Our first hike during our spring 2026 trip to Utah was the long awaited Corona Arch Hike near Moab. We have wanted to hike to this arch the last two times we were in Moab Utah and ran out of time, because of this, we prioritized the Corona Arch and put it top of the list. And what a first hike it was! As a matter of fact, it was a great way to start off this years hiking adventure.
Location
Corona Arch Trailhead is located east of Moab, Utah. Take highway 191 north from Moab for just over 4 miles. Turn left on Potash Road and follow the road for about 10 miles until you arrive at the trailhead which is just off of Potash Road.
The Trailhead
Getting to the trailhead was easy and there were ample places to park. The map at the trailhead was spot on for directions and also contained information for the trail. I found out there are actually three arches on this hike which made it even more exciting.
Corona Arch, which is a freestanding natural arch is the main attraction. In addition, on the way to this arch, you will also pass Bowtie Arch, a classic pot-hole arch, which is a nice bonus to see. Along this route you will come across a sign directing you to a spur trail which leads to Pinto Arch, another pot-hole type arch. Although Pinto Arch is not as spectacular as Bowtie Arch, it is well worth checking out if you have the time. We hiked to Corona Arch first and followed the out and back spur trail to Pinto Arch on the way back to our car. The hike to Corona is 3 miles out and back, add approximately an extra mile if you do the Pinto Arch spur.
Hiking to Corona Arch
I can’t begin to tell you how excited I was to be hiking to Corona Arch as it has been on my Moab, Utah bucket list for quite awhile. It was still fairly early in the morning when we started and only a few people were here so it felt like we had the trail to ourselves, that changed though on our way back as more people were out and about.
Right off the bat you will ascend upward, and in just over 5 minutes you will cross over a railroad track. You can get some good photos here!
Afterwards you will be hiking a trail that is a typical canyon trail for this area of Utah. The path was packed dirt at times, also rocky, and sandy. Not much shade to be found so pack plenty of water.
Bowtie Arch
We first viewed Bowtie Arch about 30 minutes into the hike. It is massive and you can see how this pot-hole arch it got its name. This arch is quite spectacular and very photogenic.
The Climb Up the Side
Just a couple minutes after viewing Bowtie Arch, Corona Arch came into view adding to my excitement. It was here we climbed up the side of the rock, small footing grooves were in the rock and there was a permanent chain for assist. This is the type of hike we love and hope to continue to enjoy for many more years.
The Short Ladder
Once we finished the climb, it was a short trek over to the short ladder which was also a fun part of the hike.
On to Corona Arch
After the ladder it was just a 10 minute hike to the base of the arch. This part was relatively easy, walking over the top of a hard rock. The views were beautiful.
Under the Arch
Once under the arch, I was amazed at how large this arch actually is. Since there were few people here, we had time to get some photos from both sides of the arch. Note there is a slant to the rock you are walking on so if you have balance problems or vertigo you may want to skip this part.
Back Down the Trail
The hike back was unremarkable although I do think going up the rock was much less intimidating than climbing down the rock. It felt harder to get my feet in the right spots. Because of this, I went down backwards, basically hanging on to the chain with my back against the cliff so I could see where to put my feet. Steve went down the normal way with no problem. No photo of me going down as it was quite the spectacle!
Pinto Arch Spur Trail
We hiked back to the small sign pointing in the direction of the Pinto Arch and followed the spur trail as best as we could. After just a short way, this trail became non-existent so we just continued on in the direction we figured it was (back by the cliffs). At one point we saw the part of the trail that looped back to the main trail so we knew we were in the right vicinity. As busy as the main trail had become, this trail had no one else on it but us.
As we continued closer to Pinto Arch there was some fun scrambling a couple of steps and just after that we found the arch. It was up to the right after another short scramble, almost hidden from direct view.
Back to the Trailhead
Back to the trailhead was easy enough, we retraced our steps until we found the trail sign and then it was just a short hike down to the parking lot. There are some good views of the Colorado River hiking back down.After this hike we enjoyed the nearby Potash Road Petroglyphs and also the Dinosaur Tracks. Next we explored Sego Canyon to round off our day. Then it was back to Moab to eat dinner and spend the night.
Where We Ate
We ate at The Spoke on Center on the main street in Moab. As a matter of fact, we ate here twice as we thought it was good. The Broken Oar just off the main street is another place we enjoyed. Both had outdoor eating which we enjoy.
