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Located in the Island in the Sky district of the vast Canyonlands National Park, this easy-to-see arch has become very popular with photographers over the years. Even in the dark of pre-dawn people jockey for position to catch the sun rise below the arch and over an amazing landscape full of rocky spires and dark canyons.
Access is very convenient; there is only a short 0.35-mile hike each way to view the arch. This is one of the few easy-to-see features in the vast park. The arch sits 500 feet from the closest cliff and 1,500 feet from the rest of Buck Canyon. The La Sal Mountains rise in the distance and greet the rising sun along with several sandstone spires. It's no surprise you will find this site on everything from ads to Apple desktop backgrounds.
The views are amazing even with the crowds, so it's worth seeing once. you look down onto a Mars-like landscape called Buck Canyon. Show up early to beat the crowds, but there's no guarantee. Mesa Arch is so popular that the crowds may rise early with you. You might find fewer visitors a few hours after sunrise than at the crack of dawn. Walking across the arch is prohibited but easy to do, so it's a common sight.
Dogs are allowed on a leash.
Recommended Gear
Before you head out on your next adventure, make sure you have the right gear!
Here's a list of our go-to hiking essentials to get you started:
Backpack: Osprey AG Pack
Hip Belt, Adjustable Torso, Compression Straps, Raincover + Hydraulics LT 2.5L Water Reservoir Included
Men's Manta 28L • $98.93-107.25 • Osprey | Amazon | Backcountry | REI
Women's Mira 26L • $98.93-107.25 • Osprey | Amazon | Backcountry | REI

Hiking Shoes: Salomon X Ultra 3 Mid GTX Shoe
Cushioned, GORE-TEX, High Traction Contagrip, 15.8 oz
Men's • $123.71-165.00 • Salomon | Amazon | Backcountry | REI
Women's • $124.93-165.00 • Salomon | Amazon | Backcountry | REI
Shirt: Mountain Hardwear Canyon Pro Long Sleeve Shirt
Sun Protective, Moisture Wicking, Quick Drying, Roll-up Sleeves
Men's • $71.25-75.00 • Mountain Hardware | Amazon | Backcountry
Women's • $44.98-47.47 • Mountain Hardware | Amazon | Backcountry
GPS Watch: Garmin Forerunner 35 GPS Watch
Waterproof, Calorie Burn Tracker, GPS, Sleep Tracker, Shock Resistant, Speed Tracker, Lap Timer
$128.03-170.00 • Garmin | Amazon | Backcountry | REI
Trekking Poles: MSR DynaLock Explore Poles
Aluminum, Adjustable with DynaLock Levers, Four-season Functionality, 20 oz.
Socks: Darn Tough Hiker Micro Crew Cushion Sock
Made in USA, Anti-bacterial, Merino Wool, Breathable, Fast-drying
Men's • $17-22 • Darn Tough | Amazon | Backcountry | REI
Women's • $12.19-22.00 • Darn Tough | Amazon | Backcountry | REI
Headlamp: Black Diamond Storm Headlamp
LED, Waterproof, Maximum Beam Distance: 80 m, Takes AAA Batteries
$49.85-49.95 • Black Diamond | Amazon | REI
First Aid Kit: Adventure Medical Kits Ultralight and Watertight .5 Kit
Ultralight, Watertight, Group Size: 1 person, Trip Duration: 1-2 days
$16.95-19.47 • Adventure Medical Kits | Amazon | Backcountry | REI
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