Now that I’m a Utah resident it is easier for me to visit the nearby amazing national parks. After covering a lot of ground across the state I believe that the famous Mesa Arch in Canyonlands National Park isn’t as popular as it should be! Seriously, this was one of my favorite hikes on a recent trip to Moab. Despite being located in the busiest area of the park, the Islands in the Sky District, it wasn’t completely overrun by tourists in November.
From where I stayed in Moab (and you’ll likely want to stay as well) Canyonlands was a 45 minute drive away, while the more popular Arches National Park was only 10 minutes away. Given the closer proximity of Arches, I can see why Canyonlands often gets overlooked.
Is Canyonlands worth visiting when Arches is the more convenient choice?
Yes! Even with a little more driving required, I still recommend spending at least a day exploring Canyonlands National Park.
A lot of people just visit Arches National Park, and while it is the more famous park of the two, some of the best views in Utah can be seen from Canyonlands. I highly recommend making time for both parks on your trip.
Canyonlands National Park Entrance fee
It will cost you $30 per vehicle to enter the park. $25 if you are on a motorcycle and $15 per person if you walk in or ride a bike. Side note, if you ride a bike in then I’m impressed since the park is huge!
Mesa Arch Trail Details:
- Trailhead: Mesa Arch Trailhead (google map link here) Only a 10 min drive from visitors center.
- Distance: .5 mi (.8 km) roundtrip
- Difficulty: Easy
- Pets: No pets allowed
- Kid Friendly: Yes!
- Fee: $30 per car to enter the park (hike is free after on inside)
What to Expect on the Mesa Arch Trail
This short “hike” is only about a 5-10 minute walk from the parking lot. Considering the ease of the trail, this hike has a very high payoff for very little effort. Keep reading for more details on what to expect on the actual hike.
Mesa Arch Trailhead and Parking
The Mesa Arch trailhead is located just a 10 minute drive from the Islands in the Sky Visitors Center. Google Maps link to the Mesa Arch trailhead here.
There are bathrooms and trash cans at the trailhead.
The parking lot is fairly big and was almost empty when I was there in November. I had no issues finding parking.
Mesa Arch Trail
The actual trail is very easy to follow. The terrain is mostly sand and rock. Honestly, you could do it in flip flops just fine.
It is not wheelchair or stroller friendly.
The trail is not mind blowingly beautiful, but the payoff is huge!
The trail is marked by cairns (stacks of man made rock piles) along the way.
Tips for Visiting Mesa Arch
Explore the area!
While most people only go to the main arch to snap a few photos then leave, I highly recommend exploring the surrounding area to get different angles and viewpoints.
I personally loved climbing up a few rocks and going to the top left of Mesa Arch. The left if you are coming up the trail and facing it. The views were incredible from up there.
For a while, I had the entire upper deck to myself! Eventually, people saw me and became curious. Before I knew it, the top became more crowded than the bottom. LOL! It was then that I went back down to the bottom and was able to take photos by myself with no one around.
Expect a Fast Turn Around at the Arch
People come and go very fast. As someone who likes to take her time in places like this, I was shocked at how fast the turnover was. It ended up working in my favor since there were gaps where everyone left and I was able to take photos alone without feeling rushed or feeling like I was standing in people’s way.
I quite enjoyed not having to wait in a line for my turn to snap photos. Anyone else hate that? I felt like I had to constantly do this at Arches.
Best Time to Visit
This particular hike is great to visit anytime of year. However, there are some benefits to going during different seasons.
The best time to go will depend on what you want out of your trip. Example…if you want to avoid the extreme cold or extreme heat I recommend going in spring or fall. However, spring will be the most crowded.
I spoke with a park ranger there and he said May is the busiest month and January is the least visited month.
If you value avoiding the crowds and don’t mind the cold, then go in late fall to early winter (November to February).
If you want to have Mesa Arch practically to yourself, go in mid-January. That is when Canyonlands receives the fewest visitors all year!
Mesa Arch for Sunrise
Mesa Arch is a super popular sunrise spot for photographers. If you want to photograph Mesa Arch during sunrise, I recommend getting there early to reserve a prime spot. They fill up fast all year round!
Crowds
Considering that Mesa Arch is the most popular trail in the entire park I was shocked it wasn’t more crowded. Again, I went in November and the Mesa Arch trail was actually less crowded than any of the others hikes I did in Arches. Even the less common ones like the Park Avenue Trail.
Other Easy Hikes in Canyonlands National Park
If you are looking for more easy hikes you can do in the Islands in the Sky area of the park, here is another.
Murphy Point hike (3.6 mi or 5.8 km) and the Grand View Point hike (2 mi or 3.2km).
Is the Mesa Arch Trail worth it?
Yes! This was one of my favorite hikes or viewpoints during my time in Arches and Canyonlands. The payoff is so high for such an easy hike.