Hiking Lower Courthouse Wash Canyon

The lower canyon of Courthouse Wash is an easy hike that takes you from the bridge in Moab into Arches National Park through a low-walled canyon with water.

You can enjoy a hike through Lower Court House Wash Canyon from either end, either from Moab or from Arches National Park. You can do it as an out-and-back or as a one-way if you can arrange to leave a car at one end and be dropped off at the other.

Route

From South to North

From the parking lot, take the Moab Canyon Pathway bike path east back toward Moab and cross the bridge over Courthouse Wash.
Find the trail heading up the canyon. The Canyon is wild and open here at the beginning. There will be pools of water and slickrock to cross, the canyon will make turns alternating between tight and wide spots as the canyon eventually narrows and you will make stream crossings.
At 2.6 miles you will come to the first of four side canyons, the first two are about 1 mile long each, the 3rd one is about 1 mile further along Courthouse wash canyon is longer at around 3 miles long and stretches into the area of Arches called the Petrified Dunes, and finally the fourth is about 1 mile long and is only a little over a mile from the exit and also penetrates into the Petrified Dunes.

Getting there

Heading north out of Moab on US191 cross the bridge over the Colorado River, the parking lot is on the right-hand side just after you drive over the Courthouse Wash bridge

Parking

South Parking area (Near highway 191)

38.606871, -109.587373

Park in the Moab Canyon Bike path parking lot

North parking area (Arches National Park)

38.6492811N, 109.5981986W

Small pull off on side of main park road

Note

Bring Water
Dogs technically are not allowed as the canyon is part of Arches National Park, however, coming from the south the first parts of the hike are a great place to cool off the dog in the water
You can wade through the creek at points, wear appropriate foot ware
The trail’s north entrance/exit is in Arches National Park, the south entrance/exit is at Highway 191 just north of Moab. With transportation, you can do a one-way from either direction.
The wash and canyon is a nice reprieve from the hot summer sun and a short partial version of the hike can be done as an out and back from either end of the hike instead of doing the whole thing, from the northern entrance you arrive at nice swimming holes within the first 1/2 mile

Distance

5.2 miles one way

10.4 miles total out and back from either entrance

From the south trailhead entrance

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