Jeep Arch Trail

Portal RV Resort
Moab, UT
April, 13, 2016

Our hiking season in Moab was kicked off with a hike to Jeep Arch.  To reach the trailhead, head north on Hwy 191 and make a left turn on to Utah 279 (Potash Road).  Drive about 10 miles and the parking for the hike is across the street from Gold Bar Campground. 

 Culvert Canyon is so named because you have to walk through a long, tunnel-like culvert under a railroad track to venture into the canyon.

Once inside the canyon the sign for Jeep Arch Trail is just a short distance on the left.





A narrow, steep gravel path takes you to the rim.  

Once on the rim, we paused several times to look for cairns that mark the way.



We had views of Culvert Canyon and in the right, top quadrant of the photo below you can see the railroad track we walked under, Utah 279 and the campground. 

 From there the trail narrowed...

and then went up.

 



And there it was...Jeep Arch.

 Another short climb and we were there.






























Joe looks so small compared to this magnificent piece of natural art.

Sitting under the arch, and looking left was our lunch view...








 ...but looking right was quite a sight too.





















We had to crab walk some of the tall ledges we had climbed up to get back to the narrow trail in the picture below.

Joe and I liked this hike a lot.  It's about 4.5 to 5 miles full of scenic vistas.  Elevation gains come in spurts that get the heart pumping and in-between offers lots of time for pictures.  



A perfect day and two happy hikers!

Until next time, happy days...

and happy trails!