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Natural Bridges National Monument, located in southeast Utah, was the state’s very first national monument. It was established in 1908 by Theodore Roosevelt.
Visiting the Park
It costs US$20 per carload to enter the monument (as of September 2023), or free with an America the Beautiful pass. Admission is good for seven days.
There’s a first-come, first-served campground near the visitor center. It has 13 sites and costs US$16 (as of September 2023).
We started at the visitor center where we watched a short film and had a quick lunch. Then we ventured out onto the one-way loop road that runs through the park.
Along the road, it’s possible to stop and spend a few minutes viewing the bridges from afar, or spend more time by hiking down to each one. There’s even a difficult 12 mile loop trail that passes by all three bridges. After lots of hiking in hot weather at Canyonlands the day before, we decided we were happy enough to see the bridges from the overlooks.
Sipapu Bridge
Our first stop was Sipapu Bridge. At 225 feet, it’s the second longest natural bridge in the United States after nearby Rainbow Bridge, and the sixth longest in the world.
You can view the bridge after a short walk to the viewpoint, or take a difficult hike down to it. The trailhead for Sipapu Bridge and the loop trail to all three bridges is at a parking lot a bit further down the road.
Horse Collar Ruin
Next was a very short and easy hike to the Horse Collar Ruin Overlook. The trail travels ⅓ mile along the edge of a cliff, where you can get great views of the canyon below.
At the end of the trail there’s a viewpoint looking down to some Ancestral Puebloan structures. They were abandoned around 1300 but are in excellent condition.
Kachina Bridge
The second bridge on display is Kachina Bridge. It’s 204 feet long and is the thickest of the three bridges at 93 feet. A steep ¾ mile trail can get you closer to it, or you can see it from the viewpoint.
As with the other viewpoints, there are some great views of the canyon below.
Owachomo Bridge
The third and final bridge is Owachomo Bridge. Possibly the oldest of the three bridges, it’s 180 feet long but only nine feet thick, which also means it’s the most fragile.
You can see it after a short walk to the viewpoint or take a moderate 0.2 mile trail to see it up close. It’s the most accessible and most photographed bridge in the park.
Conclusion
Natural Bridges National Monument is a great place to visit whether you’re into hiking or just want the scenery. The viewpoints for each bridge are easy to reach, making it the perfect destination for those with less time to spend. On a future visit, I’d love to spend more time there and take the loop trail around all three bridges.
