"Owachomo Bridge" by NPS photo / Neal Herbert , public domain
Natural Bridges
National Monument - Utah
Natural Bridges National Monument is located about 50 miles (80 km) northwest of the Four Corners boundary of southeast Utah, in the western United States, at the junction of White Canyon and Armstrong Canyon, part of the Colorado River drainage. It features the thirteenth largest natural bridge in the world, carved from the white Permian sandstone of the Cedar Mesa Formation that gives White Canyon its name.
Motor Vehicle Travel Map (MVTM) of Monticello Ranger District in Manti-La Sal National Forest (NF) in Utah. Published by the U.S. Forest Service (USFS).
https://www.nps.gov/nabr/index.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_Bridges_National_Monument
Natural Bridges National Monument is located about 50 miles (80 km) northwest of the Four Corners boundary of southeast Utah, in the western United States, at the junction of White Canyon and Armstrong Canyon, part of the Colorado River drainage. It features the thirteenth largest natural bridge in the world, carved from the white Permian sandstone of the Cedar Mesa Formation that gives White Canyon its name.
Three majestic natural bridges invite you to ponder the power of water in a landscape usually defined by its absence. View them from an overlook, or hit the trails and experience their grandeur from below. Declared a National Monument in 1908, the bridges are named "Kachina," "Owachomo" and "Sipapu" in honor of the Ancestral Puebloans who once made this place their home.
The entrance to Natural Bridges is at the end of UT 275, which is roughly 35 miles west of Blanding, Utah, on UT 95. Driving time from Blanding is roughly 45 minutes.
Natural Bridges Visitor Center
The Natural Bridges Visitor Center is typically open five days a week, 9 am to 4 pm, Thursday through Monday during spring through fall. In the winter, the visitor center may also close on Mondays and certain holidays. Exhibits, a park film, and a bookstore are available. You can pay your entrance fee online or at the visitor center.
The Natural Bridges Visitor Center is at the end of UT 275, which is roughly 35 miles west of Blanding, Utah, on UT 95. Driving time from Blanding is roughly 45 minutes.
Natural Bridges Campground
Camp in solitude among the juniper trees at Natural Bridges campground. The campground is conveniently located next to the visitor center off the main park road. Campsites are fully reservable through Recreation.gov and open year-round. Each site has a fire grill, picnic table, and tent pad, but no running water, electricity, or hookups.
Standard Site
16.00
Fee per night at a standard Natural Bridges' campground site, all year. Group size is limited to 8 people and 1 vehicle.
Senior/Access Rate
8.00
Discounted camping rates with valid Senior or Access passes. Fee per night at a standard Natural Bridges' campground site with valid pass, all year. Group size is limited to 8 people and 1 vehicle.
Natural Bridges Campground
Campsite featuring a picnic table and fire pit amongst the trees in Natural Bridges.
Campsite in the Natural Bridges Campground
Dark Skies at Owachomo Bridge
a natural bridge at night with the Milky Way arcing overhead
Natural Bridges National Monument was designated the world's first International Dark Sky Park in 2007
Sipapu Bridge
Sipapu Bridge with a blue sky and clouds overhead
Sipapu Bridge is one of the three massive bridges at the monument.
Horse Collar Ruin
a stone structure below a rock alcove
Horsecollar Ruins are located near Sipapu Bridge
Hiker at Kachina Bridge
a hiker standing below a massive natural bridge
Hiking trails link the three natural bridges at the monument.
Owachomo Bridge
a broad natural bridge with clouds in the sky
Owachomo Bridge is one of the three natural bridges at the monument.
Desert Varnish
Ever wondered what those dark lines were on the rock walls of canyon country? These black, brown, and red streaks are called desert varnish.
streaks of black desert varnish on a red rock wall
Ephemeral Pools
Ephemeral pools are a vital source of water in a parched desert.
grasses growing in a ephemeral pool filled with water
Celebrating 50 Years of Partnership
Canyonlands Natural History Association celebrated its 50th anniversary of partnering with public lands in southeast Utah. Since its founding in 1967, CNHA has donated over $12 million to Southeast Utah Group parks and its other federal partners—the Bureau of Land Management and US Forest Service.
Superintendent Kate Cannon hands a plaque to CNHA Executive Director Roxanne Bierman
National Park Getaway: Natural Bridges National Monument
Natural Bridges National Monument is a place of firsts. In 1908, President Theodore Roosevelt made Natural Bridges the first National Park Service site in Utah. The presidential proclamation states: “a number of natural bridges situated in southeastern Utah, having heights more lofty and spans far greater than any heretofore known to exist, are of the greatest scientific interest.” No one had seen such an impressive example of stream-eroded stone before.
