Rainbow Bridge - Rainbow Bridge National Monument, UT
Rainbow Bridge is one of the largest arches accessible by foot or boat. It stands almost 290 feet tall and 234 feet wide! Getting there by boat makes it a short and easy 1.3 mile hike to see the arch, and I love the 50 mile boat ride up the gorgeous Lake Powell.
Hike Info
Date: 4/18/2016
Miles: 2.6 round-trip
Elevation Change: 50 ft
Trail Type: Out and back
Trailhead: Google Maps
Getting There
Heading North from Antelope Point Marina, the entrance to the canyon will be on the right at mile 49 (after Cathedral Canyon), and the entrance will be marked with a floating sign.
Heading up the narrow finger off Forbidding Canyon
Love boating through these narrow canyons!
The long dock for boats and tour boats complete with bathrooms
The Hike
Once we tied up, we headed up the dock to the trail that followed the north side of the wash. Although soft and sandy, the trail was nice for walking.
As far as the water from Lake Powell reaches
Following the river wash upstream
The first view of Rainbow Bridge and snowy Navajo Mountain from the trail
There were several benches with shade once the bridge came into view, as well as lots of signs warning you to stay on the trail.
The trail continues below the bridge - hikers that hiked in by land come in from the south side
We even had the entire place to ourselves this Sunday afternoon, we must have caught it after the last tour boat! After we ate lunch, we headed back to the dock.
Hiking back to our boat
If you don't have a boat of your own, tours can be booked through Lake Powell Resorts.