Corona Arch: A Complete Trail Guide for 2024
PLANNING A VISIT TO CORONA ARCH?
We’ve got all the details you need! We have spent months traveling around Southern Utah and have hiked to Corona Arch ourselves. We’ll share all the logistical details and insights from our experience, like when to visit and what to expect on your hike. After reading this article, you’ll be prepped for your own Corona Arch journey!
The Corona and Bowtie Arch trail is a fun, family-friendly trail for those who are looking for a trail that is not too easy but not too hard. The hike is a moderate hike but is still accessible to many different skill levels and ages. We hiked this with our seven-year-old twins and three-year-old during our last trip to Moab.
We had such a great time on this hike, and we can’t wait to share more about this hiking trail with you. This is a beautiful arch without the crowds we found in Arches National Park.
We have written a complete guide to help you learn more about the Corona Arch hiking time and what to expect while hiking the Corona and Bowtie arches.
Trail Overview
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Length: 2.4 miles
- Elevation Gain: 482 feet
- Route Type: Out and Back
- Trail Surface: Single-track dirt path and sandstone
- Dog Friendly: Yes, if on a leash
- Hike Time: 1.5 to 2 hours
The Corona Arch in Utah is one of the most popular hikes in the area and is a large beautiful arch in Moab, Utah. This is a family-friendly trail, but it is a moderate hike.
You will have to hike up a steep section that has a chain railing to help you get up the steep section, and another fun section close by that has a short ladder you will need to climb up.
There is a total of three arches in close proximity that are either on the same trail or split off from the Corona Arch Trail. Bowtie Arch is only a few minutes away from the Corona Arch. You will pass the Bowtie Arch as you get close to Corona Arch in Moab. They are on the same path.
An off-shoot trail that is approximately halfway through the Corona Arch Trail will take you to Pinto Arch. It is less busy of a trail as many people just go to Corona Arch and do not take the extra time to visit Pinto Arch also.
If you are to hike to Corona Arch and Pinto Arch, your total distance hiked round trip will be about 3.6 miles.
Trail Overview Adding Pinto Arch
- Length: 3.6 miles
- Elevation Gain: 780
- Route Type: Out and Back
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Dog Friendly: Yes, if on a leash
- Hike Time: 1 to 2 hours
Pinto Arch is a less visited arch that shares some of the same trail as the Corona Arch hike. At about 1 mile into the Corona Arch hike, you will see an intersection that is marked showing the trail that goes to Pinto Arch. It is about 0.6 miles from this intersection to Pinto Arch.
Many people enjoy hiking to this arch because it is a less busy trail, and the trail is more dog friendly than the Corona Arch.
Directions to Corona Arch
The Corona Arch directions are pretty straightforward. The trailhead parking area is easy to find and is on the north side of the highway. There are pit toilets in the parking lot.
The trail is very easy to follow, so you won’t need to worry about getting lost. To get to the Corona Arch Trail, You will head North on Main Street from downtown Moab, Utah. You cross the Colorado River and get to Hwy- 279. This highway is also known as Potash Road and is only a short distance from Moab.
Once you are on Potash Road, you will drive for 10 miles which will take about 13 minutes until you reach the impressive Corona Arch trailhead. If you continue on Potash Road, you will find yourself on the Shafer Trail headed into Canyonlands National Park and the White Rim Road.
The GPS coordinates to the Corona Arch trailhead and parking area are 38.574457, -109.632410.
Corona Arch Trailhead
The Corona Arch Trailhead is on the east side of the Corona Arch Parking area. The trailhead is easy to find. Sometimes, at the trailhead, there will be volunteers under a tent talking to people about the cryptobiotic soil that is important to the Moab ecosystem.
The hike is on BLM land, also known as the bureau of land management, and it is essential to stay on the trails. Making new trails can disturb the cryptobiotic crust.
Corona Arch
The Corona Arch is a very popular hike, so make sure you are courteous to others when hiking.
When hiking Corona Arch, you should have some expectations on the trail since the trail is not a flat hike. The trail starts with an incline that will take you over a set of railroad tracks. You will then drop down slightly before continuing your ascent to the Corona Arch. The majority of the Corona hike is uphill.
Towards the end of the hike, there is a steep slick rock climb that has a chain handrail to help you keep your balance. Shortly after this climb, you will encounter a ladder.
The small ladder is not very wide and is at a steep angle. However, it is not a super tall ladder climb. You can avoid the ladder by going to your left, where there is a little more gradual climb.
We personally found the route around the ladder easier on the way down. I was able to bypass a small group that was making their way down the ladder. However, do keep in mind if you go around the ladder, it is still a bit of a climb, and there is nothing for you to hold on to.
Our kids, 3, 7, and 7, loved climbing the ladder and didn’t have any issues climbing it. If you ever get to a section on this trail or other trails where there are little piles of rock, do not disturb these or make more. They are trail markers made by the BLM. If you are hiking with a dog, you will have to either go around the ladder to the left or carry your dog up the ladder.
After you have climbed the ladder, you are at the home stretch, and you will be able to get your first view of Corona Arch.
Bowtie Arch
When hiking to the Bowtie Arch, you should expect the exact same as the Corona Arch. The two arches are on the same trail. The Bowtie Arch is to your left just as you hit the straightaway that will take you to the Corona Arch.
Bowtie Arch will be back in the rocks on your left as you approach Corona Arch, so if you are not paying attention or are overly focused on the Corona Arch, you could miss this arch that is on the same trail.
