Travel-Curious

Travel Curious

For independent travelers who want to dig deeper

Arch Canyon Overlook

The view from the overlook into Arch Canyon is great any time but is spectacular at sunset

Sunset lights up the canyon walls at Arch Canyon Overlook near Bluff Utah
 
This overlook is not well known, so you likely will have it all to yourself, which is perfect to enjoy the solitude. Your viewpoint is out at the end of a rocky peninsula jutting into the canyon which gives you big views up and down the canyon. You should be able to spot at least one arch below you.
 
Use the steel steps to reach the overlook
 
After you enjoy the views, walk up and down the canyon rim and spot the ruins tucked in just below you.
 
Views up and down Arch Canyon from the overlook
 

Notes

  • Dogs Okay
  • The route is via dirt roads, passable with some clearance, an SUV or 4×4 is better
  • There is a campsite right at the overlook, so be courteous of those camping there
  • You can also explore the bottom of Arch Canyon to see ruins, petroglyphs and three arches

 

Photo Notes

  • At sunset the sun sets behind you, be there at least an hour before sunset time or the whole canyon is in shadow
  • The experience is just as good at sunrise

Sunrise at Arch Canyon

 

Getting to Arch Canyon Overlook

  • From Blanding take Highway 95 west for 23.5 miles.
  • The turnoff is to the right at about mile marker 102 onto County Road 263 at ( 37.537061, -109.737248 )

The dirst road out to the overlook

  • Continue for 1 mile and turn left onto Arch canyon road at ( 37.544442, -109.727697 ).
  • Continue 3.6 miles to the Y at ( 37.580639, -109.760556 ) bear right and continue for 1.3 miles where you will reach another fork at ( 37.597386, -109.767093 ), bear right and continue the short distance to the overlook.
  • The very last 200 feet to the overlook is down a steepish section, if in a car you probably want to stop at the top and scout this last section or just walk to the overlook from there
 

Explore Nearby...

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Fallen Roof Ruin in Road Canyon

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Butler Wash Ruins

Choose to view the ruins from an overlook or hike up the wash and explore the ruins close up

Lower Butler Wash Road - Hikes

Lower Butler Wash Road is a unique area of Comb Ridge, home to a dozen unmarked trailheads not published by the BLM or marked with signs. All are short hikes (1-3 miles round trip) that lead to amazing ancestral sites, caves and alcoves with 800-year-old ruins, petroglyphs, pottery shards and more.
Multi-colored hand prints on the back wall

Double Stack Ruin

See a higher and lower set of ruins with painted handprints, metates, rockart and impressive mud mortared rock walled structures still standing

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Monarch Cave

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Wolfman Panel

Hike to see multiple rock art panels with one with a unique wolfman like figure, across the canyon are ruins you can continue to

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Fishmouth Cave

A short easy hike to a large cave with handprints and metates, there are a number of smaller ruins to see along the trail.

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Split Level Ruin

The hike to a ruin split over two ledges is filled with hundreds of pictographs, large rocks covered in metates, sharpening marks, pottery shards, and painted handprints

Goosenecks State Park ...

Scenic Drives...

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Recapture Pocket

This is a little visited but interesting location full of goblins and hoodoos contained in three main groups of formations relatively close to each other

Everything Else...

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Newspaper Rock

A famous rock panel carved with about 650 individual petroglyphs of abstract shapes and symbols to more recognizable human and animal figures

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