The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is responsible for 1 in every 10 acres of land in the U.S.
Corona Arch is a natural sandstone arch that is located just outside of Moab, Utah in Grand County. Previously known as Little Rainbow Bridge, this arch can be accessed via the Corona Arch Trail, which was designated as a National Recreation Trail in 2018. This trail is overseen by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), which is a federal agency that oversees public lands in the United States. The trail is free to hike year-round unless otherwise stated by the BLM. The Corona Arch Trail is a short but strenuous hiking trail that features up-close views of Corona Arch at the end. Along the trail, visitors may also see Pinto Arch and Bowtie Arch, smaller but similarly shaped rock formations to Corona Arch. Also found along the trail's route are some benches, ladders, and sandy canyon dips.
The first 0.7 mile of the Corona Arch Trail is suitable for all levels of hikers, but the rest of the trail reaches high elevations and encounters slick cliffs. However, this trail is the only access to Corona Arch, which stands 105 feet high by 140 feet wide. Length: 3.0 miles Intensity: Difficult
The Jeep Arch trail follows a path through a tunnel under a train track and over some deep rock scrambles to the base of Jeep Arch, another naturally formed sandstone arch near Moab. Length: 3.7 miles Intensity: Moderate
The Potash Road Dinosaur Tracks and Petroglyphs trail is a short hiking area that features labeled historic tracks and petroglyphs made in the desert sandstone. Length: 0.2 miles Intensity: Easy
Plenty of climbing opportunities exist near the Corona Arch Trail, including at Granary Canyon. This canyon offers tall and short rock formations fit for climbing though it is recommended only for experienced climbers to tackle since the rappels are quite lengthy. Another nearby location for bouldering is The Crackhouse, a ten-foot-tall cave popular with ceiling climbers.
There are a lot of picnic sites located just a short distance from Corona Arch, including the picnic area at Dead Horse Point State Park. This park has a couple of picnic tables that can be used on a first-come, first-served basis plus access to more trails. You may also enjoy having a picnic at the picnic area located at Upheaval Dome, which features picnic tables with roof covers. Also found at this site are trails that take visitors to Upheaval Dome, an eroded meteor crater that was formed thousands of years ago.
The Utah desert near Corona Arch is an ideal spot for stargazing since it is far away from city lights and rarely experiences rainy nights. If you would like to stargaze in this area, plan your experience ahead of time by checking the weather forecast and setting up your equipment on cloudless nights. You may also want to have a heavy jacket with you while stargazing since the nighttime here can get chilly, even in the summer.
There are some Bureau of Land Management campgrounds located near Corona Arch Trail that offer RV camping for a small fee. These campgrounds include Horsethief Campground, Williams Bottom Campground, and Kings Bottom Campground. Though these campgrounds offer potable water and vault restrooms, they offer no electrical hookups for RVs. If you would like to camp with full hookups, check out a place like Seven Mile RV Park, which offers electrical hookups plus potable water and dump stations. For even more amenities, consider staying at Sun Outdoors Arches Gateway, a campground with full hookups, internet, and a pool.
If you are looking for BLM camping near me, check out Lone Mesa Campground, which is located just outside of the Corona Arch area. This campground allows campers to park at a dispersed campsite for up to 14 days at a time, and it is a Bureau of Land Management free camping option. However, this campground does not offer any restrooms or trash bins, so campers should pack accordingly when planning to stay here.
If you plan on hiking Corona Arch Trail, be sure to bring plenty of water for every person in your hiking group. You may also want to use sunscreen and sunglasses while hiking since the trail is in full sun most of the year. It is also important to wear the proper shoes for your hike since some areas of the trail can be slick. Before you head out on your trip, check out our blog for all you need to know about BLM camping.
All hikers who visit the Corona Arch Trail are required to follow the Bureau of Land Management's "Leave No Trace" rules, which are a set of principles put in place to help keep the trail clean and safe for future visitors to use. These rules include things like picking up after yourself, leaving anything you find along the trail where it belongs, and keeping your distance from the wildlife.
To reach Corona Arch Trail from Moab, take US-191 north for about four miles. From there, turn left onto UT-279 and continue for 10 miles. After that, you will find the entrance to the trailhead on the right side of the highway. Address: UT-279, Moab, UT 84532 Ready to visit Corona Arch Trail? An RV rental is a great way to experience your destination. Not only will you be close to all the action, but at the end of a long day exploring, you’ll have your RV to return to for the night where you’ll enjoy a full kitchen, bathroom, and nice soft bed. Not sure about renting an RV? Here’s a step-by-step guide to renting an RV with RVshare.
