National park
National monument · Eastern Utah
Natural Bridges National Monument
Three huge natural bridges in a remote canyon on Cedar Mesa, linked by a nine-mile loop road. Utah’s first national monument and the world’s first International Dark Sky Park.
Photo: Vulturesong · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons
Natural Bridges protects three large bridges carved by streams in White Canyon, each with a Hopi name: Sipapu, Kachina and Owachomo. Unlike arches, which form mostly through weathering, these spans were cut by moving water, and they show three stages of life. Sipapu is massive and mature, Kachina is thick and young, and Owachomo is thin, graceful and nearing the end.
A one-way loop road leads to overlooks of all three, and short, steep trails drop to the base of each. Strong hikers can link them on a loop through the canyon bottom, passing ancient granaries and rock art. Horse Collar Ruin, an Ancestral Puebloan cliff dwelling, is visible from an overlook on the rim.
The monument was named the first International Dark Sky Park in 2007. On a moonless night the Milky Way casts shadows here, and the small campground is a fine place to see it.
Don't miss
- Sipapu BridgeThe largest of the three, reached by a steep trail with ladders and stairs.
- Kachina BridgeA thick, young bridge with rock art near its base.
- Owachomo BridgeThe thinnest and oldest bridge, a short, easy walk from the road.
- Horse Collar RuinWell-preserved Ancestral Puebloan structures seen from a rim overlook.
- Night skiesThe world’s first International Dark Sky Park, with some of the darkest skies in the country.
Good to know
- The nearest services are in Blanding, about 40 miles east. Fill the tank before you come.
- The campground is small and first-come, first-served in some seasons; check the park site for current rules.
- Combine it with Bears Ears, Goosenecks State Park and the Moki Dugway for a loop through southeastern Utah.