Natural Arches of Ahaggar National Park

Index Page 1 - El-Ghessour Area

El-Ghessour is an inclined mesa west to east separated by two major canyons (as can be seen in this satelite view). The top of the mesa is scattered by isolated islets of rock masses, sometime like standing rocks, sometime as dense rock masses where it is difficult to enter. Most of the tours take only an overnight stop here and continue on to the next site of Tin-Akachecker. However, so many interesting features cannot be visited in one day, including secluded arches and spires. The author stayed here over a week and found the time insufficient to explore the entire area, especially a nice slot canyon which cuts the mesa in two parts. The two canyons mentioned above provide jeep acess to the each side of the mesa by driving the oued. Hiking is the best way to visit the area in depth. An easy 2-hour cairned trail connects the two canyons by crossing the mesa. This trail starts and finishes at the Eyes of El-Ghessour (ALG-642).

ALG-283, unnamed arch 1, El-Ghessour Area. 4 meter height (estimated). Via 4-wheel drive, enter the El-Ghessour site via a sign-posted canyon. El-Ghessour is a mesa with a myriad of pinnacles and eroded buttes. Just above the canyon entrance are several nice natural arches (on the south side) in a strange and intriguing landform of rock sculptures. Most of them were propped natural arches, as is this one.

ALG-570, unnamed arch 2, El-Ghessour Area. 4 meter height (estimated). This arch is located close to ALG-283 (unnamed arch 1) near an intriguing rock sculpture forming an hour-glass shape visible from the canyon floor.

ALG-571, unnamed arch 3, El-Ghessour Area. 4 meter span (estimated). This arch is located on the rock mass above ALG-283 (unnamed arch 1).

ALG-572, Twin Towers Arch 1, El-Ghessour Area. 8 meter height (estimated). GPS 32R 241980 2414421. From the canyon entrance to El-Ghessour site (where the site is signposted), drive the very sandy canyon ("fech-fech" condition, or deep blow sand) for 1 km and pay attention on the right. You should see a cairn on the side of the canyon. Use the ascending tracks here to drive to the upper level of the canyon which gives access to the plateau above. On the top, drive 500 meters southwest toward the castle of rock visible in the distance and the Twin Towers side by side. These are two excellent examples of propped natural arches.

ALG-573, Twin Towers Arch 1, El-Ghessour Area. 8 meter height (estimated). This arch is located close to ALG-572 (Twin Towers Arch 1).

ALG-574, Wink Arch, El-Ghessour Area. 7 meter span (estimated). From ALG-572 and ALG-573 (Twin Towers Arches), walk southwest 200 meters and cross a short narrow passage with a circular pothole located at the exit (easy to cross). From the exit, walk west 150 meters to the arch located on the right. The arch is so named because from the front it looks like two eyes (one open and one winking).

ALG-575, unnamed arch 4, El-Ghessour Area. 2.5 meter span (estimated). From ALG-574 (Wink Arch), walk 150 meters west to a drainage which turns into a canyon at this point. Cross the canyon or bypass the upper drainage and walk 300 meters staying on the side of the massive castle of sandstone. The arch is located on a nook of rock to the right.

ALG-576, unnamed arch 5, El-Ghessour Area. 3 meter span (estimated). This arch is located 80 meters southeast of ALG-575 (unnamed arch 4).

ALG-577, El-Ghessour Arch, El-Ghessour Area. 6 meter span, 7 meter height (both estimated). GPS 32R 241727 2412817. From ALG-575 (unnamed arch 4), continue to walk along the castle of rock west then southwest 300 meters to this beautiful arch. Anecdote: on the author's first trip to this area he walked very close to this arch. In a later visit he walked back on the same path thinking "there is nothing here". What a mistake! More photos here.

ALG-578, unnamed arch 6, El-Ghessour Area. 5 meter span (estimated). This arch is located 100 meters south of ALG-577 (El-Ghessour Arch). Photo taken at sunset.

