Corona Arch and Bowtie Arch — Locals Trail
A 140-foot-wide freestanding sandstone arch larger than any arch in Arches National Park, accessed via a 1.5-mile trail with cable-assisted slickrock scrambling on BLM land. No park entrance fee, no timed entry reservation, no crowds on weekday mornings.
Corona Arch is wider than Landscape Arch and more dramatic than Delicate Arch, but because it sits on BLM land outside the national park boundary, it gets a fraction of the traffic. No $30 entrance fee, no reservation system, no shuttle. Locals come here instead of fighting the Arches crowds. The cable-assisted scramble section weeds out casual walkers.
From Moab, drive north on US-191, turn left onto Highway 279 (Potash Road) along the Colorado River. The trailhead is 10 miles down on the right, marked with a small BLM sign. Parking fits about 15 cars. Follow the cairned trail across railroad tracks, up slickrock with two cable-assisted sections, to the arch. Free, no permits needed.
Packing Checklist
- ☐ Sturdy hiking boots or trail shoes
- ☐ 1-2L water (no refill sources)
- ☐ Trail snacks / energy bars
- ☐ Sun protection (hat, sunscreen)
- ☐ First aid kit basics
- ☐ Map or downloaded trail (no cell service expected)
- ☐ Layers — mountain weather changes fast
Corona Arch is Moab’s open secret. At 140 feet wide, it dwarfs every arch inside Arches National Park — Landscape Arch included. But because it sits on BLM land a few miles down Potash Road, outside the park boundary, there is no entrance fee, no timed entry reservation, and no NPS shuttle to contend with.
The trail itself acts as a filter. After crossing the railroad tracks, you gain a slickrock bench where two cable-assisted scramble sections separate the hikers from the walkers. Neither section is technical — think steep sandstone with steel cables bolted into the rock — but they require hands and confidence. Most families with young children turn back here.
What waits above is worth the scramble. Corona Arch frames the La Sal Mountains through its massive opening. Bowtie Arch perches in the cliff face above, a smaller companion that catches morning light differently than the main arch. On a weekday morning in shoulder season, you might share this with three other people.
Do not walk under Corona Arch if anyone is on the rim above — rockfall is a real hazard. Do not attempt to climb on or rappel through the arch. A death in 2012 from a rope swing led to increased BLM enforcement.
Sources
- BLM — Corona Arch Trail — official trail information
- AllTrails — Corona Arch — trail conditions and reviews