Courthouse Wash Trail★5.0

How to Get There

From Moab (5–10 min): Drive north on US-191. For the lower trailhead, cross the Colorado River and turn right into a signed parking area shortly after. For the upper access point, enter Arches National Park and drive about 4.5 miles to the Courthouse Wash bridge, where a pullout marks the trailhead.

Overview

The Courthouse Wash Trail offers a unique experience within Arches National Park, following a broad sandy wash through a desert canyon rather than leading to a single landmark. Unlike many hikes in the park, the focus here is on the journey itself—wandering along a natural drainage corridor that supports surprisingly lush vegetation, including cottonwood trees and seasonal grasses fed by a small, intermittent stream.

The route is largely unmarked, requiring hikers to follow the wash as it winds between low cliffs and gradually deepens into a canyon. Depending on conditions, you may encounter shallow water crossings, muddy stretches, or detours around vegetation shaped by recent floods. This ever-changing terrain gives the trail a dynamic character, making each visit slightly different and encouraging exploration rather than strict route-following.

Along the lower section near the highway, a short spur trail leads to a well-preserved rock art panel featuring ancient pictographs and petroglyphs created by Indigenous peoples thousands of years ago. Beyond this point, the canyon continues toward the Colorado River, offering a peaceful, less-traveled alternative to the park’s more popular destinations. With its mix of water, shade, and towering sandstone walls, Courthouse Wash provides a rare glimpse of a thriving desert ecosystem shaped by both geology and time.

This article uses material from the National Park Service and regional hiking resources for Arches National Park, which are released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0.