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| Corona Arch from Behind |
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| Train Crossing |
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| Bow Tie Arch |
The short hike to Corona Arch begins approximately 10 miles west of Highway 191 on Highway 279. There is a large dirt parking area on the right that can become full. Parking is also available across the road down the hill. The moderate group of fifteen hikers hiked the trail in the morning, then a group of fifteen strenuous type hikers hiked the trail around noon. The early hikers received the wind and blowing sand but, by the time the later hikers arrived, the front had mostly passed and there was little wind left.
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| Hiking Around the Point |
The hike begins to the right of the parking lot, ascends up the hill to cross the train tracks, then continues ascending up to the sandstone plateau above.
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| Hold on, Susan! |
Following a cairned and well-tread route, the hike continues across the plateau to the walls ahead. To your 11 o'clock direction, there is an unnamed arch in the wall.
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| Moderate Group at Carin Heaven |
The trail follows the wall around the point where about a million cairns (okay, exaggerating!) have been built by visitors. Perhaps this began when a man had a fatal accident while extreme swinging from the large Corona Arch. Later, in the hike, one of our geocachers found a small plaque for said swinger behind a pile of boulders. The moderate group dubbed the area of cairns, "Cairn Heaven."
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| Climbing the Roped Steps |
The trail is, and has been for some years, well routed with wire ropes, chiseled in steps and a ladder.
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| Jon Climbs the Ladder |
When the writer first did this trail seven years ago, the ropes were much appreciated. This time, she barely used them! But, she did use the ladder when several other hikers decided to climb the rock to the left.
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| Approach to Bow Tie Arch |
As we rounded the point and climbed up to the next sandstone plateau using the ropes and ladder, Corona Arch came into view. We still had to hike around the sandstone plateau to reach the humongous arch. We could also see the Bow Tie Arch now. That's that hole in the top of the rock wall indentation on the left as you near Corona. Also, on our approach, we saw the end of a group of people rappelling down from the top of Corona. The rules forbidding use of ropes on the arch are in limbo right now. Check before you decide to use ropes in any way.
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| View Back to Plateau Climb |
At the arch, the view back (seen above) shows the climb from the lower plateau to the upper plateau. This is where the steps and ladder are located. There is a deep wash between the photographer and the plateau route that is circumvented.
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| Front of Corona Arch - Train Tracks in Canyon Beyond |
When we approached Corona Arch, there were several people milling about. There were also several dogs with said people. Watch your dogs, please! One of them ate one of our sandwiches and the person on the other end of the leash kept walking! Really?
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| Corona Arch from Behind |
Our hikers climbed around behind the arch perusing the route up to the top. (Explore R Us!) Then, after a break, we began our return to the cars - carload by carload. It was just a great place to spend a few minutes. Corona Arch turned out to be everyone's favorite arch!
On the way back, we passed Laszlo on his way up. Yep! He had spent the morning taking his jeep out for a spin on the White Rim Road. He was stoked!
2.5 miles; 500 feet elevation gain; 1.5 hours
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| Corona Arch Leg |
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| Rozie Climbs Down the Ladder |
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| Returning to the Trailhead |
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