Corona Arch Hike, aka Little Rainbow Arch, Moab, Utah

Get ready for an exciting adventure with the 3-mile round-trip hike to Corona Arch, one of Moab, Utah's most impressive arches! This is the perfect family hike for those seeking a bit of a challenge. Along the trail, you'll also discover two other major arches and at least one charming smaller arch. It's a journey full of wonders!

If you're familiar with Moab, UT, you already know that the area is renowned for its stunning natural arches. Most people think that all the arches, or at least the most spectacular ones, are tucked away in Arches National Park or Canyonlands National Park. But that's not true—not by a long shot! Corona Arch, also known as Little Rainbow Arch, is a gigantic marvel located outside the national park along the breathtaking Colorado River, just off UT128, a bit south of Moab in Bootlegger Canyon. Spanning an impressive 140 feet wide and soaring 105 feet tall, Corona Arch is one of the largest arches in the Moab area.

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Corona Arch is even bigger than most arches in Arches National Park! While a few arches surpass it in size, it's the awe-inspiring setting around Corona Arch that truly sets it apart. This is truly a photogenic arch. A few arches or land bridges, such as Morning Glory Bridge in Grandstaff Canyon, are larger but are in no way nearly as photogenic.

Trust your instincts, but I’d say the hike to Corona Arch is a fantastic adventure for kids! It offers just the right amount of challenge to keep it exciting without being too tough. My daughter was 10 in this photo, but I've seen even younger kids tackle the trail. Our friend's five-year-old breezed through it! There are two spots that could be a bit tricky, one with a cable and another with a ladder. These fun elements, like the ladder and cable, make the trail an unforgettable experience for both kids and adults. My daughter and I went during her spring break, and what an amazing memory it was! Sharing our love for the outdoors is a big reason why we explore Moab with the family.

I've completed this incredible hike multiple times throughout the years, and each experience is uniquely thrilling! I always try to arrive at different times of the day to experience different sun angles. Believe it or not, but the angle of the sun can completely change the color of the arch and the surrounding canyon walls.

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While you might encounter a few fellow adventurers along the trail to Corona Arch, it's nothing compared to the bustling crowds at Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park. You won't find any tour buses unloading here, making it feel like a hidden gem! In the winter, you might cross paths with a few small groups of hikers. Come spring break, you'll likely see more families exploring the area with their kids. During warmer months, we always stay at our vacation home, and with a bit of planning, we make sure to set off early and enjoy the trail before it gets busy.

If you're aiming for that jaw-dropping Instagram photo, you're in luck! The arch's angle offers fantastic lighting both in the evening and morning. The best photos are typically taken in front of the arch, but you can also find interesting lighting from behind the arch. I think the best time of the year to visit the arch is in the winter after a light snowfall. A touch of snow on the ground adds stunning contrasting colors to your photos!

Corona Arch is not the only arch you will see on this trail. Just a few hundred yards away from Corona is Bowtie Arch. Bowtie Arch is a large pothole arch and would be worth a hike by itself. The best part of Bowtie is that you walk right past it on the way to Corona Arch. There is no official trail to Bowtie Arch, but it is easy enough to walk cross-country to this arch if you wish to view it up close.

There are restrooms just past the trailhead parking area at the Gold Bar Campground on the riverside of the road. If you are going to be in the area around noon, be sure to pack a lunch, you can enjoy a quiet meal along the banks of the Colorado River

Also, if you are bringing your dog with you to explore the area don't forget their poop bags. There is now a $1000 fine for leaving waste in the desert.

Remember to keep hikes fun for the kids, they are not trying to "bag" every arch in Moab. Slow down and take your time to enjoy the setting. You are likely to discover things you never would have before. Let them take photos with your phone, a kid's perspective of what makes a good picture is likely to be different from yours. Without my daughter, I would never have known you can still spot dinosaurs in Moab!

If you have an attentive eye, you can also spot a third arch named Pinto Arch along the same side of the canyon as Corona, about a half mile back and towards the parking area. This third arch may not be obvious from the main trail, and I bet most people don't notice this arch, even though it is quite large. It requires a difficult scramble to get to, and is not recommended for children. There is one ledge in particular that is intimidating to get up and over.

Arch hunting is something I enjoy and I think I'm fairly good at. However, I've walked past this small arch my daughter is sitting on many times and never noticed it. She is always looking for "hideouts" and found this little guy. From the trail it just looked like a pile of rocks but it does have an opening of at least three feet in one direction thus officially making it an arch.

If you are considering a Moab adventure we would recommend checking out the town homes at Moab Adventure Condo. We stayed with them and it was so nice to have room to relax and not be stuck in a cramped hotel room. Since the cost of the rental was split between two families it actually ended up being cheaper than a hotel room and much nicer. Not to mention the pool and hot tub were just sets from our condo.