Corona Arch Trail Hiking Guide
Corona Arch is the big free hike outside the parks: a huge sandstone ring in a side canyon of the Colorado River, reached by a short climb from Potash Road with cables and a ladder for the steep bits. The Bureau of Land Management counts more than 80,000 hikers a year on it, and there's no fee or reservation.
Route and Numbers
AllTrails maps the out-and-back to Corona and Bowtie arches at 2.4 miles with 449 feet of gain, rated moderate. The BLM calls it a moderately strenuous 3-mile round trip, so plan for somewhere between the two. From the lot you climb to a register box by the railroad, sign in, cross the tracks and follow an old roadbed up through a gap in the rim. Cairns then lead up a wash, over a low sandy pass and along the base of a cliff.
Cables and the Ladder
The BLM describes a few spots with mild exposure, each with help installed: a first safety cable, then a second cable alongside steps cut into the slickrock, and then a short ladder over a small ledge. Corona Arch comes into view at the second cable, and from the top of the ladder it's an easy walk along a broad slickrock bench to its base. The AllTrails route also takes in Bowtie Arch on the way.
The Arch and the Rope Ban
Corona Arch spans about 140 feet and stands about 105 feet high by Wikipedia's figures. The BLM acquired it from the State of Utah in 2014, and since a 2017 federal rule, roped activities such as swinging or rappelling from the arch are prohibited, to protect the site and keep it a quieter, family-friendly hike. It was designated a National Recreation Trail in 2018.
Getting There and Paying Nothing
From Moab, drive 4 miles north on US-191, turn left onto UT-279 (Potash Road) and go 10 miles; the parking lot is on the right, the north side of the highway. The BLM charges no fee to hike here and asks hikers to pick up litter and stay precisely on the trail, given how heavily it's used. Being free, close to town and outside the national parks makes it an easy pick for an arrival day.
Heat and Dogs
The route is mostly open slickrock, and AllTrails warns it can be extremely hot in summer; spring and fall are the comfortable seasons, so start early from June through August and carry more water than the distance suggests. Dogs aren't banned on this BLM trail, unlike in Arches and Canyonlands, but AllTrails notes the ladder stops many of them, and the heat on bare rock is hard on paws.
Hiking tips for Corona Arch Trail
- Sign the trail register at the railroad; it's how the BLM tracks use on this busy route.
- Cross the railroad tracks carefully and don't linger on them.
- Keep your hands free for the cable and ladder section; carry water in a pack, not your hand.
- If you bring a dog, be ready to turn around at the ladder if it can't manage.
- Go early in summer; AllTrails warns the route can be extremely hot, and most of it is open rock.
Nearby trails to explore
- Dead Horse Point East and West Rim Loop
- Grandstaff Canyon Trail to Morning Glory Natural Bridge
- Delicate Arch Trail
Hike this trail with TrailMates
Corona Arch is a free half-day close to town and a good first hike with new partners. Use TrailMates to find Moab hikers heading out Potash Road. Download the TrailMates app to connect.