Near Eye of the Whale Arch
Looking through Eye of the Whale Arch. Absolutely gorgeous scenery and the whole place to ourselves.
Near Eye of the Whale Arch
View from the trail
Near Eye of the Whale Arch
Looking at the La Sal mountains from the trail.
Near Eye of the Whale Arch
Looking out the eye
Near Eye of the Whale Arch
Looking at the Arch

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Hike Trail

Eye of the Whale Arch

3.9 (8 Ratings)
A visit to this out-of-the-way arch provides solitude and a unique perspective on the park.
0.2
mi
Distance
68
ft
Gain
moderate
Difficulty
Family FriendlyViews
Access Issues
Park Road 19 (also called Herdina Park Jeep Road) is very rough and requires a 4WD vehicle. Note: bikes are not allowed on this trail.

Route Details

Flatter
Steeper
0.22mi
Distance
68ft
Elevation Gain
73ft
Elevation Loss
30%
Max Grade
5,003ft
High Point
4,926ft
Low Point
Path Type
Point to Point
Description
To reach the remote Eye of the Whale Trail, turn north onto Willow Flats Road (just across from the Balanced Rock parking area). Take Willow Flats Road (also called BLM378) for less than a mile, then turn north onto Park Road 19 (also called Herdina Park Jeep Road). Stay on Park Road 19 for 2.2 miles until you approach the first large rock formation and see a parking area to the west. This is the trailhead for Eye of the Whale Trail. From the trailhead, the arch may not seem that noteworthy and won't really resemble a whale yet. Pass through the arch on this mellow 1/4 mile path, then turn around to look backwards. From the backside it is easy to see the heavy brow and eye hole of the whale. If you liked your adventure to this area, seek out an unnamed arch accessible from this same trailhead. From the parking area, head around the north side of this rock formation for 1/4 mile and look for the arch nestled in the rock fins.

Route Conditions

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Contributors
Megan W