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MOAB — For a quick hike with a nice payoff, visitors to Moab should consider the Corona Arch trail.
While the trail is named for the magnificent Corona Arch — which has a 140- by 105-foot opening — hikers will be pleased to notice another arch with its own interesting topography, the Bowtie Arch.
The out-and-back hike to the arches is brief, covering only 1.15 miles each way. And, since the trail is outside of the national parks, there is no entrance fee.
Though the hike is short, hikers may experience some fatigue from being exposed to the sun throughout the hike. Hikers should wear sunscreen and a hat for protection from the sun and drink plenty of water. If possible, plan for an early morning or early evening hike when the sun is lower and the rock is cooler.
The hike is of about moderate difficulty, as portions of the trail are washed out, rocky and require some climbing over inclined sandstone with the assistance of installed ladders and cables.
Throughout the two-hour Corona Arch hike, the scenery is breathtaking. Hikers start out a parking lot just off of Potash Road, where the trailhead begins. A small hill leads to the trail register, after which hikers cross railroad tracks. From there, hikers head up a wash. Though the trail here can be washed out, it is well-marked with cairns all along the way.
Hikers will reach slickrock, which curves around to the arches. On the rock in two places, visitors will have to walk across and up inclined slickrock, assisted by cables. At one point, hikers will also have to climb a ladder. The arches are just a short walk from these obstacles, but visitors will have a view from across the bowl for most of the slickrock portion of the hike.
Visitors may recognize the natural arch from the 2012 YouTube video made by Devin Graham — ”Devin Supertramp” — in which climbers swung from the arch. Following a death of a man swinging from the arch in 2013 and complaints from hikers about the rope-sport enthusiasts, the Bureau of Land Management is considering a ban on private rope activities.
To access the trailhead from Moab, drive north on Highway 191 for about 4 miles, until you reach Potash Road, or Scenic Byway 279. Turn west and travel on Potash Road for 10 miles. To the east of the river, you will see signs for Corona Arch. Turn right into the parking lot. The trailhead is clearly marked on the south end of the lot.
