Quick Hike to Mesa Arch
Details
Distance
0.6 miles
Route Type
Loop
Added by Lee Cuellar
The hike is a very easy 0.6 mile loop. Get great views and shots of historic Mesa Arch. After the quick hike, have enough time to go hit other spots in Arches NPDuration: 1 hour.
This is an easy 0.6 mile loop. The hike takes you out to Mesa Arch, which is one of the most famous structures of Canyonlands National Park.
If you're out with your camera, you can get amazing shots of the arch with the rugged canyon as your backdrop. Some of the best photos of the arch are at sunrise.
If you're lucky enough, you snagged a campsite Devil's Garden, making it easy for you to keep exploring Arches for a couple of days.
Know for
Nearby
š
Local adventures
Find hikes, backpacking, photo spots, and more around Moab.
š
Nearby lodging
Search campgrounds, glamping, and hotels near Moab.
Reviews
Leave a Review
Photo Party
In my life, I have never seen a larger gaggle of photographers in my life. I mean I get it! The view is stunning and the arch pretty much create a perfect frame for the canyonlands below. If only the photographers knew what the views were like from the bottom, I think we'd be able to dilute their numbers across the park.
3.0
Stunning No Matter How Many Pictures You Have Seen
This is one of those places that pictures never will do the in-person experience justice. When I went, my partner and I were the only ones there and that made it even more magical. Sunrise at Mesa Arch is just a fantastic way to start the day. I went in April just before tourist season really kicks off. I would shoot for an off-season visit (late fall-early spring) for less people.
4.0
Crowded, but Can't Miss It
This is a definite if you are in the Island in the Sky section of the park. I did not realize that Canyonlands was split into separate entrances and so Mesa Arch is only accessible through the Island in in the Sky section. This is so easy, it is really not a hike. A short trail about .5 miles takes you to this iconic arch. Be sure to take photos from all angles of this arch. There is so much that you can capture through the arch itself and it is a beautiful place. It is very popular, so very crowded. I highly recommend going in the am or pm. This is one of the top sunrise photography spots in all of Arches, Canyonlands and Dead Horse State Park, so if you are going to do sunrise photos, get there early.
5.0
Leave No Trace
Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!
We want to acknowledge and thank the past, present, and future generations of all Native Nations and Indigenous Peoples whose ancestral lands we travel, explore, and play on.
