Natural Arches Trail

An easy hike up a sandy wash past beautiful natural arches.

Hiking Easy

Distance: 4.7 km
Ascent: 27 m
Descent: 27 m
Duration: 0-1 hrs

Low Point: 512 m
High Point: 536 m
Gradient: 0˚

If you are looking for a hike that takes you into a hidden world of colorful sandstone canyons, arches, and balancing rocks, then the Natural Arches Trail in Valley of Fire State Park is a great option. This 2.9-mile out-and-back trail starts from a small parking lot near the east entrance of the park and follows a sandy wash through the eastern end of Fire Canyon. You will see how the erosion and weathering have sculpted the rocks into thousands of unique and wonderful shapes that will spark your imagination.

Description

The Natural Arches Trail is not well-marked or maintained, but it is easy to follow as long as you stay in the main wash and avoid the side canyons that dead-end. You will need to pay attention to the occasional poles and cairns that indicate the trail direction, and use your navigation skills and common sense. The trail is mostly flat or gently sloping, but there are some sections that require easy to moderate scrambling over rocks and sand.

Along the way, you will encounter some amazing features, such as arches, alcoves, and boulders. There are several arches along the route, but the largest one collapsed several years ago. However, you can still see its remains and appreciate its former glory.

Source: Valley of Fire State Park. https://parks.nv.gov/parks/valley-of-fire. Natural Arches Trail | Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada. https://lasvegasareatrails.com/natural-arches-trail-in-valley-of-fire-state-park-nevada/. Natural Arches Trail | Outdoor Project. https://www.outdoorproject.com/united-states/nevada/natural-arches-trail. Conversation with Bing Chat