A Guide to Hiking and Discovery Natural Bridges NM
When exploring the Four Corners region in America’s beautiful Southwest, Natural Bridges National Monument definitely belongs on your itinerary. Here, you can see two of the longest natural bridges in the United States, explore hiking trails through beautiful canyons, and view an Ancestral Puebloan ruin. Natural Bridges was Utah’s first national monument and has been protected since 1908.
Compared to Arches National Park’s 1.8 million visitors a year, Natural Bridges is relatively quiet, with an average of 100,000 people exploring it in a year. That makes it a great place to visit if you want to avoid lines and crowds.
Planning Your Visit to Natural Bridges National Monument
Natural Bridges National Monument is located in southeast Utah, at the junction of White Canyon and Armstrong Canyon, part of the Colorado River drainage. The park has a driving loop with overlooks for those who can’t manage the hikes or don’t have time for the trails, a visitor center, and a campground.
The monument is open year-round, although spring through fall has the most pleasant weather.
Keep in mind, however, summer is the hottest season, and you may even be surprised by a monsoonal rainstorm. July averages the highest temperatures at 90 degrees (but can hit 100 degrees), with nighttime temperatures falling to an average of 58 degrees. July is also the beginning of the rainy season, with an average of almost 1.5 inches of rain.
January is the coldest month, with average highs around 39 degrees and 17 degrees for the low. Fall may be the most beautiful time to visit, with average highs of 63 and lows of 37 in October.
Start your experience at the visitor center for information, a gift shop, exhibits, plus rangers who can help you decide how to best explore the monument. Get tips on the hiking trails and current conditions while you’re there.
Entry to Natural Bridges National Monument is $20 per car, $15 per motorcycle, and $10 per person on foot or bike. If you want to camp, make online reservations online for one of the 13 campsites.
The Three Bridges
Natural Bridges National Monument is home to three large natural bridges: Sipapu Bridge, Kachina Bridge, and Owachomo Bridge. After a few other names applied over the years, the bridges now have Hopi names.
Sipapu Bridge is the largest natural bridge in the park — and the second largest in the United States, while Owachomo Bridge is the easiest to hike to. Bulky Kachina Bridge is thought to be the youngest of the three.
The three bridges are geological wonders shaped over thousands of years through the erosive action of water on Cedar Mesa Sandstone. At first, they were meanders in the river as it flowed to and fro, taking the path of least resistance.
Flash floods, carrying logs, rocks, and silt, pummeled thin rock areas until holes punched through and created a more direct river route. In these cases, a land bridge was left over the new path of the river. Erosion due to wind and water will continue, and the bridges will eventually collapse.
Stream erosion natural bridges differ from other arches, like those at Arches National Park, formed mostly by frost and seeping snowmelt moisture.
Observing the Bridges and Ruins from the Overlooks
If hiking isn’t on your agenda, you can still enjoy the beauty of the bridges from the nine-mile Bridge View Drive’s overlooks. Stop at the overlooks and peer into the canyon below. You may have trouble spotting the sandstone bridges as they blend into the environment. But once you find them, you can’t unsee them. Kachina may be the most difficult to see because of the relatively small size of its opening and the way it is positioned.
Horsecollar House, an Ancestral Puebloan cliff dwelling situated in a large alcove near the bottom of the White Canyon, can be seen from an overlook at the end of a .3-mile “mostly level” trail. You hike on a sandstone slickrock and gravel trail to the point with a view of the ruins. The quotation marks around “mostly level” are an indication that for some hikers, it would be considered a bit more challenging than that.
Bridge View Drive is a one-way loop that begins just past the visitor center and campground. From the overlook for Owachomo Bridge, you can see the Bears Ears bluffs to the east.
Hiking in Natural Bridges
Hiking is a great way to experience the park’s natural beauty and get up close and personal with the natural bridges. If you’re ready to hike the trails, here’s the scoop: You can hike to each natural bridge individually or take a loop trail that includes two or even all three of these majestic natural bridges.
Owachomo
Owachomo means “round mound” in Hopi, for the rock formation atop the southeast end of the bridge. This is considered the easiest hike of the three and is about a half-mile round trip with an elevation change of 180 feet. You will be hiking on slickrock and traveling down to the canyon, then (of course) back up. Once you get to the bottom, you have a dramatic view gazing up at the bottom of the bridge.
Kachina
Kachina is named after the lightning snake petroglyphs carved into its stone; they are also painted on the bodies of Hopi kachina dancers. Based on the span’s thickness and the opening’s smallness, the Kachina Bridge is considered the youngest.
About 4,000 tons of rock broke off the bridge back in 1992 and are now piled under the bridge’s far side. The hike to Kachina Bridge is 1.5 miles round trip; it has a 400-foot elevation change. Allocate at least an hour for this hike.
