Photographing and Hiking Sunrise Arch

Coyote Gulch Trailhead - Search Nearby - Added by Thomas Burton

Duration: 2 hours. Distance: 4-mile round trip hike. Two beautiful sandstone arches close to each other. Short hike for a big reward and not very crowded. No light noise for great night photography.

The trailhead starts at Coyote Gulch Trailhead in the Grand Staircase - Escalante National Monument. There is actually no trail to the arches but they are pretty easy to find and even easier with a GPS. The coordinates are Sunrise Arch = 37.382214,-111.04838 and Sunset Arch = 37.38191,-111.048397.

Since there is no trail you will be walking through lots of sagebrush and stickers so it is a good idea to wear pants. Eventually you will get onto some slick-rock which is easy to walk across. This will lead you right to the arches which are easy to photograph.

The sun will rise right behind Sunrise Arch which is how it got its name and makes for some great photos. Sunrise Arch seems to rise up out of the rocks which I think is really neat, similar to Delicate Arch. Sunset Arch isn't nearly as cool but still fun to see since it is right there.

Dogs are allowed at these arches. In the summer it can be very hot so bring a lot of water. There are no facilities and no water anywhere near this trailhead so come prepared. Many people have gotten stranded on the Hole in the Rock Road because they didn't have enough gas to make it back to civilization.