Colonnade Arch

The Colonnade Arch trail should be named ‘Colonnade Arch plus one window and an arch plus one of the best vistas in the whole area’.  The downside to the trail is that there is not much around it. Besides that, I can’t think of much else as a downside other than the trail finding, mentioned below. 

We tacked this trail on as our second hike after completing the Little Wildhorse Bell Canyon Loop. We arrived at the unassuming trailhead and set off to find the arch. We hiked on the classic slickrock and sandstone, switching between the digital map and searching for cairns.  

We reached the first small arch.  Along with that, we came out to one of most incredible, jaw dropping, infinite views over the Labryinthe Canyon area and the cliffs and canyons formed by Green River as it cuts through the landscape on its way to CanyonLands National Park. If there is ever one video I would like you to watch, it is this one, you HAVE to see this view. Check out the YouTube video at the end of the post.

Just below the arch, you can cross a very short but also exposed section so that you can walk up into the windows. The windows framed up the aforementioned landscape beautifully. It was a hiker’s dream to sit on top of a huge boulder and look out over the postcard perfect view. 

Hike the other part of the loop back so you can see Crocodile Rock, an uber unique sandstone formation that looks just like its reptilian name.

Difficulty: Moderate related to some steep sections and some exposure to get the arches.

Trail Stats: Our stats were more than what AllTrails said in the trail description. We logged 2.93 miles on the loop with 272 elevation gain. 

Trail Finding: Challenging. I was very glad for my downloaded map. Almost all of the trail was on rock, so you did not have sand to follow footprints. In addition, cairns were few and far between.

Conditions: Rock, final exposed section to get the arch. No shade, this one can be intense in the heat of the day. 

Would I Repeat This: FOR SURE! These were some of the best views around.

Parking: Available.  

Timing: Watch the temperatures, this can be a hot one and there is little to no shade during the hike out the arches. 

Downloaded Map: Yes, we used it frequently. 

Fees: None.

Trails: This hike is very remote, there is not much out by it.