Plan Your Visit to Natural Bridges National Monument
This Natural Bridges National Monument travel guide helps you plan a first visit without spending hours figuring out what is actually worth your vacation time. This quiet corner of southeastern Utah feels very different from the state’s busier national parks, with three enormous natural bridges tucked into deep canyons, Ancestral Puebloan sites, rock art, and some of the darkest night skies in the country.
You will find what not to miss, how much time you need, when to visit, and the practical details to know before you arrive. You can keep things easy with the scenic drive and short walk to Owachomo Bridge, or make the day more adventurous with ladders, stone steps, slickrock, and canyon hiking on the trails to Sipapu and Kachina Bridges.
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Natural Bridges National Monument at a Glance
Location: Southeastern Utah, about 39 miles west of Blanding
How much time: 3–5 hours for the scenic drive and shorter hikes; a full day for longer hikes
Best time to visit: Spring and fall
Don’t miss: Sipapu Bridge, Kachina Bridge, Owachomo Bridge, and Horse Collar Ruin Overlook
Best scenic drive: 9-mile Bridge View Drive
Easiest bridge hike: Owachomo Bridge
Most adventurous bridge hike: Sipapu Bridge
Best cultural stop: Horse Collar Ruin Overlook
Best after-dark experience: Stargazing
Where to stay: Monument campground or Blanding
Good to know: There is no food, gas, or water at the trailheads
Before you go: Check weather and trail conditions, especially during summer monsoon season and winter
Natural Bridges National Monument Travel Guide
Top 10 Things to Do at Natural Bridges National Monument
1. Drive the 9-mile Bridge View Drive
2. Hike to Sipapu Bridge
3. Walk beneath Owachomo Bridge
4. Hike to Kachina Bridge
5. See the rock art near Kachina Bridge
6. Look across the canyon at Horse Collar Ruin
7. Learn how natural bridges form at the visitor center
8. Photograph the bridges from the overlooks
9. Stay after sunset for stargazing
10. Hike part of the canyon system if you have extra time
Where is Natural Bridges National Monument
Natural Bridges National Monument is located in southeastern Utah’s Colorado Plateau two hours south of Moab Utah and 39 miles west of Blanding Utah. Natural Bridges is open 24 hours a day, year-round. Show your America the Beautiful pass at the visitor center or pay the monument fee.
Facts About Natural Bridges National Monument
- The prospector Cass Hite discovered Natural Bridges while searching for gold in 1883.
- Natural Bridges National Monument was the first national monument in Utah, it was designated in 1908.
- It is also the first Gold Star International Dark Sky Park.
- Natural Bridges is 6,500 feet above sea level on Cedar Mesa.
- The monument bridges are 5,000 years old and were carved out by water running through the canyon.
- Sipapu Bridge spans 268 feet, 220 feet high, 31 feet wide, and 53 ft thick. It is the longest natural bridge with a trail passing under it in the world. It is also the eighth longest known bridge and the fifth-longest bridge in the world.
- Kachina Bridge spans 204 feet, 210 feet high, 44 feet wide, and 93 feet thick, it is still growing.
- 4,000 tons of rock broke off Kachina Bridge in 1992.
- Owachomo Bridge spans 180 feet, 106 feet high, 27 feet wide, and 9 feet thick.
- The Hopi cliff dwellings in the monument are from 500 BC.
Best Time of Year to Visit Natural Bridges National Monument
Summers are hot with temperatures above 100 degrees. Thunderstorms are common in late summer. Winters are cold with temperatures below freezing. Spring and fall temperatures are moderate.
Accommodation in Natural Bridges National Monument
There is a first come first served campground with 13 sites in the monument boundaries. There are a few accommodations in nearby Blanding Utah.
How Much Time Do I Plan for Natural Bridges National Monument
The scenic drive to viewpoints with a snack break will average 1 hour. The hike to either Sipapu Bridge or Kachina Bridge averages between 1-2 hours. The 8.7-mile loop through the valley floor will average 4 hours. The best use of time in this monument is to hike to the ledge for a close view of Sipapu, see Kachina Bridge from the viewpoint, and walk to the floor of Owachomo Bridge.
Things to Do at Natural Bridges National Monument
- Watch the educational video at the visitor center and learn the difference between a bridge and an arch.
- Drive the scenic Bridge View Drive’s 9-mile, one-lane, one-way loop stopping at each viewpoint.
- Take the steel stairs and ladders to the Sipapu Bridge, 1.5 miles RT, strenuous
- Hike 1.5 miles RT to Kachina Bridge and check out the petroglyphs, strenuous
- Hike the .5 loop trail to Owachomo Bridge, easy
- Check out the Horse Collar Ruin cliff dwellings across the canyon from the viewpoint.
- Attend a ranger-led astronomy talk and telescope viewing.
- Check the Natural Bridges National Monument Park Service for current events.
Tips for Visiting Natural Bridges National Monument
- Get gas in Blanding Utah, services are limited near the monument.
- There is no cell service in the area, download offline maps.
- Food is not sold within the monument. Be sure to bring a picnic lunch, water, and snacks.
- A water fountain is available in the visitor center.
- This is a high desert climate, be prepared for changes in temperature.
- If you are afraid of heights, the Sipapu trail is not for you. However, you can go down one set of stairs and a short ladder to a ledge with a great view.
- Stay on the trail and protect the cryptobiotic soil in the park, it takes millions of years to form.
- Do not enter archeological sites, remove artifacts, or touch rock art.
- Pets are not allowed on any hiking trails but are allowed on paved paths if on leash.
- Learn bear safety.
- Practice Leave No Trace Principles.
- Purchase an America the Beautiful Pass and keep exploring National Parks.
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