Mesa Arch

Mesa Arch is easily the most photographed spot in Canyonlands. It's a good spot because you can take good photos almost any time of day. Most every morning there are many people waiting for the sun to rise to get an iconic shot. I went in the afternoon and still had a good time. There are almost always people here so this is not the place to come for solitude. It's cool and worth seeing but not as cool as other areas in the park. The trail makes a very easy loop with stairs helping for most of the 150 feet of elevation gain. The whole loop is 0.66 miles making this a very family friendly hike. The arch itself is pretty small and unspectacular. The reason it's so popular is not the arch itself, but what it frames. It offers great views of La Sal Mountain, White Rim Road, and the Monster Tower. Be sure to look for trucks and jeeps down on the White Rim Road. I always have fun trying to spot the arch from far below.