Pinto Arch
Pinto Arch is another sweet arch that has a trail that intersects with the Corona Arch trail. Once you are at the Pinto Arch trail intersection, you will have about a 3/4 to half a mile hike in one direction to the Pinto Arch. This arch is worth the hike and is less visited.
The Pinto Arch does have similar terrain as the Corona Arch, but to my understanding, you do not need to climb a ladder and chain to get to the Arch.
What to Bring With You
Water
Unless you hike the Corona Arch in the early morning, you will have little shade until you can sit under the arch. The late afternoon sun will be directly on you if you are not hiking in the morning.
We hiked the arch in October in 70-degree temperatures, and we drank a lot of water. Make sure you bring plenty of water to keep you from getting dehydrated.
We will either hike with camelbaks, water bottles, or both, depending on the hike. One great tip that we love is we bring insulated water bottles on the hike if the hike is shorter because they are heavier, or we leave insulated water bottles in the car with ice so when we get back, we have excellent ice-cold water waiting for us.
We recently bought camelbaks for all of our kids to use when they run their races and hike, and they love getting to use them.
▶ SHOP Insulated Water Bottles
When you are in a camper van, motorhome or RV, it can be hard to keep ice around, so we often use reusable ice cubes. We chided Candice a little bit about these when we first saw them, but after using them a few times, we realized they were a great purchase.
They are not as awesome as having loads of ice in your cup but freezing and keeping ice around in an RV is much harder than keeping some of these frozen.
Snacks
When people travel with kids, their primary failure is not having enough food or snacks with them on hikes and activities. There are only a few things that will make your kids very cranky and hungry is a huge one. Keeping everyone fed is key to having a successful trip with anyone.
Once you get hungry, you are more likely to have some fighting. Always bring loads of snacks. Snacks are very light and, if planned well, can be healthy. Bring things like jerky, granola bars, or just a favorite treat to reward yourself or your family after accomplishing a fun hike.
Sun Protection
If you are prone to getting sunburned or not, this is an excellent place to bring sunscreen with you. I cannot tell you how many times someone has been sunburned at the beginning of a trip because they forgot to put sunscreen on, and then for the next few days, you hear about how painful their body feels.
Use sunscreen and make sure no one is getting sunburned, and your trip will be awesome. I don’t think I have had a bad sunburn since marrying a light-skinned red-headed beauty.
Camera
This is probably one thing that everyone has with them since electronics are typically glued to everyone. However, not all electronics are created equal.
Your fun experiences should be captured and shared. Cameras can come in many different shapes and sizes. A great option for active lifestyles is the GoPro camera.
Other Things to See In the Area
There are so many fun things to see in the area surrounding the Corona Arch near Moab. Below are some other fabulous things you should do while in the area.
Jeep Arch
The Jeep Arch is a much less visited arch, but it is super cool. The trail is pet friendly, and you will see way fewer people.
On our hike down from Corona Arch, we passed a kid’s camp of some sort that had 100 or more kids hiking up the trail to Corona Arch. We were super glad we were headed down and not going to be at the arch at the same time as all those other people.
The trailhead to Jeep Arch is only 0.5 miles past the Corona Arch Trailhead.
Read More: A Complete Trail Guide to Jeep Arch
Poison Spider Mesa Trailhead
The Poison Spider Mesa Trailhead is a great place to view dinosaur tracks and petroglyphs. There is only a short hike to the dinosaur tracks from the parking lot.
For those who are interested in doing some off-road, the Poison Spider Mesa 4×4 trail starts here, and it is one of the really fun Moab off-road trails.
You can learn more about the Poison Spider Mesa here.
Potash Road Petroglyphs
On your way to the Corona Arch, you will pass some of the best and easiest petroglyphs you view in the Moab area. They are right off the road when traveling on Potash Road. You will know you are getting close to the petroglyphs when you start to see cars parked along the side of the road.
Close to the petroglyphs is also a popular rock climbing area. The petroglyphs are also called the Potash Rd Rock Art Site.
You can find them at these GPS coordinates 38.544550595732005, -109.60017181996386.
FAQ: Corona Arch
Is Corona Arch in Arches National Park?
No, Corona Arch is not in Arches National Park. It is between Arches and the city of Moab on Potash Road. The arch is enormous, and it can easily be thought that all the good arches are in the Arches National Park, but this is incorrect.
Is Corona Arch free?
Yes, it is free to visit Corona Arch. There is no parking fee, and there are no other fees to visit the arch.
Is Corona Arch worth visiting?
Yes, the Corona Arch is worth visiting. Because it is such a fun hike and a great arch, you should expect there to be some crowds. If you want fewer crowds, you should check out Jeep Arch.
How long of a hike is Corona Arch?
The approximate hiking time of Corona Arch is about 1 to 2 hours. This depends on your hiking abilities and if you spend time hanging out around the arch. The hike is 2.4 miles long.
How long does it take to do Corona Arch?
The Corona Arch hike will take about 1 to 2 hours to complete depending on your hiking abilities and if you spend time hanging out around the arch.
Conclusion: Corona Arch
The Corona Arch is a very fun hike that is not too easy but not too hard. There are some sandstone cliffs and small ledges, so you will want to be careful as you get toward the top, but the ledges are not as large as many in the area.
We hope you love hiking the Corona Arch hiking trail as much as we did and viewing the banks of the Colorado River as you start into the trailhead. This is an excellent hike to a tall natural arch that many people enjoy each year.
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