Mesa Arch

Absolutely beautiful! The hike was relatively easy but I would recommend coming early (around sunrise) because it gets a little crowded. The view was stunning and I would definitely go again!

No fault to the arch itself but the crowds are insane at sunrise. It’s all people who have professional camera and they are all lined up in front. They only stayed for one minute after the sun rose but need not get in their way because they will yell at you like they did this one lady stating: “No No No! YOURE IN THE FULL SHOT!” If you don’t get there at 4:00am- you won’t beat them. Nonetheless, the views from around the arch are spectacular and worth staying after they all leave to explore around the area.

Beautiful pretty simple hike to reach the Mesa arch. The view there was stunning! It is very stop though, so be careful with your kids.

One of the most spectacular sights we've ever seen, and we stumbled on it purely by accident. We arrived here around 9 AM on an October morning to find the sun behind the arch, lighting up the rocks behind it. The light bounced up from those rocks and backlit the arch. Incredible.

One of the most scenic views I’ve ever seen. I saw that sunrise is the most popular time and decided to skip it to avoid any crowds. Arrived around 9am and there were only two people there, who left shortly after. As a Canadian visiting Canyonlands it’s also still affordable as I didn’t have to purchase a $250 USD yearly pass, or pay $235 for a 7 day pass for just me and my wife to spend a few hours there.

Beautiful sunrise views but you have to get there long before in order to get that pic you want. The pic with the orange spot was actually me looking into a crack on the arch just after sunrise

Mesa Arch at sunrise is straight up breathtaking. The way the light hits that glowing orange underside of the arch is honestly something you have to see at least once. The spot itself is amazing and the whole experience feels unreal. The hike to reach the arch is easy and pretty chill which makes it super tempting to go see sunrise there. The views of the canyon through the opening look like something out of a movie. Watching that sun rise is mind blowing. Now here comes the real part. The crowd is wild. There were so many people crammed together that it almost felt like a concert with zero space. If you are tall then cool you will probably be fine. But if you are average height or shorter it becomes a serious struggle to see anything. People just park themselves right in front and do not move. It becomes almost impossible to take pictures because everyone tries to hog the prime spot. The energy is a little annoying and it ruins what could have been a peaceful moment. I wish folks were more respectful. Otherwise the place is absolutely worth seeing.

We stopped to see this and it's one of those natural wonders! Fairly easy trail with stones and you do go uphill and downhill. Path is well marked with stone blocks. It's quite a ways into the massive park. Parking lot is small, fills up fast. Outhouse on parking lot. In case you are wondering, no you cannot walk on the arch as it's a drop off to the canyon on the otherside!

Mesa Arch is the best part about the Island in the Sky section of Canyonlands National Park. It's not hard to reach either. From the parking lot, it's an easy half mile loop. According to the trailhead sign, Mesa Arch is... "a lone span clinging to the canyon rim and frames spectacular views of the La Sal Mountains, Buck Canyon, Washer Woman Arch and Monster Tower". Wow, that sounds impressive. I would just add my interpretation...it's a 27 foot long arch acting as a magical viewing lens showcasing the wondrous Canyonlands' landscape below. It's a work of art that only the hands of nature could craft. When you arrive at the arch, there will be spectators waiting to take pictures with it. You may have to wait a few minutes before it's your turn. For the most part, people were cognizant of how popular the arch was and politely took their photos before yielding to others. And also, pretty much everyone there was snapping pictures of each other and so there's no need to feel pressures to take selfie pics, lol. What really had me in astonishment about Mesa Arch's backdrop was that...Canyonlands is known for its colorful surroundings (on a smaller Grand Canyon scale). Yet this Mesa Arch lookout affords visitors the chance to not only witness a phenomenal natural stone arch, but it simultaneously highlights the peaks and valleys of Canyonlands' terrain from high above. It's like experiencing the best of both worlds. And nothing else at this Island of the Sky section of the park compares. Some last notes... - It is suggested to visit during sunrise. I arrived at 10:30am and still had great perspectives. - Mesa Arch is a roadside stop along Grand View Point Road which runs through the heart of Canyonlands. It's 6 miles from the Island in the Sky Visitor Center and can't be missed while driving. The parking lot is busy but you should be able to find a spot. Overall, Mesa Arch is the penultimate moment here at Canyonlands NP from my POV. Although it's not difficult to reach and only requires 30 - 40 minutes out of your day, it still deserves massive recognition as a rewarding vista point setting.

My absolute favorite part about Canyonlands National Park. Mesa Arch is so incredibly beautiful and a joy to visit. It's an easy approx 0.6 mile loop with the arch being about halfway through. Best time to come is for the sunrise - ethereal and awe-inspiring. There weren't many people there when we came, and it was super quiet - just nature and the sunrise. Watch the sun rise through the arch, and then just sit around and take in all of nature's beauty. Only a smaller parking lot nearby, so plan accordingly to ensure adequate parking. A must-stop on anyone's trip to CNP. However, if you can swing coming for sunrise, do it. You won't regret it.

Beautiful!! Most people were respectful and stood in line to allow others to take a beautiful picture in front of the arch. There was one family who feigned ignorance to the practice. Don't worry, they were put in their place. This was a short easy hike to the arch. There were lots of places to take great photos. Canyonlands is a small but beautiful park. The north entrance has one main road with (one or two?) side roads. Can be done in a day if starting early. No cover on any of the trails.

Mesa Arch - 30mins hike (0.7 miles). Sunrise. The must see place in Canyonlands NP. We went there early at 6am and the whole view is ours, so peaceful and relaxing.

