When visiting Moab, Utah it’s easy to think that the top things – or even the only things – to do while there are in Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park. However, there are so many other amazing things to see while there, one of them being Corona Arch. It took me three visits to finally see this arch, and, wow, I cannot recommend it highly enough!
Quick Info About Corona Arch
CORONA ARCH SIZE: The opening of Corona Arch is 105 feet high by 140 feet wide. It’s a truly massive beaut!
HIKE MILEAGE + DIFFICULTY: This trail is 3 miles round trip and it is rated as a moderate hike.
HAVE YOU SEEN PEOPLE SWING FROM THIS ARCH? Well, that and other “extreme activities” like climbing the arch and slack-lining are now considered illegal. Respect the laws so we have this beauty as long as possible.
CONSIDER TRAVEL INSURANCE: I’m a huge advocate for making sure you and your trip are covered by travel insurance. After breaking an arm hiking in Thailand and then needing a separate emergency surgery as well – forcing us to go home, I don’t travel without it – especially if being active. Personally, we love World Nomads.
Getting to the Corona Arch Trailhead
From Moab, the Corona Arch is a short 20 minute drive from the heart of town. When driving out of Moab toward Arches National Park, take a left on 279 (more commonly called Potash Road) and follow that road for about 10 miles and you’ll come to a trailhead on the right side of the road across from the Colorado River + a campground.
There are other stops to make on Potash Road, check out our guide to stops on Potash Road here.
The Hike to Corona Arch
Since finding out about the arch shortly after my last visit to Moab, I’ve been dying to get back and see this beauty for myself. Let me tell you, not only did the arch itself not disappoint, but the trail leading there was so much fun!
The trail leads up a sandy path from the parking area and then continues on a bit across a flat surface until you come to rail road tracks that you have to cross. These are fenced off, but have openings through the fences for hikers. I’ve read that this train is indeed still in use, but only runs a few times a week. That said, definitely watch for the train and listen for the whistle to blow.
After crossing the train track, the trail is fairly straightforward. It cuts back through Bootlegger Canyon and there are spray-painted arrows/markers that help hikers stay on trail since it’s just slick rock. This is nice as cairns can fall over, or other hikers add to them which can cause confusion. Before long, there will be a narrow ledge crossing, but cables have been installed for you to hold on to to help you stabilize yourself. At the end of this, you continue to the left and this is when you’ll get your first site of Corona Arch.
From here, you’re a short, but adventurous hike away from the base of Corona Arch. Simply follow the canyon ledge until arriving at a large incline. Yes, the trail continues up that, but worry not, there are cables placed into the rocks to help you get up and down. From here it’s just a short journey up over some boulders, up a ladder secured to the cliffside and along the ledge to the base of Corona Arch. As massive as it looks in photos, it’s even bigger and more majestic in person. As far as the arch itself, it’s one of my favorite I’ve ever seen.
Corona Arch Isn’t the Only Arch on This Trail
There are actually two other arches along this trail for you to see, but they seem less impressive after taking in Corona Arch. Luckily, you’ll see them beforehand so you’ll still enjoy seeing them as you pass by.
PINTO ARCH – Pinto Arch is spotted about a third of the way to Corona Arch. It’s visible on the left side of the canyon (when starting the trail) on an upper bluff. You can see it in the left of the image above.
BOWTIE ARCH – Bowtie Arch is situated just to the left of Corona Arch. You literally cannot miss it. You can easily climb up to it or just enjoy it from a slight distance on your way to the base of Corona Arch.
This moderate hike is sure to impress any lover of rock formations. Between the beauty of Bootlegger Canyon itself, the majesty of the massive Corona Arch and the adventure aspect of this hike all doable in just a couple of hours, it’s a hike you won’t soon forget.
Recommended Gear for This Hike and Others Like It
As a hiking-obsessed couple, we’ve come to find certain things that we wear or bring with us on literally every single hike and we’d like to share them with you!
TEVA SANDALS: I cannot recommend Tevas enough. If I’m hiking in decent weather, I want these bad boys on my feet. They have stellar grip, dry quickly if you have to wade through water or get caught in rain and they’re the most comfortable things I’ve ever put on my feet. Seriously.
Preferences: Matt and I both love the Hurricane Style. I’m also partial to the Tirras, which I wore on this trip.
REUSABLE WATER BOTTLE: We’re all about sustainability, so reusable water bottles are always a must. We love the wide-mouth Nalgene bottles because they hold a good amount of water and they’re easy to clean!
APPLE WATCHES: I’m not gonna lie, when these first came out, I didn’t get it. But a need to shed some weight last year piqued my interest and now I absolutely love my apple watch for tracking my hiking/exercise info and it has truly made me an all around more active human.
PHOTOGRAPHY HIKING BACKPACK: Do you love photographing your hikes like we do? Matt found a camera backpack that he takes on every kind of trip ever. He’s had his for 6 years now and absolutely loves it. It easily holds his camera gear plus two Nalgene bottles and a few snacks.
TRAVEL INSURANCE: Take it from the girl who broke her arm hiking in Thailand, it’s such a comfort to know your activities are covered. We love World Nomads for travel insurance.
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