Dark sky full of stars above and below a natural land bridge.
Monsoon Season
Late summer is monsoon season on the Colorado Plateau. Afternoon thunderstorms are common - flash floods and lightning are possible. Learn more about this special time of year and how to plan for it.
rainstorm over Canyonlands
Arches National Park’s Free-Flowing Waters
Visitors to Arches National Park experience natural free-flowing waters and have water to quench their thirst, thanks to an agreement between the National Park Service and the State of Utah.
The sun sits just below the horizon behind Delicate Arch.
Landbird Monitoring in Northern Colorado Plateau Network Parks, 2018
Because birds can be sensitive to habitat change, they are good indicators of ecosystem integrity. The Northern Colorado Plateau Network partners with the University of Delaware to assess breeding-bird species trends in three different habitats: low-elevation riparian, pinyon-juniper, and sage shrubland. Find out which species were increasing and declining at network parks as of 2018.
Small, bright-orange bird with yellowish underfeathers.
Surviving in the Desert
In this arid land, plants and animals must adapt to constantly changing water availability.
red blooms on cluster of claret cup cactus
Veteran Story: William Bouley
Bill Bouley served in the US Army for 20 years. Today he continues in public service as a Safety Manager for several parks and monuments in southern Utah.
Bill Bouley, in uniform, with a helicopter in the background
Wadeable Streams Monitoring at Natural Bridges National Monument, 2010–2018
Riparian areas are oases of life. To evaluate the health of riparian systems, the Northern Colorado Plateau Network monitors physical and biological attributes of wadeable streams. These indicators tell us about “normal” conditions and give park managers early warning of potential problems. Monitoring at Natural Bridges National Monument from 2010 to 2018 revealed how flood events caused changes in the channel, and how plants have responded.
A hiker walks past juniper bushes toward a red rock arch.
The Colorado Plateau
The Colorado Plateau is centered on the four corners area of the Southwest, and includes much of Arizona, Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico.
Hazy Fajada Butte, Chaco Culture National Monument
NPS Geodiversity Atlas—Natural Bridges National Monument, Utah
Natural Bridges National Monument contains three of the largest natural bridges in the world. They were carved into the Permian Cedar Mesa Sandstone by stream action in White and Armstrong canyons. The close proximity of these large natural bridges to one another as well as their varying age and geomorphic history are important parts of the monument’s geologic significance.
large natural stone bridge
Studying the Fate of Arches
Park staff and scientists study geological change in the natural arches of Utah. Monitoring devices, like the crackmeter, measure vibration and expansion in arches that are actively eroding. The data collected could determine potential safety risks in the future.
a park ranger looks at a computer with two large arches in the background
Gnats
In the late spring and early summer, swarms of tiny biting gnats often greet visitors to Utah national parks. These miniscule pests thrive in the scattered pinyon-juniper forests of southeast Utah.
Reading Rock Markings
If you travel the canyons of the American Southwest, you are sure to see figures carved or painted on rock faces. These include abstractions like spirals, dots and geometric patterns, or more recognizable forms like animals, humans, and handprints. They served to communicate among American Indian tribes throughout the centuries, and they continue to communicate today.
depictions of bighorn sheep and riders on horseback pecked into a rock wall
Animal-Transmitted Diseases in Southeast Utah
Some diseases can be passed from animals to humans. Never approach wildlife and learn other ways to protect yourself from animal-transmitted diseases in Southeast Utah parks.
Small brown and tan rodent standing up on hind legs, with soil and green vegetation around it.
Biological Soil Crust of Southeast Utah
Be careful where you step because the dirt is alive! This bumpy, lumpy, crust black soil is called biological soil crust and is made up of living organisms.
bumpy black soil crust with lichen
Lichens of Southeast Utah
Those bright colors you may see on sandstone and biological soil crust are alive! Lichens grow in every size, shape, and color in Southeast Utah.
scaly gray lichen growing on dark soil crust
House Rules for Visiting Archeological Sites in Southeast Utah
Visiting a Southeast Utah park? These parks contain sacred areas and ancestral homeland of over 30 traditionally associated Native American Tribes. Learn how to be a respectful guest at cultural sites with these house rules.
Two people stand and look at a circular tower constructed out of rocks.
What We’re Learning and Why it Matters: Long-Term Monitoring on the Northern Colorado Plateau
Knowing which key natural resources are found in the national parks, and whether they're stable or changing, helps decisionmakers make sound choices. The Northern Colorado Plateau Network is building that knowledge. After more than ten years of monitoring, we've learned a lot about park ecosystems, how they're changing, and what they may look like in the days to come. Find out what we’ve learned and how it’s being used to help managers plan for the future.
