Located in the park’s Islands of the Sky section, the arch is easy to reach via the 0.5-mile Mesa Arch Loop Trail. The arch frames a desert landscape from atop a 500-foot vertical cliff. Here’s a pan of that view at sunrise:
The Colorado River carved out Buck Canyon, the desert framed by the arch. The bordering La Sal Mountains often sport snow-covered peaks.
The Mesa Arch isn’t just unique for its views but also for the way it formed. A pothole arch, water pooling on the surface behind the sandstone gradually eroded the window at the mesa’s edge.
Also see:
• Best day hikes for seeing Canyonland’s wonders
Learn more about national park day hiking trails in my Best Sights to See at America’s National Parks guidebook.
