Broken Arch Loop - Arches NP, UT

Overview: A loop hike that can be done with a spur to see Sand Dune Arch. The Sand Dune Arch spur and distance is covered in this trip description.


Warning: Desert hiking is hot, bring water and a map.Hike: From the campground restroom in the reserved area begin hiking northeast. After about 700 feet take a short spur trail to get a close up view of Tapestry Arch across the gulch. It isn't necessary to take this spur as you will have pretty good views of the arch later on, but it's a short enough hike that you can take the time.

Continue on the main loop clockwise following the trail until you reach the eastern point where you find Broken Arch. The arch is still standing, do not worry! The trail goes through the arch (yes, directly through it!) On the other side the landscape opens up into a broad field of daisies and you continue another 0.2 miles clockwise until you hit the spur for Sand Dune Arch.

In retrospect, Sand Dune arch is better done by stopping at the Sand Dune trailhead and hiking the short distance to the arch, but since there is a trail connecting the two, you can hike it approximately 0.25 miles each way. When you reach the Sand Dune trailhead, turn into the slot and hike uphill in the sand a hundred yards to see the arch. Return north until you rejoin the main loop trail.

Now back on the main loop, the trail will meander through rocky crevices in a remarkable route that doesn't gain or lose a great deal of elevation in total, until you pop out between the campsites back onto the campground road.

Tip: After hiking the loop, go to the campground amplitheater and check out sky line arch. It adds a few hundred yards of walking for a rather impressive arch.

Water sources: None, perhaps squeezing water out of a prickly pear?

Backpacking: Not allowed in Arches and the campgrounds are likely full (reserved by people who are not camping there, which is easy to tell since you are hiking through the campground!)

2009-06-11 nonot