Delicate Arch hike at Arches National Canyon

Best advice I have for anyone taking kids up the Delicate Arch--

1. Pack snacks.. or even a full lunch to eat at the top.  And obviously water too.,

2.  Plan for about a 4 hour round trip.  We didn't really stop for breaks and it took us about this long.  

3.  Sunscreen.  We went on a cold day, everyone had jackets.  But we still got sunburned.

4.  Take it slow and easy... you can totally do it!  It's hard, but so worth it once you get to the top.  We loved this hike and all want to go back real soon!

we went to the visitors center before the hike and it was pretty cool.  We decided to watch the 20-minute intro video about erosion. I thought it was kind of dramatic with scary music and thunder, but my boys liked it.  We looked around the gift shop and signed the kids up to be jr rangers before heading up to the Delicate Arch.

the hike was hard-- almost all uphill.  Our little ones did great, but I wish we would have packed more snacks and water.  Everything we brought got devoured at the top and we even had to share with others who didn't bring anything but needed something (low-blood sugar isn't something you mess around with!) so more snacks or a full on lunch would have been smart.

We wouldn't let Roma bring her doll Sally on the trail but we lost the battle when it came to her purple doggie/balloon.  Poor Luke had to carry it in his hood on the way down because she was done with it after an hour or so.  Love this cute family of mine.  

This 5 year old was incredible.  He stopped once for a break and I had to capture it.  He kept telling himself "Never give up.  Never stop moving."  Towards the end, I asked him how he was able to hike so well.  He responded, "When I would get tired, I would tell my brain to send energy to my legs, and then I was fine."  I am telling you, this boy knows something the rest of us are still trying to figure out about listening and talking to our bodies.  He is in tune!

Roma was carried for about 5 minutes on Aaron's shoulders and about 30 seconds on mine.  It was that difficult and uphill that we couldn't carry her for much longer.  She was a trooper, for sure.  especially in that outfit.. a dress, tights and snowboots.  Left her tennis shoes at home.  Oops.  

The 3 mile trail was perfect for this teenager.  He was in front the entire hike and could have lapped us if we would have let him do it twice.  

Luke was amazing with Roma and got her to push it when she didn't have any energy left.  they found a cheetos wrapper on the trail and filled it with sand for her to carry down.  Who knew that's what she needed to keep her excited...? Luke did.

Luke at Zack at the top of the world.  (you can view the delicate arch from this tiny arch on the hiking trail..)

Bedtime convo with my 5 year old about two weeks after the hike--
Simon: I've got this feeling like we really need to go back to the arch.
Me: you think so? 
Him: oh ya. When I turned the corner and saw it standing on that cliff, I was like, "Dang!" Me: It was pretty cool, huh?
Him: yes. It was like I had the best feeling in my heart at the top. 
Me: I felt that way too. You were an amazing hiker that day.
Him: I know, I was. I've just gotta go back.