Hiking the Mesa Arch Trail in Canyonlands National Park
Distance: 0.7 miles / 1.1 km
The Mesa Arch Trail in Canyonlands National Park is a Moab favorite among day hikers and photographers, looking to capture the unique angles of the beautiful east-facing arch perched just above the canyon rim.
For this reason, the short 0.7-mile (1.1 km) Mesa Arch Trail is a very popular Canyonlands hike from the moment the sun comes up first thing in the morning.
If you are interested in capturing the sunrise, like the photos shown here, be sure to read the next section, because making this photo possible is not as straightforward as one might think. By this, I mean that there is truly only one way to capture this beautiful angle, and there are some things you may want to know before hiking.
U.S. National Park Pass
Did you know that the same America the Beautiful Pass that grants access to all 63 U.S. National Parks can be purchased in advance at REI?
Yes, you can save time when you arrive by purchasing your National Park pass, along with your other outdoor gear, at REI before traveling to the park!
How to See Sunrise at the Mesa Arch?
The first time I went to shoot the sunrise at the Mesa Arch many years ago, I woke up about 30 minutes before sunrise, thinking that I was early enough to hike over and avoid the crowds.
However, after hiking the short trail over to the Mesa Arch, I ran into a huge crowd of people in nearly every spot around the view through the arch. There was everyone from people with iPhones to photographers with tripods, but I was lucky enough to walk right up to an older lady who kindly made room for me, so I could join the mess of people all trying for the same photo.
Essentially, photographers are all laying shoulder to shoulder on the ground in order to get this unique angle.
In my opinion, many of the photographers that had their tripods set up were taking up way too much space, which was quite rude and unnecessary because it’s not like we were shooting a waterfall or something that required the stabilization.
That being said, all of my photos were handheld and came out better than I could have expected for it being early in my photography career.
The crowds aside, watching the sunrise from Mesa Arch is a must-see, and even if you don’t get the space for a photo through the arch, watching the first light shine on the canyon floor is worth the hike on its own!
My Print - Mesa Arch
Mesa Arch Trailhead Parking
Parking for the Mesa Arch Trail is located in a small parking lot directly off of Island in the Sky Road, about 6.1 miles (9.8 km) into the park from the visitor center.
In my experience, parking for the Mesa Arch Trail can be particularly busy during most times of the year, especially during the peak summer season!
Google Maps Directions: Mesa Arch Trailhead
Hiking Checklist - Canyonlands
Here is a complete list of must-have things that you will want for any hike in Canyonlands National Park.
Osprey 3L Water Bladder - The Osprey 3L water bladder is the most universal hiking and backpacking water bladder on the market, and it’s my go-to because of the slide-off seal that allows it to be quickly filled from the top. Additionally, individual parts are easily replaceable, such as the bite valve.
Blister / Heel Protectors - I swear by these cheap, amazing heel protectors to prevent blisters for nearly every kind of hiking and backpacking that I do!
Black Diamond Headlamp - Personally, I recommend the Black Diamond Storm because it is one of the brightest, lightest, and longest-lasting headlamps on the market—and trust me, the weight-to-battery-life ratio really does matter!
Hiking / Trail Running Shoes - Depending on the type of trail, I prefer to use either the Keen Targhee for longer, more rugged hiking or the HOKA Zinal Trail-Running Shoe for lighter, less intense trails. In either case, both have been amazing to me for many years across countless environments, and both can be found in men’s and women’s sizes. - (Men’s Keen / Women’s Keen) (Men’s HOKA / Women’s HOKA)
Waterproof Rain Shell - You never know when it may rain, and I’ve learned over the years that a rain shell is far better than a rain jacket. By this, I mean that it’s best to have something that the water will roll right off of, which is why I recommend the Patagonia Torrentshell 3L available in both men’s and women’s sizes.
Sun Shirt w/ Hood - A quality sun shirt can be your best friend on a trail with minimal shade, which can be found in both men’s and women’s sizes.
High SPF Sunscreen - Packing high-SPF sunscreen is a must for long days outside!
Hiking the Mesa Arch Trail
On account of its short distance and mild elevation changes, the Mesa Arch Trail is one of the most accessible hikes in Canyonlands National Park.
