Mesa Arch

Rotary Arch - Trail Arch


Useful Information

Location: Canyonlands National Park. Parking off Grand View Point Road, 800 m walk to the outlook.
(38.38786, -109.863664)
Open: No restrictions.
[2020]
Fee: Car USD 30, Motorcycle USD 25, Person USD 15.
[2020]
Classification: SpeleologyKarst cave
Light: n/a
Dimension: A=1,859 m asl.
Guided tours: self guided, D=15-60 min.
Photography: allowed
Accessibility: no
Bibliography:
Address: Canyonlands National Park, 2282 Resource Blvd, Moab, UT 84532, Tel: +1-435-719-2313.
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then.
Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History


Description

Mesa Arch is located in Canyonlands National Park. The spectacular natural stone arch is perched at the edge of a cliff, formed by chemical weathering as water collected in natural depressions and eventually cut through to the layer below. The rock was eroded further and the arch now stand right in front of the cliff face. The outlook is located at the edge of the plateau and offers great views on the arch and through the arch into Buck Canyon and to Monster Tower, Washer Woman Arch, Airport Tower, and the La Sal Mountains in the distance.

Canyonlands National Park has unlike other parks no open hours, so it is possible th visit the arch on sunrise at well as on sunset. Sunrise is quite popular amon photographers as the sun rises in the distance behind Mesa Arch. The place can be very crowded at dawn. The underside of the arch is illiminated by the sun for several hours after sunrise. While the arch is an excellent photography spot all day, the sun shines on the front side in the afternoon.