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Natural Bridges National Monument Day Hiking Overview
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| Owachomo Bridge, Natural Bridges National Monument (National Park Service) |
Natural Bridges National Monument Day Hiking Travel Tips
- The monument’s scenic drive provides year-round access to trailheads at about 6,500 feet, but it’s a good idea to check trail conditions with staff at the visitor center. Summer flash floods are the greatest hazard for hikers.
- Although no backcountry camping is allowed in the monument, it’s possible to follow White Canyon up- or downstream out of the monument to camp. Note that you cannot park overnight on the scenic drive.
- Short trails descend to the base of each of the three natural bridges. Owachomo (half-mile round-trip) is the shortest and easiest. Kachina (1.4 miles round-trip) and Sipapu (1.2 miles round-trip) trails have a greater elevation change.
- By following the canyon bottoms and plateau trails, you can make an 8.6-mile loop under all three natural bridges. A car shuttle between Sipapu and Owachomo trailheads will reduce the hike by about two miles.
- Easiest of all is the nearly level 0.6-mile round-trip out to Horsecollar Ruin Overlook off the scenic drive. You can get a closer look at this granary from a hike along the Loop Trail.
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You will most likely see only such wildlife as small birds, rodents, and an occasional lizard. Larger animals live here too, such as bobcats, coyotes, and mule deer. Their senses are acute and unless you surprise them, they will detect your presence first and evade you.
Spending a short time in the visitor center before you see the rest of the park can enhance your understanding and enjoyment of this area. In the visitor center are free museum exhibits and a color slide program that present the history of the Natural Bridges area and sample the park's wildlife and plants. A ranger here can answer your questions, tell you about activities, and help you select trails you might enjoy hiking.
You can walk down into the canyons by the trails near all three bridge overlooks. For a longer trek, take a trail between bridges through one of the canyons.
Round-trip distance from the trailhead parking areas:
Sipapu Bridge
1.2 mi/1.9 km
500 ft/152 m descent
Strenuous
Stairs, handrails, ladders
1 hour
Horsecollar Ruin
0.6 ml/1 km
Little elevation change
Easy
1/2 hour
Kachina Bridge
1.5 mi/2.4 km
400 ft/122 m descent
Moderately strenuous
Steep slickrock handrails
1 hour
Owachomo Bridge
0.4 mi/.64 km
180 ft/55m descent
Easy
Uneven terrain
20 minutes
Details mentioned in this article were accurate at the time of publication
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