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Sight Island in the Sky, Canyonlands

Mesa Arch

A sight in Island in the Sky, Canyonlands, free to visit and worth about 45 minutes. Best time to go: Sunrise.

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Mesa Arch in Island in the Sky, Canyonlands
Photo: Thomas Wolf, www.foto-tw.de · CC BY-SA 3.0 · license

Why go

Short walk to a cliff-edge arch that glows red at sunrise.

It is one of 10 curated places we feature in Canyonlands, alongside 4 sights, 2 outdoor spots and 1 activity. The closest of our other picks is Green River Overlook, 1.3 mi away as the crow flies. At about 45 minutes, it slots neatly between bigger plans.

Type
Sight
Neighborhood
Island in the Sky
Price
Free
Time needed
45 min
Best time
Sunrise

Nearby

The 6 closest curated picks in Canyonlands, measured as straight-line distance.

  1. 1
    Green River Overlook

    Easy view over the winding Green River and the White Rim.

    Sight · 1.3 mi straight-line
  2. 2
    Upheaval Dome

    Short hike to a strange crater whose origin (salt dome or meteor) is still debated.

    Outdoors · 4.4 mi straight-line
  3. 3
    Shafer Canyon Overlook

    Look down on the switchbacks of the Shafer Trail dropping to the White Rim.

    Sight · 5.1 mi straight-line
  4. 4
    Island in the Sky Visitor Center

    Info, maps and ranger talks on the mesa-top district.

    Sight · 5.5 mi straight-line
  5. 5
    Grand View Point Overlook

    Southern tip of the mesa with a 100-mile view over canyons cut by the Green and Colorado rivers.

    Sight · 5.9 mi straight-line
  6. 6
    Dead Horse Point State Park

    Overlook 2,000 ft above a gooseneck bend of the Colorado River.

    Outdoors · 11 mi straight-line

On these curated routes

Mesa Arch is a stop on our Utah Mighty Five route. Open it to see the full day-by-day plan.

More to do in Canyonlands

Mesa Arch is our only sight pick in Canyonlands; here is what else we recommend there. See the full Canyonlands guide.

When to go

Average daily highs in Canyonlands run from 40°F in December to 96°F in July; September is usually the wettest month. For Mesa Arch itself, we suggest: Sunrise.

Modelled monthly averages for Canyonlands from NASA POWER, not a forecast. Full Canyonlands weather by month.

Getting there

Map links open a live search for Mesa Arch, so hours and directions come straight from the map app.

Address
Moab, UT 84532, USA
Coordinates
38.38914, -109.86793
Destination
Canyonlands, Utah

Mesa Arch: quick answers

How much time do you need at Mesa Arch?

Plan on about 45 minutes at Mesa Arch. That is our curated estimate for a typical visit; groups that linger will want more.

When is the best time to visit Mesa Arch?

Our pick: Sunrise. Insider tip: Arrive 45 min early for a spot; tripods crowd the arch.

Is Mesa Arch free?

Yes, we list Mesa Arch as free to visit. Check locally before you go, since special exhibits, parking or tours can carry a fee.

Where is Mesa Arch?

Mesa Arch is at Moab, UT 84532, USA, in Island in the Sky. The Google Maps and Apple Maps links on this page open it for directions.

Which TripsCircle routes include Mesa Arch?

Mesa Arch appears on Utah Mighty Five, a curated route you can open on TripsCircle and plan with your group.

Add Mesa Arch to your crew's plan

Save it to a shared TripsCircle itinerary, settle the timing with a quick poll, and split the costs with everyone going to Canyonlands.

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Also in Canyonlands

Curated recommendation, not live listing data. Confirm hours, prices, bookings and access before you go.