Man stands in a stream, looking down at a handheld gauge.
Landbird Population Trends in the Northern Colorado Plateau Network, 2019
Because birds can be sensitive to habitat change, they are good indicators of ecosystem integrity. The Northern Colorado Plateau Network partners with the University of Delaware to assess breeding-bird species trends in three different habitats: low-elevation riparian, pinyon-juniper, and sage shrubland. Find out which species were increasing and declining at network parks as of 2019.
Bald eagle
Series: Geologic Time Periods in the Paleozoic Era
During the Paleozoic Era (541 to 252 million years ago), fish diversified and marine organisms were very abundant. In North America, the Paleozoic is characterized by multiple advances and retreats of shallow seas and repeated continental collisions that formed the Appalachian Mountains. Common Paleozoic fossils include trilobites and cephalopods such as squid, as well as insects and ferns. The greatest mass extinction in Earth's history ended this era.
fossil corals in a rock matrix
Series: Defining the Southwest
The Southwest has a special place in the American imagination – one filled with canyon lands, cacti, roadrunners, perpetual desert heat, a glaring sun, and the unfolding of history in places like Tombstone and Santa Fe. In the American mind, the Southwest is a place without boundaries – a land with its own style and its own pace – a land that ultimately defies a single definition.
Maize agriculture is one component of a general cultural definition of the Southwest.
Permian Period—298.9 to 251.9 MYA
The massive cliffs of El Capitan in Guadalupe Mountains National Park represent a Permian-age reef along the supercontinent Pangaea. The uppermost rocks of Grand Canyon National Park are also Permian.
flat-top mountain
Paleozoic Era
During the Paleozoic Era (541 to 252 million years ago), fish diversified and marine organisms were very abundant. In North America, the Paleozoic is characterized by multiple advances and retreats of shallow seas and repeated continental collisions that formed the Appalachian Mountains. Common Paleozoic fossils include trilobites and cephalopods such as squid, as well as insects and ferns. The greatest mass extinction in Earth's history ended this era.
fossil corals in a rock matrix
Round-up Donations Add Up to Big Support
If you tell our bookstore partner to "keep the change," those pennies lead to big support for park programs.
A clerk ringing up a customer at Arches' bookstore
Landbird Population Trends in the Northern Colorado Plateau Network, 2020
Because birds can be sensitive to habitat change, they are good indicators of ecosystem integrity. The Northern Colorado Plateau Network partners with the University of Delaware to assess breeding-bird species trends in three different habitats: low-elevation riparian, pinyon-juniper, and sage shrubland. Find out which species were increasing and declining at network parks as of 2020.
Small beige bird with black beak and feet, brown back.
Climate Smart Conservation Planning for the National Parks
In response to climate change, park managers are having to rethink how they plan for the future. Climate Smart Conservation is a process that can help managers achieve goals in the face of coming changes. Under this framework, scientists and managers use their collective knowledge to anticipate problems and be proactive, rather than reactive.
Pika with a mouthful of grass
Monitoring From Space: Using Satellite Imagery to Measure Landscape Conditions on the Ground
Scientists from the Northern Colorado Plateau Network travel thousands of miles each year to collect data on plants, soils, and water across network parks. But it would be impossible to cover every square inch of the Northern Colorado Plateau with boots on the ground. Instead, we simultaneously monitor the parks with boots in space—satellite data that provide information at a much broader scale.
Satellite and Earth in space
Responding to Climate Change in the Southeast Utah Parks
This paper describes how the Southeast Utah Group of parks is responding to climate change. The paper summarizes expected future climate conditions compared with a 20th Century baseline. It describes the foundation of our work within the Climate Smart Conservation framework adopted at our initial workshop in December 2018.
A photograph of a grassland, containing some shrubs.
Localized Drought Impacts on Northern Colorado Plateau Landbirds
Birds of the desert southwest, a climate-change hotspot, are among the most vulnerable groups in the US. To help park managers plan for those changes, scientists evaluated the influence of water deficit on landbird communities at 11 national parks in Utah and Colorado. The results will help land managers to focus conservation efforts on places where certain species are most vulnerable to projected climate changes.
A man wearing a clipboard looks through binoculars at dawn in field of sagebrush
Series: Intermountain Park Science 2021
Integrating Research and Resource Management in Intermountain National Parks
Group of National Park Service staff and volunteers standing in front of a desert canyon.