ALG-579, Open Arch, El-Ghessour Area. 8 meter span (estimated). GPS 32R 242270 2414978. This arch is located 400 meters to the northeast of ALG-572 (Twin Towers Arch 1).

ALG-580, unnamed arch 7, El-Ghessour Area. 1.5 meter span (estimated). This arch is located 150 meters to the north of ALG-579 (Open Arch).

ALG-638, unnamed arch 32, El-Ghessour Area. 2.5 meter height (both openings, estimated). These two arches are located close to ALG-283 near the rock called "The Hourglass" above the main entrance of the site of El-Ghessour. The Hourglass is visible up on the rock from the canyon floor.

ALG-639, Two Arms Arch, El-Ghessour Area. 5 meter height (estimated). This unusual arch formation is located 800 meters to the southwest of ALG-283.

ALG-640, Higher Arch, El-Ghessour Area. 5 meter height (estimated). This arch is located 600 meters to the southwest of ALG-639 (Two Arms Arch) on the top of a rock mass.

ALG-641, Gutter Arch, El-Ghessour Area. 5 meter height (estimated). This arch is located 200 meters to the southeast of ALG-640 (Higher Arch). Since ALG-640 and 641 are close to the rocky pass that provides acess to the second entrance of El-Ghessour site, it is best to visit these two arches from there (See ALG-642 for more information).

ALG-642, Eyes of El-Ghessour, El-Ghessour Area. 4 meter height (both openings, estimated). From the main entrance of El-Ghessour site (sandy canyon), leave the area by driving the tracks west along the cliff side of the Mesa. Jeep up (south) a rocky pass giving acess to a oued that goes into a canyon. Drive the oued 1 km to a bunch of acacia trees where the wash becomes nearly undrivable. Accessing the two canyons by jeep takes about 30 minutes. The Eyes are located 100 meters to the east of the trees and is visible from the oued.

ALG-643, unnamed arch 33, El-Ghessour Area. 3.8 meter height (measured). This arch is located on the rock above the oued where you stop your vehicle to visit ALG-642 (Eyes of El-Ghessour).

ALG-644, unnamed arch 34, El-Ghessour Area. 2 meter height (both openings, estimated). Seach for this double arch on the rock masses staying on the west above ALG-643.

ALG-645, Crown Arch, El-Ghessour Area. 5 meter span (estimated). From ALG-642 (Eyes of El-Ghessour) walk the oued to the north (the way you came with jeep) for 800 meters. Don't hike to the rocky pass. Leave the wash before the obvious huge isolated rock mass on the left. Climb up southwest (easy) and on the rock above the wash find the arch not far from the rim.

ALG-646, unnamed arch 35, El-Ghessour Area. 3 meter span (estimated). From ALG-642 (Eyes of El-Ghessour) walk down the oued south (undriviable section) for 15 minutes until you find the rock on your right to be low in height. Leave the wash and hike across outcropping rock to the southwest for another 15 minutes, keeping at gunsight the cliff bar in the distance. You should be able to see the arch in an open area straight ahead.

ALG-647, Secretive Arch, El-Ghessour Area. 10 meter height (measured). GPS 32Q 242189 2410904. This arch is located 400 meters to the west of ALG-646. On the way to it you will cross a small oued. Find the arch on the rock above. This incredible arch is very well-hidden. You can miss it even if you are very close to it. So be patient on your search and you will say "wow" when you find it.

ALG-648, unnamed arch 36, El-Ghessour Area. 3 meter height (estimated). This arch is located near the top of the butte which contains at his base ALG-575 to 578. Hard to get to, hard to find, and hard to describe the route, but it does exist.

ALG-649, unnamed arch 37, El-Ghessour Area. 3 meter height (estimated). From ALG-578, continue to walk south along the side of the butte. Then, at the end of the butte, walk southeast across an open area (outcropping rock) to reach a low canyon. Cross the canyon by the steep bank (several options) and bear south toward the cliff bar standing back to the canyon. The arch is located along cliff bar.

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