Conclusion
Hiking to Corona Arch was well worth our wait, it is a true hidden gem in Moab, Utah area. Three arches in one four mile hike makes this a top notch trail. I would recommend this hike, especially for those who have already been through Arches National Park a time or two like we have.
Planning
I find the National Geographic Day Hike Map to be helpful when hiking in Moab. You can find the Amazon link here.
I also like the Best Easy Moab Dayhike Guide. You can find the Amazon link here.
For my favorite hiking gear and snacks, check out My Amazon Store at this link.
Check out My Amazon Store Here for travel gears & gadgets, travel clothing , bags and books. And here for Travel Books and Guides
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Also Click on the Below Links for More Utah Fun!
Bryce Canyon National Park
Fairyland Loop via Tower Bridge Trail June 2025
Bryce Canyon Point to Queen’s Garden Trail, June 2025
Wire-Pass Slot Canyon June 2025
Mossy Cave Trail-Bryce Canyon June 2025
Hiking the Navajo and Peek-A-Boo trail in Bryce Canyon, Oct 2020
Sunrise and Sunset at Bryce Canyon, Utah, Oct 2020
Escalante National Park
Toadstool Hoodoo Hike-June 2025
Backroads and Grosvenor’s Arch-June 2025
Peek-a-Boo and Spooky Slot Canyons, Oct 2020
Zion National Park
Riverside Walk and The Narrows, Oct 2020
Emerald Pools in Zion, Oct 2020
Canyonlands National Park
Dead Horse Point State Park, Oct 2020
Elephant Hill Road, Canyonlands, Oct 2020
Hike the Joint Trail, Canyonlands, Oct 2020
Jeeping the White Rim Road, Canyolands Sept, 2020
Aztec Butte, Canyonlands, Sept 2020
Grand View Point and Grand View Hike, Sept 2020
Mesa Arch in Canyonlands, Utah, Sept 2020
Capitol Reef National Park
Arches National Park and Moab Area
Copper Ridge Dinosaur Tracks, Moab, Utah Sept 2026
Sunset at Arches National Park, Utah, Sept 2020
Ten Great Arches at Arches National Park, Utah, Aug 2016
The Gen-X Travels recommendations for hotels, restaurants, activities or tour companies are based on our own experiences unless noted. We are not sponsored by any business or company and all trips are at our expense. All photos are by myself or my husband unless otherwise noted. We are affiliates of some companies such as Amazon,Viator, and others which we do receive a small commission from, at no cost to you if you buy or book through one of our links.
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Love Moab! One of the most epic parks to drive a motorbike in๐
I bet that would be fun!
It is awesome, drawback is that you cannot leave fully packed bikes to go on hikes.
That would be a problem.
nice one! especially loving the shot looking along the railway tracks. and all that red rock. stunning.
โฌป๐โงย โ๐บย โฌแฆโย โ๐บย โโย โกย โย โ๐บย โโแฆโฌย โ๐บย โโง๐โค
thanks! That is my favorite shot too! Thinking of blowing it up and putting it on the wall above my stairs. Better than any souvenir I could buy!
You can relive the hike every time you go upstairs. Nice.
it seems appropriate!!
I am sure that would look great! ๐๐๐โจ๐ซ
I’ve been to Utah, but I’ve yet to visit Moab and all of the arches in the area. Looks absolutely stunning, and although the hike looked a bit precarious, the views were worth the effort!
The hike had its moments. Lol With me being 60 and Steve 67 we are a bit more cautious than we once were. That being said, we go slow and make sure our stepping is careful! Moab is one of the places out west I really love.
I donโt think my knees would let me do something like that anymore. Too much running when I was younger and my doc told me I wore them out. But the lunch later looks inviting. Nice trip, Lori.
It was a nice trip! Hoping my knees hold out a few more years!
Sounds like a pretty awesome and adventurous hike. Glad you were finally able to check this off your Utah bucket list.
It was pretty amazing! I was glad to check it off our list and glad I could still
Do this type of hike!
I love this hike! Isn’t the size of the arch just amazing? I don’t think I was expecting it to be quite so large.
I agree! I hadnโt know. About Bowtie and Pinto until we arrived! It was a great hike!!
Great photo opportunities โ I also like the one of the railway track!
The railway is my favorite! I just about layed on the ground to get the shot! ๐คฃ
Such an amazing hike – love your photos!
Thank you! It was a lot of fun!