Canyonlands National Park

Mesa Arch is an iconic natural formation located in Canyonlands National Park, Utah, known for its stunning views, especially at sunrise when the underbelly of the arch glows with the rising sun. This pothole arch is perched at the edge of a cliff and frames a scenic panorama of the Utah landscape, offering a distinct view of the La Sal Mountains in the distance.

Canyonlands is a sprawling preserve of over 337,000 acres divided into four districts: Island in the Sky, The Needles, The Maze, and the rivers themselves—primarily the Colorado and Green Rivers that carve through the park. Mesa Arch is situated in the Island in the Sky district, the park’s most accessible part, characterized by broad, high plateaus. The arch is a popular destination for both professional photographers and tourists hoping to capture the beauty of the delicate structure contrasted against the red rock canyons, mesas, and buttes below.

Visitors to Mesa Arch walk a short, half-mile trail to reach the viewpoint. Along the way, they’re treated to an array of desert flora and fauna, and if they’re lucky, they might spot a bighorn sheep or even a golden eagle. The Island in the Sky district also offers striking views of the White Rim Road, which winds its way around the canyons, and is surrounded by numerous other points of interest within the park including Grand View Point and the Green River Overlook. Canyonlands itself is part of the larger Colorado Plateau, a significant geological feature of the American Southwest that holds deep cultural significance for various Indigenous peoples and a rich history of exploration and geology.