Changing Patterns of Water Availability May Change Vegetation Composition in US National Parks
Across the US, changes in water availability are altering which plants grow where. These changes are evident at a broad scale. But not all areas experience the same climate in the same way, even within the boundaries of a single national park. A new dataset gives park managers a valuable tool for understanding why vegetation has changed and how it might change in the future under different climate-change scenarios.
Green, orange, and dead grey junipers in red soil, mountains in background
Water Resources on the Colorado Plateau
Describes the origin, uses, threats to, and conservation of water on the Colorado Plateau.
Dark green body of water winding through red rock formations with brilliant sun overhead.
But How Do They Know? Sedimentary Geology of Natural Bridges
How do they know what rocks are made of, or what story they tell? We're diving into the world of sedimentary geology and how geologists discovered the story of the stones in Natural Bridges National Monument.
a stone bridge spans a canyon
Landbird Population Trends in the Northern Colorado Plateau Network, 2021
Because birds can be sensitive to habitat change, they are good indicators of ecosystem integrity. The Northern Colorado Plateau Network partners with the University of Delaware to assess breeding-bird species trends in three different habitats: low-elevation riparian, pinyon-juniper, and sage shrubland. Find out which species were increasing and declining at network parks as of 2021.
Small dove with black spots on back of wings, long tail, and brownish-gray body.
Studying the Past and Predicting the Future Using Rat Nests
In the western United States, packrat middens are one of the best tools for reconstructing recent environments and climates. These accumulations of plant fragments, small vertebrate remains, rodent droppings, and other fossils can be preserved for more than 50,000 years. Packrat middens have been found in at least 41 National Park Service units.
Photo of a wood rat.
Series: Park Paleontology News - Vol. 14, No. 2, Fall 2022
All across the park system, scientists, rangers, and interpreters are engaged in the important work of studying, protecting, and sharing our rich fossil heritage. <a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/fossils/newsletters.htm">Park Paleontology news</a> provides a close up look at the important work of caring for these irreplaceable resources. <ul><li>Contribute to Park Paleontology News by contacting the <a href="https://www.nps.gov/common/utilities/sendmail/sendemail.cfm?o=5D8CD5B898DDBB8387BA1DBBFD02A8AE4FBD489F4FF88B9049&r=/subjects/geoscientistsinparks/photo-galleries.htm">newsletter editor</a></li><li>Learn more about <a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/fossils/">Fossils & Paleontology</a> </li><li>Celebrate <a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/fossilday/">National Fossil Day</a> with events across the nation</li></ul>
Photo of a person sitting while using a laboratory microscope.
Monitoring Hanging Gardens in National Parks of Southeast Utah, 2013–2020
The Northern Colorado Plateau is home to a unique spring type: the hanging garden. These rare habitats are home to rare species: at Arches National Park and Natural Bridges National Monument, 8–9% of known endemic-plant species are hanging-garden specialists. But long-term monitoring shows that some populations of these special plants are changing over time.
A person walks on beneath a sandstone cliff, surrounded by green plants.
Series: Geologic Time—Major Divisions and NPS Fossils
The National Park System contains a magnificent record of geologic time because rocks from each period of the geologic time scale are preserved in park landscapes. The geologic time scale is divided into four large periods of time—the Cenozoic Era, Mesozoic Era, Paleozoic Era, and The Precambrian.
photo of desert landscape with a petrified wood log on the surface
National Parks in Southern Utah
Plan your visits to Southern Utah National Parks. Get details about permits, shuttles, and other information so that you know before you go!
Making an Impact: Long-Term Monitoring of Natural Resources at Intermountain Region National Parks, 2021
Across the Intermountain Region, Inventory & Monitoring Division ecologists are helping to track the effects of climate change, provide baseline information for resource management, evaluate new technologies, and inspire the next generation of park stewards. This article highlights accomplishments achieved during fiscal year 2021.
A man looks through binoculars at sunrise.
Landbird Population Trends in the Northern Colorado Plateau Network, 2022
Because birds can be sensitive to habitat change, they are good indicators of ecosystem integrity. The Northern Colorado Plateau Network partners with the University of Delaware to assess breeding-bird species trends in three different habitats: low-elevation riparian, pinyon-juniper, and sage shrubland. Find out which species were increasing and declining at network parks as of 2022.
Hairy woodpecker clings to the underside of a tree branch.
A Changing Bimodal Climate Zone Means Changing Vegetation in Western National Parks
When the climate changes enough, the vegetation communities growing in any given place will also change. Under an expanded bimodal climate zone, some plant communities in western national parks are more likely to change than others. National Park Service ecologists and partners investigated the future conditions that may force some of this change. Having this information can help park managers decide whether to resist, direct, or accept the change.
