Natural Bridges National Monument

Natural Bridges National Monument is a national monument run by the National Park Service in Utah.

In the park service’s words

Three majestic natural bridges invite you to ponder the power of water in a landscape usually defined by its absence. View them from an overlook, or hit the trails and experience their grandeur from below. Declared a National Monument in 1908, the bridges are named "Kachina," "Owachomo" and "Sipapu" in honor of the Ancestral Puebloans who once made this place their home.

From the National Park Service (public domain).

Things to do

• Stargazing Events in Southeast Utah (1 to 3 Hours): Rangers occasionally lead stargazing programs and events at parks throughout southeast Utah. Learn about what to expect and check out a schedule of stargazing events at Arches and Canyonlands national parks and Hovenweep and Natural Bridges national monuments. Even when formal programs are not offered, people are welco
• Hike to Sipapu Bridge (1 to 2 Hours): Sipapu Bridge’s tremendous span inspires and awes the imagination. Hike to the second largest natural bridge in the United States and, along the way, explore the geology of this fascinating region. You will fully appreciate this incredible natural feature with an adventurous canyon hike.
• Walk to the Owachomo Bridge Viewpoint (10 Minutes): This viewpoint provides sweeping vistas of the smallest, and perhaps oldest, bridge in the park. This trail is good for any time of day or season. As the final stop along the loop road, Owachomo Bridge is the perfect conclusion to your visit at Natural Bridges National Monument.
• Hike to the Horse Collar Ruin Overlook (30 to 45 Minutes): Get a birds-eye view of Horse Collar Ruin from this mesa-top overlook. A short hike over slickrock provides the chance to ponder what life may have been like 700 years ago. From the overlook, see the remarkably-preserved ancestral Puebloan structures and the surrounding canyon country.
• Hike to Kachina Bridge (1 to 2 Hours): Named for the petroglyphs on its side, hiking to the base of Kachina Bridge is taking a trip back in time. Gain new perspectives as you stand beneath the widest, and probably youngest, natural bridge in the park.
• Walk to the Kachina Bridge Viewpoint (10 Minutes): This trail provides aerial views of Kachina Bridge and the surrounding landscape. Desert plants abound along this winding, paved trail. Conveniently located halfway along the scenic loop drive, this paved trail is a hub for other, more rugged trails.
• Hike to Owachomo Bridge (20 to 60 Minutes): Owachomo Bridge is the most accessible and most photographed natural bridge in the park. It's also likely the oldest natural bridge in the park. See this ancient wonder up close with a half-mile round-trip hike.
• Walk to the Sipapu Bridge Viewpoint (10 Minutes): The Sipapu Bridge Viewpoint is your first introduction to the natural bridges, and what a great place to start! This viewpoint provides scenic views of the second largest natural bridge in the United States and the largest in the park. The viewpoint is just a few minutes drive from the visitor center.

Fees and hours

Entrance fee: $20 per vehicle. The America the Beautiful pass covers it.

Hours: Open 24 hours, every day. Natural Bridges National Monument is generally open 24 hours a day, year-round.

Camping

Getting there

The entrance to Natural Bridges is at the end of UT 275, which is roughly 35 miles west of Blanding, Utah, on UT 95. Driving time from Blanding is roughly 45 minutes.

Drive times run from the airport to Zion Canyon Visitor Center, estimated with OSRM routing on OpenStreetMap roads at normal speeds; allow extra for traffic, stops and construction.

Miles are straight-line distances.

Visitor centers

• Natural Bridges Visitor Center: Daily, 9:00AM - 5:00PM. The visitor center is normally open seven days a week, late spring through early fall. Hours may change depending on the season, staffing, and holidays. The visitor center is closed Thanksgiving Day, December 25, and January 1.

Weather

Natural Bridges is part of the Colorado Plateau, a "high desert" region that experiences wide temperature fluctuations, sometimes over 40 degrees in a single day. The temperate (and most popular) seasons are spring (April-May) and fall (mid-September-October), when daytime highs average 60 to 80 F and lows average 30 to 50 F. Summer temperatures often exceed 100 F, making strenuous exercise difficult. Winters are cold, with highs averaging 30 to 50 F, and lows averaging 0 to 20 F.

From the National Park Service (public domain).

Know before you go

Drones are banned at almost every park site, and you may not take rocks, plants or artifacts. Pets must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet where they are allowed. Bring no firewood from home.

Nearby

The nearest national park is Canyonlands, about 41 miles away in a straight line.

Sources

• National Park Service Data API: Natural Bridges National Monument (public domain)
• Official website

Last checked 1 November 2026.