That said, any hike along the canyon rim, such as this, may not be suitable for young kids when the risk of falling is at its highest. I’ll talk more on this later.
Mesa Arch Loop Trail
Immediately after the trailhead, the Mesa Arch Trail splits into a loop, with neither side being more or less difficult than the other.
On this hike, I chose to go right in the counterclockwise direction.
As previously mentioned, the elevation changes on the Mesa Arch Trail are very mild, as there is only one small hill to go up and down each way.
Sun Shirts
If this is your first time in the area, you’re likely unprepared for how strong the sun can be.
For this reason, I recommend picking up a quality, hooded sun shirt if you plan to do any hiking. Protection from the sun cannot be overstated, and in my experience, sunscreen alone has never been enough over a multi-day visit, especially if you’re visiting during the summer season!
Mesa Arch
After 0.35 miles (0.6 km), the short loop trail arrives at the Mesa Arch, which is typically a fairly busy location among other hikers and photographers, depending on the time of day.
Warning
What photos like this don’t show is that the viewpoint through and around the Mesa Arch is a deadly cliff.
Visitors have taken fatal falls in areas across the Island in the Sky District before, which is why it’s important to be cautious here and everywhere along the canyon rim.
Past the Mesa Arch, the loop trail trail continues by ascending back up the small hill to get back to the trailhead.
If you’re hiking during the spring, you may see the Utah Junipers full of berries!
According to the National Park Service, these berries are considered to be edible for humans, but I have yet to try them myself.
When the Mesa Arch Trail begins descending the hill back down to the trailhead, you can get great views of Aztec Butte — as in the photo below — which is another great day hike located just a short distance away.
Finally, the Mesa Arch Trail returns back to the beginning, at roughly the same distance on either side of the loop.
More Canyonlands Adventures
If you’re interested in reading about some more amazing adventures within Canyonlands National Park, check out my separate posts below!
Best Way to Find Places to Stay!
Wherever I travel, I love to start my search for places to stay on VRBO.
Even if I don’t end up booking through them, I think it’s one of the best ways to see what’s in the area!
Washington
Best Way to Book Rental Cars!
I travel quite a bit, and I know firsthand that finding a good rental car deal can be a challenge, but that’s why I recommend comparing all of your options with Discover Cars.
In short, Discover Cars is a well-known, reputable business that allows you to search for the best deal across companies, and they have the best full-refund cancellation policy I’ve ever seen, valid up to 72, or sometimes even 48, hours prior to your reservation!
Book Here: Discover Cars
Discover Cars!
Safety
With summer temperatures that soar well above 100 ºF (38 ºC) and snow storms come winter, both Arches and Canyonlands National Park are known for having extremely variable weather throughout the year.
That being said, heavy snow storms are uncommon in the Moab area, but summer adventures need to carefully be planned around the dangerous mid-summer heat. For this reason, you may consider visiting Moab during the off season in order to maximize your time in either park, while also visiting during a time of year that’s far less crowded.
Furthermore, be sure to know the local forecast if you are hiking during the summer monsoon season, as it’s not uncommon for areas, such as slot canyons, to fill with water rapidly, creating very dangerous situations for anyone inside. On top of this, summer monsoonal weather is typically accompanied by lightning, which can be very dangerous in exposed desert areas like the parks around Moab.
As for Canyonlands specifically, the most important thing to stress is the dramatic cliffs surrounding the Island in the Sky and other parts of the park. Even the Mesa Arch is a deadly cliff, which most photos, such as mine, don’t show.
Finally, there is at least one venomous rattlesnake found across the area, which you can learn more about here.
As always, find the most up-to-date information and conditions on the official Arches and Canyonlands National Park websites.
National Park Service: Arches National Park / Canyonlands National Park
U.S. National Parks Pass
Did you know that the same America the Beautiful Pass that grants access to all 63 U.S. National Parks can be purchased in advance at REI?
Yes, you can save time when you arrive by purchasing your National Park pass, along with your other outdoor gear, at REI before traveling to the park!
More U.S. National Parks
If you’d like to read more about some of my best recommendations when visiting other U.S. National Parks, check out some of my other posts below!
Disclaimer
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