Corona Arch Trail is a fun hike 15 minutes from Arches National Park in Moab that involves a ladder, chains, cairns and ending at the massive arch. Let’s go!
Corona Arch, Moab
aka Little Rainbow Bridge
If you want to visit an arch that has less people than at Arches National Park then do this hike.
It’s a great hike and fairly short at 1.5 miles one way. The trail is easy to follow and well marked with cairns. The area is typical Moab with slickrock and sandstone.
Facts To Remember
Moderate
Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 3 miles round trip / approx 3 hours
Elevation Gain: 350 feet
Starting Elevation: 4,000 feet
When To Hike: Year Round
Permits: No
Pets Allowed: Yes
Starting Location: Parking Area opposite the Gold Bar Campground
Time of Year: October, 2019
Parking and Getting There
From Moab, drive northwest on US 191 and turn left on on 279 / Potash Road. You will be on 279 for approximately 10 miles then you will see a sign on your right for Corona Arch Trailhead. Turn here as this is the parking area.
Just past this parking area on the left is Gold Bar Campground. If you pass this then you missed the parking area.
Hiking Corona Arch Trail
After parking the trail immediately goes uphill. This is the steepest park of the trail. Great view of the parking area and campground.
The Trail Begins with a Steep Climb 
The Hike Begins
We hiked up the initial steep part of the trail and found a “sign” pointing us in the proper direction.
Railroad Tracks
Next up, crossing the railroad where trains hauls potash.
Sights Along the Trail
More views as we get closer to the arches.
Path Marked with Green Prints 
Cairn Garden
This area was a pleasant surprise. An area with hundreds and hundreds of cairns of all heights and shapes. Very cool!!
Cables
Just a few cables to get you successfully passed a slickrock area and the up a steep incline.
Ladder and a Cute Tree
A little ladder helping you get up this area. You can go around to get to the same place but the ladder is nice.
First View of the Arches
These are the first views of the arches. Corona looks huge and we are still far away!
Pinto (left) & Corona (right)
Pinto Arch
This arch is easily visible, but not easily reachable, and just to the left of Corona Arch. This pothole arch formed a long time ago when it was just a pothole filled with water and eventually eroded and became Pinto Arch.
Corona Arch
We have reached the massive 140 foot x 105 foot arch! What a fantastic sight!
Closeup of the Arch 
Two Wild & Crazy People on the Arch 
Climb to Top of Arch
Probably not recommended going to the top. The photo below shows the area I took to reach the top. The area on the right (in the shadow). It looks simple but is very steep and just to the right (out of photo) is a several hundred foot dropoff. Going up was easy…going down was scary.
Path on Right to Reach the Top 
Views from the Top
Fantastic views from the top!
Climbing Back Down from Top
This was scarier than climbing up.
Couple Guys Coming Down
Heading Out
We loved the hike but it’s time to head back to the car.
What is that in the air? 
Couple Paragliders!
Our Thoughts
This is another really fun hike but what hike in the Moab area isn’t? We love the variety of sights we were able to see such as the train tracks, cairn garden, ladder, amazing arches and of course the sandstone.
The Moab area is filled with so much to do and there are so many “hidden” gems on our list to explore.
Until next time…
Suggestions and Tips
Are you Considering This Hike?
Hike Recommendations
More Useful Information
Map from Arches National Park to Corona Arch Trailhead
Bearfoot Theory – Trail Guide: Hiking to Corona Arch Moab Utah
Visit Utah – Corona Arch
