Hike to Utah's Corona Arch

Hike to one of Moab's tallest arches and avoid the national park crowds with a short day hike to Corona Arch.

Trailhead elevation 3,990'

Water None

Don't miss Bowtie Arch, Pinto Arch, the view from the far side of Corona Arch

Hike to Corona Arch

Located on Bureau of Land Management land, the trailhead is a mere twenty-minute drive from downtown Moab, and five minutes from the Poison Spider Dinosaur Tracks and Petroglyphs site. From the trailhead, the hike begins with a modest incline, then crosses railroad tracks and enters Bootlegger Canyon.

From thereon, the trail consists entirely of slickrock terrain. Rock cairns serve as guides along the path, though navigation remains straightforward. Approximately half a mile into the hike, hikers will come across a marked 0.6-mile (one way) spur trail on the left, leading to a pothole arch known as Pinto Arch.

Returning to the main trail, hikers steadily ascend, leading to a brief section of Moki steps. Chains have been installed along this segment to assist, but many will not need to use them. Following this, a small metal ladder leads hikers to the first view of Corona Arch.

Following this, a leisurely stroll guides hikers alongside Bowtie Arch initially, with Corona Arch appearing a few hundred feet further along the trail.

While it's possible to reach the top of Bowtie Arch, I won't get into those details here. Nonetheless, the view from above offers an interesting perspective and a better understanding of why it's named as such.

Upon reaching Corona Arch, hikers should consider viewing the arch from both sides. In my opinion, the best view is from the far side of the arch. At 105-feet tall, Corona Arch is more than twice the height of Delicate Arch, and nearly five times as wide.

After exploring the arch, hikers can simply retrace their steps back to the trailhead.

Over the years, Corona Arch has gained popularity as a rope swinging destination. However, its fame skyrocketed after the release of a YouTube video titled "World's Largest Rope Swing," attracting scores of thrill-seekers hungry to attempt the swing. Tragically, in March 2013, a 22-year-old lost his life while attempting the swing due to leaving too much slack in his rope. The incident, witnessed by nearly 70 individuals present at the arch, prompted authorities to impose restrictions on the activity thereafter.