Mesa Arch at Sunrise: Everything You Need to Know

Hiking in the dark, a headlamp strapped to your head, huddling around the shadowed arch, anticipation building, and witnessing the sun pierce the horizon, warm light rays filling the canyon. That’s what it’s like to experience Mesa Arch at sunrise.

Seeing the 27-foot Mesa Arch at sunrise is something you must add to your list for your next visit to Canyonlands National Park!

In this guide, I will share everything you need to know to experience Mesa Arch at sunrise. From when to go and directions to the trailhead to what to bring and valuable tips for your visit, here is exactly what you can expect when hiking to Mesa Arch at sunrise.

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CANYONLANDS NATIONAL PARK AT A GLANCE

Before diving in, here are a few highlights for planning a trip to Canyonlands National Park.

Getting There: The closest major airport to Canyonlands is Salt Lake City International. Find affordable flights here.
Entrance Fee: $30/vehicle or FREE with an America the Beautiful Pass
Where to Stay: Camp in the park or stay right outside the park in the town of Moab.
How to Get Around: You’ll need to rent a personal vehicle to get around Canyonlands. Some sections require 4×4, but not the road to Mesa Arch.
Best Time to Visit: Spring and fall
How Long to Visit: 3-5 days

Table of Contents

Mesa Arch at Sunrise: Everything You Need to Know

When to Hike to Mesa Arch

mesa arch at sunrise in canyonlands national park

The best time of year to hike to Mesa Arch (and the rest of Canyonlands National Park) is spring and fall. During these two times of year, the daytime temperatures are mild and ideal for hiking and camping.

If you’d like to escape the crowds, try visiting in the winter. The arch might be coated in a layer of snow, and the air will probably be cold, but it would be worth it to enjoy some rare solitude at Mesa Arch.

What to Bring to Mesa Arch

sunrise at mesa arch in canyonlands national park

Always carry the 10 Essentials with you!

Sun protection. Wear/bring sunglasses, a sun hat, and sunscreen to stay protected from harmful UV rays. For the way back
Layers. Base, mid, and outer layers. I like this base-layer top from Smartwool, this mid-layer sweater from Patagonia, and this rain jacket from Columbia.
Snacks. Read my Trail Food guide for tons of fun snack ideas!
Water. Staying hydrated is super important!
First aid kit. Check out my First Aid Basics for Hikers guide to find out what you should put in your first aid kit and how to recognize, prevent, and treat common hiker injuries and illnesses!
Headlamp. This is essential for your sunrise Mesa Arch hike. This Petzl headlamp is my favorite.
GPS. AllTrails is my favorite app for downloading maps offline and staying on the trail.
Camera gear. Tripod, camera, and remote are all great to have!

Some guides that will help you prepare for hiking & camping in the desert!

Getting to Mesa Arch Trailhead

Enter the Island of the Sky District of Canyonlands National Park and head south down Grand View Point Road.

The Mesa Arch Trailhead is about 6 miles from the Island in the Sky Visitor Center. The parking area is on the left, and due to its small size, fills up very quickly.

There are vault toilets at the trailhead.

Get Google Maps directions to the trailhead here.

Hiking the Mesa Arch Trail at Sunrise

Distance: 0.7 miles
Type of Trail: Loop
Elevation Gain: 88 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Pet-Friendly: No

Flick your headlamp on while you’re in the parking lot. The trail to Mesa Arch begins right in front of the parking area. You will not need to cross the main road.

Since the Mesa Arch Trail is a loop, you can travel in either direction. The arch sits pretty much in the middle of the loop, so it doesn’t matter which way you go. We hiked counterclockwise.

The path is sandy and rocky, and gradually gains small amounts of elevation as you approach the arch. The trail is clearly marked, but since you’ll be hiking in the dark, you will need to walk a bit slower and pay more attention to the trail and your footing.

Give yourself plenty of time to slowly navigate the trail, especially if this is your first time hiking in the dark. Read all of my night hiking tips here.

If you’re hiking an hour or less before sunrise, you will see the first signs of color streaking the horizon as you hike. For us, it was a magenta-pink stripe lining the sky. We were buzzing with anticipation.

The arch will come into view about halfway through the trail. It took us about 15 minutes to hike from the trailhead to the arch since we were walking slower in the dark.

Now it’s time to wait for the sun to rise! The wait is worth it, trust me.

Mesa Arch at Sunrise: Top Tips

Arrive at the trailhead at least an hour before sunrise. Mesa Arch’s parking lot fills up quickly. We arrived over an hour before sunrise and took one of the last available parking spots at the trailhead.

Bring a headlamp to navigate the trail in the dark. I love my rechargeable Petzl Actik Core headlamp.

Pack your patience. This is the most popular sunrise spot in Canyonlands National Park. Therefore, there will be crowds.

Take turns under the arch. Since everyone wants a photo of the arch, be respectful of others and don’t linger in front of the arch. Take your photo and then step back to allow someone else to take a photo.

Bring a tripod to photograph the arch. Photographers, bring a tripod! Also, try to arrive 2+ hours before sunrise so that you have room to set up before the crowds roll in.

Don’t stand on the arch. Standing on the arch (or any other arch in Canyonlands) is illegal. If enough people stand on the arch, it will eventually crumble. Sadly, this has happened with many natural arches in the desert.

Stay until after sunrise. Most people leave right after the sun pierces the horizon and fills the canyon. Don’t be that person! Pick a spot on one of the boulders, fire up a Jetboil, and brew tea/coffee as you watch the sun rise higher and higher and warm the canyon. That’s what we did!

Leave no trace. Pack your trash out. Never litter!

Mesa Arch at Sunrise: FAQs

Is Mesa Arch Better at Sunrise or Sunset?

Sunrise! The arch faces the east, so you get front-row views of the sun coming up.

How Long Is the Hike to Mesa Arch?

It’s a 0.7-mile loop.

Is Sunrise at Mesa Arch Worth It?

100%, yes! Even if you’re not a photographer, you will love the view. Mesa Arch aside, the canyons, mountains, and buttes beyond it are stunning and are worth seeing bathed in early morning light.