Rainbow Bridge National Monument

How to Get There

From Page, AZ (50 mi): Take a boat from Wahweap Marina to Forbidding Canyon (buoy 49), dock at the courtesy pier, then hike 1.2 miles to the monument.

Overview

Rainbow Bridge National Monument protects one of the largest natural bridges in the world, a sandstone span about 275 feet across and 290 feet high. President William Howard Taft proclaimed the 160-acre monument on May 30, 1910, shortly after the bridge became known to the outside world in 1909, and it is managed by the National Park Service as part of Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. The bridge, called Nonnezoshe by the Navajo and Paiute, has been sacred to Native peoples for centuries and is today a Traditional Cultural Property, and visitors are asked to treat it with respect. Roughly 100,000 people come each year, nearly all by boat across Lake Powell, to walk to the base of the arch and admire its scale.

Access

Rainbow Bridge sits in a side canyon of Lake Powell near the Utah-Arizona line, and there is no road to it. Most visitors take a boat trip of about two hours from marinas near Page, Arizona, such as Wahweap, either on a commercial tour or in a private boat, and dock in Forbidding Canyon. From there a trail of roughly a mile leads up the canyon to the bridge. At current lake levels the dock may not reach land, so visitors may need to beach a boat and cross muddy ground to reach the trail. The only facilities are floating restrooms at the dock, and the site can be difficult for visitors with limited mobility. Experienced backpackers can instead hike overland from a trailhead on Navajo Mountain, which requires a permit from the Navajo Nation.

Seasons

Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to visit, with mild temperatures on the lake and in the canyon. Summer is the busiest boating season but also extremely hot, with little shade on the walk to the bridge, so carry water and start early. Winter is cooler and much quieter, though boat tour schedules can be reduced and cold water and wind make crossing the lake less pleasant. The monument is open year-round, but access depends heavily on Lake Powell’s water level, which determines how close boats can get and how long the walk is, so check conditions with the National Park Service or your tour operator before planning a trip.

Things to Do

Take a Boat Tour on Lake Powell

The boat ride through winding side canyons of Lake Powell is part of the experience, with towering sandstone walls and sweeping lake views. Commercial tours and private boats leave from marinas near Page, Arizona.

Walk to the Base of the Bridge

From the dock, a short canyon trail leads to a viewing area at the foot of the bridge. Visitors are asked not to approach or walk under the bridge out of respect for its sacred significance to Native peoples.

Photography

The graceful curve of the arch and its colorful sandstone make it a favorite subject, especially in the soft light of morning and late afternoon.

Backcountry Hiking

Strong, experienced hikers can approach from the Navajo Mountain side on a long multi-day route through Navajo Nation land. A permit from the Navajo Nation is required, and the route demands careful planning.

Top Trails

Rainbow Bridge Dock Trail

Length: About 1 mile one way (listed as 1.2 miles above)
Elevation Gain: Minimal
Difficulty: Easy

This is the route nearly every visitor takes, following the canyon floor from the dock to the bridge. The walk is short but can be hot and exposed in summer and muddy when lake levels are low.

Visitor Centers

There is no visitor center at Rainbow Bridge, and the only facilities are the floating restrooms at the dock. Information is provided by Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, whose headquarters and visitor center are in Page, Arizona, and by the National Park Service website. The park’s phone line is staffed on weekdays, and tour operators at the Wahweap area marina can also explain current conditions before you board.

Camping and Lodging

There is no camping or lodging at Rainbow Bridge, and overnight stays on Lake Powell are by boat or at developed sites elsewhere in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. Most visitors stay in Page, Arizona, about 10 to 15 minutes from Wahweap, which has a wide range of hotels, motels and restaurants, and campgrounds are available near Wahweap on the lake. Big Water, Utah, has a few lodging options, and Kanab, Utah, about an hour and a half away, is another base with motels and inns. The Navajo Mountain area on the Utah side offers little in the way of services.

This article uses material from the Wikipedia articles and official tourism pages for Rainbow Bridge National Monument, which are released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0. Additional information from National Park Service.