This is a short, family friendly trail that leads to one of Canyonlands' most popular natural arches. The Mesa Arch trail is a short loop that measures around 0.7 miles roundtrip. There's a small parking lot with restrooms at the start of the trail. Since this trail is easy, you can expect it to be busy with other sightseers. The nice thing about Canyonlands National Park is that it's the most remote and less visited NP in Utah, so you won't have to worry about excessive crowds here. I arrived to the start trailhead around noon and there were still plenty of parking spots open. The entire hike takes about 30 minutes or so to complete, but it's easy to linger here. Once you reach Mesa Arch, you'll actually want to linger because the views are fantastic. Not only is the arch pretty unique, but the landscape that's captured behind the arch is pretty breathtaking too. I lucked out and was able to enjoy the views when it was a bit overcast. In this terrain, the weather can be scorching hot in the summer and fall. There are plenty of places to stop and relax. I found a cozy spot above the arch to enjoy lunch while taking in the views of the valley. The desert vegetation is also really beautiful here too. I always wonder how some of these plants can survive in such a dry environment. But, it's nice to explore the foliage while on the trails here. Not a difficult hike by any means, but this is a fun stop on your journey through the park. It's also pretty convenient and it's only a short drive from the visitors center. It's worth a stop if you're already exploring the Island in the Sky district of Canyonlands National Park.

Bottom Line: A short and easy hike to a small arch that beautifully frames the canyon below. My husband and I did not have enough time to do much hiking in Canyonlands National Park but we decided we'd do the short hike to Mesa Arch. I think everyone else does this hike too as on a weekday in October we had to circle the parking lot several times before getting a space. Anyway, once on trail we enjoyed this "easy" hike (as rated by the Canyonlands Visitor Guide) to Mesa Arch. The roundtrip hike is less than a mile and the terrain is relatively flat. After visiting Corona Arch and Delicate Arch I didn't find Mesa Arch to be too impressive but I was surely wowed by the view it carefully frames. It was fun to look through the arch and see the surrounding sky and canyon below. I think we spent about as much time trying to get a parking spot as we did on the actual hike but I am glad we eventually did find a spot and get to do this stroll through the park. As with other hikes in the area, I was thankful to be well supplied with sturdy hiking shoes, water, hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, snacks and a first aid kit.

It's possible that this is the most popular sunrise in the state. Certainly, at some point in your life, you've seen a photo of this arch at sunrise. Some screensaver somewhere, some wallpaper, some background in a PowerPoint--this is a really popular place to pop a pic. Need more evidence of that? Try coming here in the morning to set up your shot. You won't be alone. In warmer months, and especially on weekends, I've heard it gets darn competitive. You can look up videos and see the tripods all over the place, so if that's what you're after, then come early, try to stay warm, and also, try to keep your cool. As for me, I've never fought the morning fight but I have been at sunset and at midday. Both are excellent options (though sunrise is very popular for good reason--it faces east and the entire underside will light up on good mornings) especially if you want to avoid crowds. No matter the time of day, though, you're going to be with other people. We hiked it in February and there were always 6-8 parties at the arch. The hike itself is pretty simple, and though it's longer than I remember each time, it's still very short. Just up and around a large hill, then down to the arch. Climb back up and over, and you're out. It's a big loop and the whole thing won't take you more than 20 minutes, but you'll obviously want to stop and look at the views and spend some time at the arch, so 20 minutes is just walkin' time and not gazin' time. Be careful out there, stay off the arch, and be courteous to others. I have had plenty of (non-sunrise) shots of the place, as everyone wants to get in on it but has always been good about taking turns.

No other words than BEAUTIFUL & on top of that, EASY to hike. Double the rewards! SUNRISE HIKE: we checked the weather app beforehand to A) see when the sun rises & B) how cold it would be. We came during Memorial Day weekend & it was a bit busy in the morning. Remember that it takes 45 minutes to drive from the bottom to the parking lot of the hike. We got there a few minutes before sunrise but luckily the entire hike (round trip) is 0.5 miles so it only took us 15 minutes to get to the Mesa Arch. There were TONS of people & all huddled right at the arch so it was hard to get the sunrise with so many people. We stayed at the arch for a good 1.5 hours & it was worth waiting for everyone to get out. 10-15 mins after the sun rose, we had the arch to ourselves & it was STILL gorgeous with the sun still rising. Definitely recommend because the view is unbelievable & so easy! So why not. There are parking spots but not that many but never had an issue finding a spot.

As photography enthusiast we reached the medium sized parking lot before 7, few serious photographers were unloading their equipment from their cars. We walked in the dark, no one said a word, it felt like we were all going to a secret religious rite. The road signs were barely visible, we just followed each other to the spot. The narrow spot was already crowded, we had to squeeze in gaps to find our spot. When sunrise happened, it was the sacred, magical and wordless moment, everyone kept shooting. It was worth it.

This short, easy hike is the best half mile round trip you can make. This arch framing the La Sal Mountains can't be beat. It's truly a must see.

One of my favorite spots for the sunrise. Incredible!! The colors of the rock become so vibrant.

Perched majestically on the edge of a cliff in the Islands in the Sky district, Mesa Arch is one of the signature features and an icon of Canyonlands National Park. This spectacular stone arch provides stunning scenes of canyons, rock spires, and the La Sal Mountains in the distance. From a parking lot, it is a short and easy hike (half-mile loop) to this highly attractive, must-see iconic pothole arch. If you ever go to Canyonlands, hiking to Mesa Arch to snap photos of not only the arch itself but also the scenery through it is an absolute must-do! Otherwise, your visit to the national park will be left incomplete from having missed out on this top feature. Also, to protect the park, for your safety, and to let other visitors photograph Mesa Arch, please do not walk or climb on the arch whatsoever.