Natural Bridges National Monument

May 16, 2011

Natural Bridges National Monument, in southeastern Utah, contains three exceptional natural bridges. The bridges are in the White and Armstrong Canyons; a scenic drive on the mesa takes you to overlooks on the rims of the canyons where you can see  the bridges from the distance. To get a close-up view of the bridges, you have to hike down into the canyons. The hikes are not long (up to 1.4 miles round trip), but the elevation changes are as much as 500 feet.







Our first bridge was Sipapu. This view is from partway down into the canyon.Sipapu has a span of  268 feet is 220 feet above the canyon floor; it is 53 feet thick at the thinnest point.








The hike down to Sipapu bridge was especially steep; the Park Service used rustic ladders or metal stairs in places where trails were not possible.








The view of Sipapu bridge from the bottom.











This is the Kachina Bridge, seen from the canyon floor. Kachina has a height of 210 feet, a span of 204 feet, and is 93 feet thick. It is considered the youngest bridge, since it is the thickest. As time passes, bridges erode, enlarging their opening and thinning the bridge span. Eventually it gets to weak, and falls.








Another view of the Kachina bridge from the canyon floor, showing its massive span.







Indian Paintbrush spotted along the trail to Kachina.








The third bridge at Natural Bridges National Monument is Owachomo. It is considered the oldest since it is the thinnest, only nine feet. Its span is 106 feet and it is 180 feet high.

After hiking from the rim down to each of these bridges, we are pooped. We have hiked down a total of 1300 feet, and back, so it is time to head back to the campground for a cool drink in the shade.

Next Stop? Not sure yet. Come back in a few days and see where we went next.