Mesa Arch

Moab, Utah

4.5/5

based on 16 reviews

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Details

Distance

0.74 miles

Elevation Gain

164 ft

Route Type

Loop

Description

Added by Lee Cuellar

Head out on a very easy 0.6 mile loop hike to get great views and shots of historic Mesa Arch. After the quick hike, have enough time to go hit other spots in Arches NP. Plan about 1 hour of hiking and viewing time.

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.

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Photography

Hiking

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Scenic

Mesa Arch Reviews

Explorer

Mike Quine

Explorer

Mesa Arch

09/14/16

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

Explorer

Brynn Schmidt

Explorer

Mesa Arch

05/31/16

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

Improvised Journeys

Mesa Arch

05/17/16

Iconic place for photographers. Crowded and easy to access in reality, but no less wonderful. The canyons below seem to stretch on forever.

4.0

Leave No Trace

Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

Nearby

Night Photography at Mesa Arch

From the parking lot, the hike is a .6 mile loop (20-30 min hike round trip). It took 10 minutes to get to the Arch. I arrived at 2am and hiked to the Arch to get some Milky Way shots, definitely arrive earlier to shoot the stars. I explored around when I got to the Arch and came up with a bunch of nice shots. I experimented and did some light painting on the Arch and some old trees.Mesa Arch c...

Hike the Aztec Butte Trail

The Aztec Butte Trail is a two pronged out and back trail for a total of two miles. The trail is single track and easy to follow. After a third of a mile the trail splits. To the left, a trail takes you to the top of a small mesa. There is an informative sign marking the way. On the other side of this mesa is an ancient stone structure called a granary. Descend back to the trail split. The othe...

Catch a Sunset at Green River Overlook

Turn right on Highway 313 after Mesa Arch Trailhead and follow the road past Willow Flat Campground to Green River Overlook. Park at the parking lot. Climb over the railing onto the rock edge. Sit and breathe in that desert wind and distant sun. Simple as that.I recommend camping at Willow Flat to get the most out of Island in the Sky. Sites are available year-round, but they're first-come, fir...

Hike to Murphy Point

Murphy Point, found in the Island In The Sky district of Canyonlands NP, takes hikers on a mesa that ends at an overlook with sweeping vistas over Murphy Basin, the White Rim, and Green River. If you're looking to get away from the tourists, then head to this quiet and often overlooked trail.The trailhead is right off the main road to Grand View Point and the parking lot is pretty small, so kee...

Syncline Loop in Canyonlands NP

Be advised, the NPS signs and maps that warn of a very difficult hike ahead are not hyperbole, as I thought at first. This hike is a loop around the famous Upheaval Dome on an unmaintained trail that leads you down over 1500 feet into the canyon, close to the Green River, then climbs back up 1500 feet and out. We did it in Summer, not knowing anything about it, and I would recommend going in ...

Upheaval Dome Overlook

Upheaval Dome is a geologic structure whose origins have remained hotly debated for years. Some scientists say it is the site of a meteorite impact while others theorize it is nothing more than a naturally occurring salt dome. No matter what the true answer is, there is no question that this short scenic hike leads to one of the most iconic and beautiful places in all of Canyonlands. The trail...

Mesa Arch

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Mesa Arch Reviews

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Nearby

Night Photography at Mesa Arch

Hike the Aztec Butte Trail

Catch a Sunset at Green River Overlook

Hike to Murphy Point

Syncline Loop in Canyonlands NP

Upheaval Dome Overlook

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