. The the body becomes a target .. always full of bullet holes. 🤠
From my experience the key to having an enjoyable shower outside is being able to a avoid the wind. It can even be somewhat cool but if the sun is out and there is not much wind it is doable.
Good to see you back in the dirt on the trail. I will keep this location in mind for the next time I’m at Arches.
Ok! I can't believe it.... I actually beat Trevor somewhere!! Three years ago on family trip we climbed on the poison strip mine and then parked southeast of Convert Arch and then hiked overland to it. I didn't know about the northern access point and trail.... your route looks more interesting, but I'm kind of proud that I actually got somewhere before you did! Probably will never happen again. Great video!!
Lol you did it! Fun area, for sure. (BTW my name is Tristan, not Trevor 😁)
@@SUVRVing Oops! Sorry! I know that!
Moab, Arches, My FAV place !!
I love your work! I have been subscribed for over a year. THANK YOU for the GPS information. You are a great recourse! My van conversion is over 50% done.
Roger
Great one Triston! Loved that Arch! So glad you gained access!❤️😀😀🚙
Your videos and temperament are the antidote to the crazy world we live in.. I was going to try and make it out to that part of the country next week and was feeling apprehensive until I saw your vid. Thank you for putting in the work it takes to make these vids.. Truly underrated!
The profundity with which you described the experience of arches, makes me want to visit one very much. Your videos are so good. Thank you for doing this. I look forward to your tour of churches and types of churches, if you do it.
Rock hounding for agates northeast of park with daughter about 20 years ago. So proud to try my new hiking shoes, walked into a pool of quicksand. I can laugh now but I did soil my new shoes and pants.
We just found you. Totally enjoy your travels. There is no one who can beat your camera usages.
Solitude is cathartic. This was even better the second time. thx.
Great episode, Tristan! The idea of experiencing that area without the hordes of people you usually encounter is extremely appealing....to say the least. haha We will definitely put this one on the bucket list!!
Rad seeing another place to check out. Thank you! 2 weeks ago, I hiked out to the tunnel you shared on your other Arches video, and not another person in sight! Cool place too. 🤙
Thank you for taking us on your adventures.
Thank you for sharing this great video. Love the Arches, one of my favorite parks. I only made it to Double O arches.
I just left Arches NP about the same time you did this video. It is one amazing place, and one I will visit again next year when I make another trip out there to the truly wild places. Thanks for sharing this with us.
Great video. I love the echo at 19:40!! It was so clear. Also amazing that you didn't see anybody the whole day! Keep up the great work Tristan. Glad you're closing in on 100K subscribers. Hopefully that helps you keep doing this!
Yep I like going to places with yours hardly any people not into the tourist trap
I am reading Desert Solitaire by Edward Abbey. He worked at Arches for a couple summers, prior to all the roads being established. Great park. Love the desert area.
Tristan you know how to plan a trip. Give the best time, season, month to visit epic places. Thank you. I am so happy for you that your channel is being followed by more people. I started following you when you had about 7,000 subscribers. Congratulations on nearly 100,000. Also, thank you for taking me to church today.
Thanks for being a long-time follower, Wenona!