Dark storm clouds and rainbow over mountains and saguaros.
Project Profile: Produce Seed for Intermountain Sagebrush Systems
The National Park Service will build in-house capacity for four strategically located parks to scale up their collection, production, and storage of genetically appropriate native seeds with a focus on ’workhorse’ species to meet their needs as well as parks in the same ecoregions.
two men, one in nps uniform, survey plant seedlings in a nursery.
Project Profile: Increase Native Seed Production for Upper Colorado Basin
This project will assist these three parks in building climate resilience and increasing biodiversity in threatened WBP forest ecosystems by increasing their capacity to collect seed and propagate blister rust resistant seedlings.
Small pines in a clump on the grassy ridge of a mountain slope.
Project Profile: Produce Seed for Intermountain Grasslands
The National Park Service and organizations of the Southwest Seed Partnership will implement the National Seed Strategy and associated revegetation and restoration efforts in grassland ecosystems in Intermountain Region parks. The project focuses on native plant development and involves collecting, producing, cleaning, testing, tracking, and storing seeds from native species.
a man kneels in a field and puts collected seeds into a 5 gallon bucket
My Park Story: Emma Stefanacci
"It continued to strike me just how cool it is to have our shared history preserved in a way where people can experience it as part of their everyday."
A woman wearing a hat and sunglasses stands in front of mesa ruins.
Park Managers look to Bipartisan Infrastructure Law projects to break cycle of fire-driven ecosystem losses in the West
Park managers look to Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to break the cycle of fire-driven ecosystem losses in the West. The project focus, as part of a larger program that the National Park Service calls its NPSage Initiative, is on collaborative work to build capacity across four priority seed zones of the Intermountain Region: 17 parks in the Colorado Plateau and Rocky Mountains ecoregions of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming.
rows of tall grasses being grown for restoration
Research suggests most visitors welcome actions to preserve night sky quality
Parks and other protected areas are some of the last places on Earth with dark night skies. But even they have outdoor lighting at night. Scientists surveyed park visitors in Utah to gauge their support for changing outdoor lighting to improve night sky quality. The researchers’ work suggests that such management actions would have broad public support.
stargazers look up to a brilliant night sky and point green lasers to point out constellations
I Didn't Know That!: Biological Soil Crusts
You’ve heard people say to stay on the trail, but what does it matter in the desert? It’s just dirt... right? Wrong—it's alive! Discover what biological soil crusts are and why they're so important in dry environments.
biological soil crust
Strong Visitor Support for Steps to Limit Light Pollution
In a world where excess light is wiping out our views of the stars at a startling pace, parks can protect natural darkness. But do nighttime visitors support the changes parks must make to bring back dark night skies? We didn’t know until we asked them.
A group of people with red lights and telescopes under a starry night sky with the Milky Way visible
Updated Species Database Will Help Boost Amphibian Conservation Across the National Park System
To steward amphibians effectively, managers need basic information about which species live in parks. But species lists need constant maintenance to remain accurate. Due to recent efforts, the National Park Service now has an up-to-date amphibian species checklist for almost 300 parks. This information can serve as the basis for innumerable conservation efforts across the nation.
A toad sits on red sand, looking into the camera.
Landbird Population Trends in the Northern Colorado Plateau Network, 2023
Because birds can be sensitive to habitat change, they are good indicators of ecosystem integrity. The Northern Colorado Plateau Network partners with the University of Delaware to assess breeding-bird species trends in three different habitats: low-elevation riparian, pinyon-juniper, and sage shrubland. Find out which species were increasing and declining at network parks as of 2023.
A speckled white bird floats on blue water.
Landbird Population Trends in the Northern Colorado Plateau Network, 2024
Northern Colorado Plateau Network’s long-term landbird monitoring program provides habitat-based updates for bird population status and trends in the parks in the Northern Colorado Plateau. These inform scientists and managers about changes in bird populations and about the health of the habitats they depend on. Learn more about which species were detected in the network parks for the first time and which landbird populations were increasing or declining between 2005 - 2024.
A bird sitting in a tree.
Natural Bridges
National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
Natural Bridges National Monument
Visitor Guide
Natural Bridges sits high on Cedar Mesa, 6,500 feet above sea level. Intermittent streams
have cut two deep canyons and three massive bridges in sandstone formed from what was
once the shore of an ancient sea. At each of the bridges, trails descend into the canyons
from the loop road. A longer trail meanders along the canyon bottoms through oak and
cottonwood groves (shown above), connecting the three bridges in one loop hike.
