Natural Bridges National Monument in Utah is home to three natural bridges that were created by ancient rivers. The park was the world's first international dark sky park.
Natural Bridges National Monument
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Natural Bridges was Utah's first National Monument. The park protects three natural bridges that were created by rivers
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.
The bridges are named "Kachina," "Owachomo" and "Sipapu" in honor of the ancestral Puebloans who once made this place their home
Visitor Center
The visitor center is open from 9 am to 5 pm.
The building is closed on Thanksgiving Day, December 25, and January 1.
Exhibits, a video presentation, restrooms, and a park bookstore are available.
There is a 10-minute film available upon request at the visitor center.
We did not get the opportunity to go inside the visitor center since they had a table set up outside. The park store has a ton of books and souvenirs.
Bridge View Drive
The Bridge View Drive is a 9-mile one-way scenic drive. The scenic drive leaves from near the visitor center.
Plan at least an hour or two for exploring the scenic drive. If you plan to hike to the natural arches you will want to plan a bit more time.
Each overlook and trailhead has limited parking; if you are towing a trailer, unhook it and leave it in the visitor center parking lot.
Dark Sky Park
On March 6th, 2007, Natural Bridges National Monument became the first International Dark Sky Park certified by the International Dark-Sky Association.
Natural Bridges has made protecting its night sky a priority so that people can enjoy the stunning river of light formed by the Milky Way rising over Owachomo Bridge.
You can camp in the park making it easy to enjoy one of the darkest skies.
Sipapu Bridge
With a span of 268 feet, Sipapu Bridge is the largest natural bridge in the park and the second largest in the United States.
Height: 220 feet (67 meters)
Span: 268 feet (82 meters)
Width: 31 feet (9.5 meters)
Thickness: 53 feet (16 meters)
There are a couple of ways to view Sipapu Bridge. You can take the easy walkway from the parking area to an overlook that shows the bridge or you can take the strenuous hike that takes you to the canyon floor to stand under the bridge.
Kachina Bridge
Length Roundtrip: 0.26 miles (0.42 kilometers)
Elevation Change One-way (from Parking Lot to Viewpoint): 45 feet (14 meters) loss, 6 feet (2 meters) gain
Height: 210 feet (64 meters)
Span: 204 feet (62 meters)
Width: 44 feet (13 meters)
Thickness: 93 feet (28 meters)
Owachomo Bridge
Height: 106 feet (32 meters)
Span: 180 feet (55 meters)
Width: 27 feet (8 meters)
Thickness: 9 feet (3 meters)
There is a really easy paved path to the Owachomo Bridge overlook. The paved trail is 220 feet and has very little elevation change. This was probably the easiest walkway of the park.
Horse Collar Ruin
Horse Collar Ruin is one of the best-preserved ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings in the area.
Start at the Horse Collar Ruin parking area and follow the overlook's unpaved trail 0.3 miles (0.5 kilometers).
Hikers traveling from Sipapu Bridge to Kachina Bridge will pass Horse Collar Ruin.
Junior Ranger Program
You can print the Junior Ranger Booklet [1 MB PDF file] before your trip to start learning about the park.
Site 3
Camping
The campground is located near the visitor center with 13 sites that are first come first serve.
Check out our article on the Natural Bridges campground for photos and videos.
Things to know when planning a trip to Natural Bridges
Entrance Fee:
Private Vehicle - $20.00
Admits one private, non-commercial vehicle (15 passenger capacity or less) and its occupants.
Motorcycle - $15.00
Admits a private, non-commercial motorcycle and its riders.
Per Person - $10.00
Admits one individual with no car. This pass is typically used for bicyclists and pedestrians. Youth 15 and under are admitted free.
You can also use your National Park Pass.
Address:
The entrance to Natural Bridges is at the end of UT 275, which is roughly 35 miles west of Blanding, Utah, on UT 95.
The driving time from Blanding is roughly 45 minutes.
Entrance Fee:
Private Vehicle - $20.00
Admits one private, non-commercial vehicle (15 passenger capacity or less) and its occupants.
Motorcycle - $15.00
Admits a private, non-commercial motorcycle and its riders.
Per Person - $10.00
Admits one individual with no car. This pass is typically used for bicyclists and pedestrians. Youth 15 and under are admitted free.
Hours: The monument is open 24 hours a day, year-round.
The Natural Bridges Visitor Center is typically open daily, 9 am to 4 pm. In winter, the visitor center is closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays and on certain holidays.
Wifi: There is no wifi available at the park
Cell Service: There is no cell service available in the park.
Great National Parks near Natural Bridges
Mesa Verde National Park
Check out all of the National Parks in Utah along with neighboring Colorado National Parks, Idaho National Parks, Wyoming National Parks, Nevada National Parks, Arizona National Parks, and New Mexico National Parks.
Check out all of the US National Monuments
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