Saturday, January 4, 2014

Canyonlands: Mesa Arch

Distance: 0.5 miles round trip
Elevation: 6,040 ft -6,180 ft
Elevation Gain: 140 ft
Bathroom at Trailhead: Yes
Dogs: No,  National Park
Date Hiked: 24 April 2013

Mesa Arch in Canyonlands National Park is one of the most photographed spot in the park.
The view beneath Mesa Arch
Mesa Arch in Utah's Canyonlands National Park is the iconic location in Islands in the Sky district that every photographer tries to capture at sunrise. While we were not there to capture the light, the view was still stunning, so don't hesitate to swing by on your way to or from some of the longer hikes in the area. It is a short walk that almost anyone can do.

The arch is just ahead. Note the long line of people...and this was a less crowded time of day.
Looking down from the Islands in the Sky is always amazing. That is 1,500 ft down! Note there is nothing to protect you so don't lean too far over.
Looking down on the arch. You can see how exposed the approach is. A few minutes before there was a woman standing on the expanse. She was not exactly setting a good example for her children who looked on aghast.
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1 comment:

KT said...

When we were there, it was just starting to rain. We ran to the arch, took a picture, and then ran back to the car. It was this time that we then understood what a Flash Flood can do in the desert. It was a good lesson - thankfully learned from a car.

January 4, 2014 at 9:23 AM

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