Sipapu
Sipapu is the second largest natural bridge in the United States, smaller only than Rainbow Bridge in Glen Canyon. This massive span is named for the Hopi gateway through which souls may pass to the spirit world.
This is the most challenging of the hikes and is 1.5 miles round trip with an elevation change of 500 feet. This steep trail employs a staircase and three wooden ladders. You’ll be hiking near cliff edges without barriers as well. About halfway down, there is a ledge with an outstanding view of Sipapu Bridge. Continue down the trail via switchbacks and ladders until you are at the bottom, below the huge bridge, for a uniquely Southwestern viewpoint.
From Sipapu Bridge, it is about another mile down the canyon to Horsecollar Ruin.
Loop Trails
For more experienced hikers with enough available time, try a loop hike. The full loop goes by all three bridges, but you can also choose to visit only two.
The Sipapu to Kachina loop hike is 5.6 miles round trip and takes three to four hours. The Kachina to Owachomo loop is 6.5 miles round trip with an elevation change of 400 feet. The Sipapu to Owachoma hike, going by all three natural bridges, is 9.8 miles and takes five to six hours.
The National Park Service cautions that the route along the canyon bottom is “primitive, unmaintained, and can be difficult to follow.” The trail passes through White and Armstrong Canyons and features several ruins, petroglyphs, and three arches.
Hiking Safety
For any of the hikes, be sure to take plenty of water — a gallon a day per person is recommended — and be prepared for changeable weather conditions. If a lightning storm comes up, the park service says, “avoid lone trees, cliff edges, and high ridges.” You’re encouraged to return to your vehicle if possible.
Before heading out on a hike, especially a loop hike, check trail conditions at the visitor center first. While at the visitor center, fill up your water bottles, as no water is available elsewhere in the monument.
Walking on the bridges is dangerous and illegal. Dogs are not allowed on the hiking trails and must be leashed where allowed in the monument. In addition, to protect the fragile cryptosoil that takes years to develop and repair when walked on, stay on trails and sandstone.
Camping at Natural Bridges National Monument
Natural Bridges has a small, 13-site campground designed for a combined vehicle length of 26 feet or shorter due to the tight loops in the campground road. Sites have a grill, picnic table, and tent pad. Camping at this International Dark Sky Park gives you the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful night sky and get an early start exploring the trails.
Reserve your campsite online. If you haven’t made campground reservations before you visit, check with the ranger at the visitor center to see if any sites are still available. If not, dispersed camping is allowed on nearby BLM land.
Dark Skies and Stargazing in the International Dark Sky Park
Natural Bridges National Monument is an International Dark Sky Park recognized for its exceptionally dark night skies. In fact, it was the world’s first International Dark Sky Park. This is a beautiful place for astrophotography or just enjoying the night sky as the Ancestral Puebloans would have seen it. The Milky Way will be a key feature of your night sky experience.
Visitors can enjoy the park’s dark skies without the distraction of artificial light at Natural Bridges National Monument . . . so be sure not to add any unnecessary night light to the scene for the enjoyment of everyone.
Flashlights with a red setting are perfect because they help you see where you’re going but don’t impact your ability to enjoy the night sky.
Exploring the Surrounding Area
Natural Bridges National Monument, like Navajo National Monument, is within the greater Bears Ears National Monument.
Another excellent place to visit to learn more about Ancestral Puebloans and other Indigenous people is Edge of the Cedars State Park Museum in Blanding, Utah.
Visitors can explore the nearby Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and Lake Powell for boating, fishing, and other water sports. If you enjoy natural bridges, be sure to visit the largest, Rainbow Bridge.
Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park is also nearby, offering iconic sandstone formations and opportunities for hiking and exploration.
Safety and Precautions
Visitors should be prepared for the heat and dryness of the desert environment. Bring plenty of water and sun protection, and be aware of potential hazards like flash flooding. Be aware of your physical abilities and choose hiking trails that match them. Some trails have unprotected cliff edges, which are even more hazardous when wet.
Ask the ranger for updated conditions on each trail. Remember: do not attempt to walk on the bridges.
While wild animals like ravens, rattlesnakes, coyotes, and mountain lions call Natural Bridges National Monument home, most will do their best to avoid you. Kit foxes, bobcats, and mountain lions do their hunting at night and would rather stay away from you. The animals you are most likely to see are lizards. If you see animals in the park, give them space and don’t approach them. It’s for your safety and theirs.
Additional Resources
The National Park Service website offers more Natural Bridges National Monument information, including maps, guides, and educational resources. Remember, the park’s visitor center is a great resource for information and exhibits on the park’s natural and cultural history.
Conclusion
When visiting the Four Corners region, exploring Natural Bridges National Monument is a must-do on your travel plans. Beyond enjoying the darkest skies, fascinating geology, and the second-largest natural bridge in the United States, this beautiful landscape helps you step back in time and see it as the ancient people might have. Be sure to put it on your list!
