Park of the Month
By Eamon Decker
Natural Bridges National Monument
San Juan County, Utah
Utah is known for its national parks. Arches, Zion, Bryce Canyon and Canyonlands are the most famous.
Natural Bridges National Monument is a hidden gem in southeast Utah, on the road to Glen Canyon. The small park has three "natural bridge" rock formations, carved over millions of years by water. The three natural bridges are named Kachina, Sipapu and Owachomo, words from the language of the Hopi, the Native Americans that inhabited the area.
There are a number of scenic overlooks along the loop drive where you can look down on the rock bridges that cross White and Armstrong Canyons.
I recommend walking at least one of the short trails to get close-up views of the natural bridges. The trails are steep and rocky, with the trail to Owachomo Bridge being the shortest and easiest hike.
Sipapu Bridge is the second largest natural bridge in the world, with only Glen Canyon's Rainbow Bridge being larger.
21 Southwest Highways
The trail to sipapu bridge is my favorite, the steepest trail in the park with a staircase and three wooden ladders to get to the bottom. If you want to spend the night here, there are 13 campsites with fire grills, picnic tables, and tent pads. Trailers under 26' are allowed. Campsites are first come, first served. If you decide to camp, the stargazing is wonderful out there, the remote location means really dark skies. Astronomy programs are led at the visitor center Sunday-Thursday nights through September and Monday-Tuesday Nights in October. Natural Bridges is a good destination for photographers, and is superb for night photography. Amazing long exposure photos of star trails around Owachomo bridge are a favorite. Autumn is a good time to visit Natural Bridges, with daytime highs in the upper 70's and nighttime lows around 49 degrees. Next time you're planning a southwest vacation, consider a visit to this unique national monument.