General Information
Scenic Drive
The scenic drive is open year-round. This
paved, nine-mile loop provides access to all
the bridges. Each may be viewed by walking
a short distance to an overlook. An archeological site may also be viewed from an overlook along the scenic drive.
Visitor Center
The visitor center is open 9 am to 4:30 pm
daily, with extended hours during summer.
The building is closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. Exhibits, a video
presentation, and bookstore are available.
Entrance Fees (good for seven days)
More Information
Natural Bridges
National Monument
HC 60 Box 1
Lake Powell, UT 84533
(435) 692-1234
www.nps.gov/nabr
$10 Vehicle
$5 Individual (walk-in, bicycle, motorcycle)
Weather
Month
Average High
Average Low
Average Precipitation
Campground
The 13-site campground is open year-round,
first-come, first-served. Fee is $10 per night.
Sites will accommodate up to eight people
and one vehicle. There is a 26-foot length
limit. Each site has a grill, picnic table and
tent pad. Gathering firewood is prohibited.
Evening programs are offered in summer
(check bulletin boards for schedules). More
campgrounds are available outside Natural
Bridges.
Pets
Pets are allowed on paved trails and roads
but must be leashed at all times. Pets are
not allowed on hiking trails or in the
backcountry.
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
39
17
45
22
51
26
60
32
71
40
81
49
90
58
86
56
77
49
63
37
50
27
40
19
.97
.95
1.22
.83
.67
.57
1.45
1.59
1.07
1.48
1.11
1.28
Visitor Safety
• Check trail conditions at the visitor center
before hiking.
• Drink at least one gallon (4 L) of water
each day.
• Remain in one place if you become lost or
separated from a group.
• During a lightning storm, avoid lone trees,
cliff edges and high ridges. Return to your
vehicle if possible.
• Flash floods can occur without warning.
Never cross a canyon that is flooding.
• Be careful near cliff edges, especially when
rock is wet or icy.
• Do not climb on the bridges; it is both
dangerous and illegal.
• Always carry a map, adequate clothing,
and a flashlight.
Caring for the Canyons
Natural Bridges preserves habitat for a variety of plants and animals. Visitors may see
mule deer browsing, hear the falling notes of
a canyon wren, or smell the sweet aroma of
spring wildflowers. To guard these experiences for future generations, please observe
the following regulations:
• Leave water for wildlife: do not disturb
pools or intermittent streams by bathing or
swimming.
• Do not enter archeological sites, remove
artifacts, or touch rock art.
• Camping is permitted only in the
campground.
• Vehicles and bicycles must remain on
designated roads.
• Vehicles may not be left unattended
overnight along the loop road.
Cryptobiotic soil crust
• Pets are not allowed on hiking trails.
• Protect cryptobiotic soil crusts by staying
on trails.
NORTH
CAN
YON
Hiking Trails
EE
R
Overlook/
Paved road
CANYON
W
D
Hiking Trail
Bridge
view
Sipapu
Bridge
Intermittent Stream
Horsecollar
Ruin
Overlook
H
ITE
Bridge View Drive
9mi
14.5km
0.6
on
w
e-
Visitor
Center
6505ft
2001m
0.8
Tr a
il
ay
0.3
p
Loo
2.3
WHITE
NYON
CA
"Knickpoint"
Pour-off
Bridge
view
1.
2
1.0
0.7
Kachina
Bridge
op
ST
Lo
M
AR
ay
e-w
TUWA
N
NYO
CA
Owachomo
Bridge
Kachina Bridge Trail
Hiking Times & Distances
Round Trip
Elevation
(mi/km) Change (ft/m)
Hiking
Time
Bridge Hikes
Sipapu
1.2/1.9
500/152
1 hr
Kachina
1.4/2.3
400/122
1 hr
Owachomo
0.4/0.6
180/55
30 min
8.6/13.8
500/152
4 to 6 hrs
5.6/9
500/152
2 to 4 hrs
Kachina/Owachomo
5.4/8.7
400/122
2 to 4 hrs
Horsecollar Ruins
0.6/1.0
30/9
30 min
Loop Hikes
Hikers make their way down the
trail to Sipapu Bridge.
Horsecollar Ruin earns its name
from the shape of the doors to
these granaries.
