A park ranger in Moab told me the arches aren't really made of sandstone

I was hiking the Fiery Furnace loop last fall and got talking with a ranger at the overlook. He pointed at Delicate Arch and said, 'Most folks think it's all Navajo Sandstone, but the cap rock up top is actually a harder layer of Entrada.' I mean, I always just called it all sandstone. He explained how the different layers erode at separate rates, which is what creates the thin arches. It stuck with me because it changed how I look at rock formations now. Do you think it's better to explain the full geology to tourists, or just keep it simple and call it sandstone?

2 comments

2 Comments

alicecooper8h ago

Wow, that ranger gave you the good stuff.

the_shane2h ago

Jumping in to say I totally get what you mean. That ranger gave you a real gift by breaking it down like that. It's one thing to look at a pretty arch and another to understand the slow, patient work of erosion (and different rock layers) that made it happen. I think most tourists would appreciate that kind of explanation, you know, something that sticks with them long after the hike. Keeping it simple is fine for a quick stop, but a little geology can turn a cool picture into a memory that actually changes how you see the world.