N
R
0.2
Sipapu/Kachina
YO
3.0 O N
G
Tr a il
Bridge
view
Sipapu/Owachomo
CAN
on
Kachina is a massive bridge and is considered
the "youngest" of the three because of the
thickness of its span. The relatively small size
of its opening and its orientation make it difficult to see from the overlook. The pile of boulders under the far side of the bridge resulted
from a rock fall in 1992, when approximately
4,000 tons of rock broke off the bridge. As you
descend the switchbacks, notice the “Knickpoint” pour-off in Armstrong Canyon below
to your left. During floods, this spout sends
a muddy red waterfall plun
Natural Bridges
National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
Natural Bridges National Monument
Archeology
Listen carefully while you stand at the rim above Horsecollar Ruin. Can you hear voices
in the wind? Listen for the rhythmic grinding of mano on metate as corn is turned to
flour. Turkeys cackle in a pen while dogs bark. Children laugh as they play among the
rocks. The soft song of a potter at work is interrupted by the shouts of a returning hunting party carrying a bighorn sheep. The sharp pecking sound you hear may be an artist
or shaman carving a new petroglyph.
Migrations:
A Hopi Perspective
Pictograph representing the
Migration of the People
Migrations:
An Archeological
Perspective
“The Hopi today live on or near three mesas
in Northeastern Arizona. In the past they
lived other places as well. Their history is a
story of many migrations—the movements of
clans and villages. The ancestors of the Hopi,
called Hisatsinom, once inhabited many
parts of the American Southwest, including the Natural Bridges area. Archeologists
often refer to them as ancestral Puebloans.
Throughout their migrations the Hisatsinom
clans left markers (pictographs and petroglyphs) to show where they had been. Often they left artifacts from special religious
societies in place and they left markings on
walls to indicate that particular ceremonies
had been performed before the people left.
Religious society leaders gave permission for
such sacred symbols to be put on the walls.
These images make up much of the ‘prehistoric’ rock art now enjoyed by visitors to the
Southwest.”
Archeologists believe that the ancestral
Puebloans occupied this area during three
distinct periods. Between these occupations
were periods of 200 to 300 years when few
people, if any, lived here. Were these the
migrations Mr. Hamana refers to?
but wild plants and game made up more of
the diet. The bow, arrows and pottery were
not made yet, but spears and baskets were.
Homes were small, slab-lined “pithouses.”
A.D. 200 to 400
While hunters and gatherers may have
passed this way earlier, settlement first occurred during this period. Corn was farmed,
Mr. Walter Hamana, Hopi Elder
1992 visit to Natural Bridges rock art sites
A.D. 650 to 725
After 250 years of abandonment, people returned to Cedar Mesa. They brought beans,
and pottery to cook them in. The cultivation of beans enriched the soil with nitrogen
which growing corn had depleted. The bow
and arrow appeared at this time. Larger
homes of connected rooms above ground
replaced pithouses as populations grew.
A.D. 1060 to 1270
Three hundred years after their ancestors
left, the farmers returned. They built homes
of sandstone masonry or mud-packed sticks,
Connections and
Abandonment
Styles of masonry, ceramic decoration and
other artifacts suggest that the people here
were related to those of the Mesa Verde
region to the east. Influences are clearly evident from the Kayenta region to the southwest and the Fremont culture to the north.
Like these people, the inhabitants of Cedar
Mesa left this area for the last time around
A.D. 1270.
Theories and speculation surround this great
abandonment. Some would suggest that raiding nomads forced the ancestral Puebloans
first into the cliffs for defense, then out of
Protection: Why? How?
both on the mesa tops and in alcoves in the
cliffs. South-facing caves provided passive
solar heating and cooling. They often chose
sites near seep springs where water could be
found. The last canyon dwellers left about
A.D. 1270.
the region entirely. Little evidence is found
to support this theory and it is believed
that groups like the Navajo, Apache, Ute
and Paiute did not arrive until well after the
abandonment. Another theory suggests that
the people had overused the fragile soil and
timber resources. This would have caused
increased erosion and reduction in crops,
wild game and water supplies. Still others
believe that the people simply reached the
end of their migrations when they arrived
where their descendants, the Hopi, Zuni and
Rio Grande peoples, live today.
These places are critically important to all of
us. Mr. Hamana and others have their roots
here. Hundreds of years of their history are
written on the stone walls of these canyons.
We frequently see these ruins and rock art
only as curiosities, but perhaps they can
teach us about our history and our future.
enforced federal and state laws, notably the
Antiquities Act of 1906 and the Archeological
Resources Protection Act (ARPA) of 1979.
These laws provide substantial fines and jail
terms for site damage or the removal of even
one small artifact such as a piece of pottery
or part of an arrowhead.
It is easy to distance ourselves from the
ancestral Puebloans through time and technology. After all, what can we learn from
a “primitive” culture such as theirs? Quite
simply, they were people with the same basic
needs as people today. They faced hunger,
population growth, floods, drought and
war
Natural Bridges
National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
Natural Bridges National Monument
Geology
Stand for a moment at an overlook. Nothing in the scope of your vision moves. Strain
your ears for a sound; silence alone greets them. The desert landscape seems eternally
unchanging. But stay a moment longer and a small animal sends a pebble clattering
down the slickrock. Stay for an hour and the wind picks up, blowing sand and dust
against you. Tomorrow a thunderstorm may send a flood twisting down the course of
White Canyon. In one month, several tons of rock may thunder down from Kachina
Bridge as it did in June of 1992 when 4,000 tons fell from the bridge. If you return next
year, Owachomo Bridge may no longer be standing. The momentary stillness of Canyon
Country is deceptive; the same processes which formed the seemingly eternal landscape
you are enjoying today are still at work, continually changing the face of the earth.
Before the Bridges
Current
Slip Face
Formation of the crossbedded
Cedar Mesa Sandstone
Bridges and Arches
Bridges are formed by the erosion
of meandering streams.
If you had visited this area 260 million years
ago, you would be standing on the dazzling
white beach of a sea which covered eastern
Utah during the Permian geologic period.
You may have noticed the sweeping lines,
known as crossbedding, that pattern the
white sandstone. Crossbedding represents
the down-current face of a sand dune, down
which sand slips as the dune advances under the force of wind or water. Geologists
debate whether the Cedar Mesa Sandstone
formed under water or along the shore as
windblown dunes. You can see ripple marks
forming today in the mud left in the canyon
bottoms by receding flood waters.
Although the waters of the warm Permian
Sea supported abundant life, fossils are rare
at Natural Bridges. If you have ever stood
on the ocean shore, you may know why.
You may have noticed that arches stand
on the skyline whereas bridges form in the
bottoms of deep canyons. Once water dissolves the cement between the grains of sand
in a narrow fin of sandstone, frost wedging
and gravity begin to work. While seeping
moisture and frost shape arches, running
water carves natural bridges. As the curving
meanders of streams carved down into the
sandstone, they undercut the canyon walls
and bent back upon themselves until only a
thin fin of stone separated them. Flash floods
periodically pounded against weak spots
formed by the soft siltstone layers in the
sandstone. Eventually, the water cut through
the narrow neck of the meander, forming a
A beach is classified as a high energy environment, where grains of sand continually
grind back and forth with each sweep of the
tide. Few organisms can survive such rough
treatment; thus, few make it their home.
Any plant or animal remains swept ashore
soon wear away. If you examine the Cedar
Mesa Sandstone with a hand lens, you may
see that some of the sand grains are actually fragments of fossils. One type of fossil
is abundant in the streambeds of White and
Armstrong canyons: petrified wood. This
wood washes out of the Chinle Formation,
found high above the Cedar Mesa Formation. When the trees died, they fell into
stagnant swamp water which prevented their
decay. Eventually, silica derived from volcanic ash replaced the wood, preserving its
grain in stone.
natural bridge. At first each bridge is thick
and massive, as is Kachina Bridge, but as
erosion attacks them on all sides, the bridges
become more delicate (as with Owachomo
Bridge) and eventually collapse.
How Old is Old?
We know that compared to the other bridges
in the monument, Owachomo is the oldest bridge, but how old is old? Geologically
speaking, the bridges themselves are relatively recent and short-lived occurrences. Since
sandstone erodes at different rates (more
weathering occurs when the climate is wet
than during times of aridity), the exact age of
the bridges is difficult to determine. We do
know that ten million years ago the Colorado Plateau was flat and featureless. When the
last glacial period ended 18,000 years ago,
glacial melt and increased rainfall speeded
the erosion of canyon country. A wet climate
between 900 and 4,000 years ago probably
began the erosion of most spans; the largest
spans are believed to be over 5,000 years old.
The Many-Colored
Landscape
Southeastern Utah is a land not only of
texture, but of radiant color. In the hills,
pale greens mingle with grey and white, and
mesas glow with the red of the setting sun.
Much canyon country color derives from
the presence of iron in different combinations with oxygen. The original sediments
may have been drab, but they contained a
small percentage of iron-bearing minerals.
Groundwater later weathered these minerals, and oxygen rusted the iron a brilliant
orange-red. Without enough oxygen, iron
turns green. When iron combines with both
hydrogen and oxygen, it becomes yelloworange limonite. Beneath the multi-colored
mesa