Visitation
1998: 127,160
1997: 142,373
1996: 137,168
Location
San Juan County, Utah
Address
Natural Bridges National Monument
P.O. Box 1
Lake Powell, UT 84533
Telephone
(435) 692-1234
Operating Hours, Seasons
The Monument is open every day of the year. The nine mile scenic drive is open every day from early morning until about 30
minutes past sunset.
The Visitor Center is open during the following hours:
Summer: 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Early spring and late fall: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Winter: 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Closed for major holidays during winter months
Climate, Recommended Clothing
Summer: highs 85 to 95 degrees, lows 50 to 60 degrees, thunderstorms possible.
Fall: highs, 60 to 75 degrees, lows 40 to 50 degrees, usually mild, snow late fall.
Winter: highs 40 to 50 degrees, lows 0 to 30 degrees, snow likely.
Spring: highs 50 to 70 degrees, lows 20 to 40 degrees, usually mild, snow possible until May.
Clothing needs can be varied throughout the year. Mild winter days may make hiking in light clothing
possible, but below zero temperatures are not unusual in the winter. Rain is a possibility at any time,
but especially in spring and late summer, so rain gear is recommended.
Directions
From the north/east: take Highway 191 to Blanding, Utah. Travel west 35 miles on Utah Highway 95,
then north 4 miles on Utah Highway 275, which ends at the Monument.
From the north/west: take Highway 95 east from Hanksville, Utah, 93 miles to Highway 275, then 4
miles north to the Monument.
From the south: take Highway 163 to Mexican Hat, Utah. Travel north on Highway 261, 38 miles to
Highway 95. Turn west on Highway 95, proceed 1.5 miles to Highway 275, then north 4 miles to the
Monument.
NOTE
Three miles of Highway 261 is unpaved and narrow, with a 10% grade and is not
recommended for motorcycles, oversize vehicles or vehicles pulling trailers.
Transportation
There is no public transportation to or from Natural Bridges. Commercial air service is available to
Moab, Utah; Cortez, Durango, and Grand Junction, Colorado; Farmington, New Mexico; and
Flagstaff, Arizona. Bus service is available in Durango, Colorado; Flagstaff, Arizona; and Grand
Junction, Colorado. Amtrak serves Green River, Utah, located about 175 miles from Natural Bridges,
but there is no connecting public transportation from the train station.
Fees, Costs, Rates
$6.00 per vehicle and $3.00 per individual. Golden Eagle, Age, and Access passes are accepted for entry
and are on sale. Annual passes for Natural Bridges, Canyonlands N.P., Arches N.P. and Hovenweep N.M. are
also accepted and are on sale for $25.00.
Educational groups requesting a fee waiver should contact:
Fee Waiver Request
Arches N.P.
P.O. Box 907
Moab, Utah 84532
This office handles fee waivers for Natural Bridges, Arches, Canyonlands and Hovenweep.
Natural Bridges participates in the National Park Service's
Recreational Fee Demonstration Program. This program
allows the monument to retain 80% of the revenue it collects from entrance and camping fees for expenditure
on improvements to visitor services and monument infrastructure.
Facilities and Opportunities
Visitor Center/Exhibits
Visitor center has exhibits, an audiovisual program, books, maps and videos for sale. Rangers are
on duty to answer questions and collect entry fees. Informal interpretive programs may be given on
the patio during peak season. Rest rooms and water are available 24 hours a day.
Roads, Trails
The nine mile long Bridge View Drive is a one-way scenic loop starting and ending near the visitor
center. Overlooks for each of the three bridges and one cliff
dwelling are reached by short walks from parking areas along the drive. A trailhead for each
bridge is also located along the drive, as is a small picnic area. The road is plowed in the winter.
An 8.2 mile loop trail connects all three bridges. It follows
the canyon bottom stream for most of its length, then exits the canyon and returns via the relatively
flat mesa top. Hiking time varies from four to six hours. The 8.2 mile loop
can be split into two shorter loops, each taking in two of the three bridges. Each requires three to
four hours, and ranges from five to six miles in length, depending on the loop taken.
Hikers with less time may simply hike one of the short trails down to a bridge and back to the trail head. Round
trip mileage's are:
Sipapu: 1.2 miles, 500 foot elevation change, 1 hour
Kachina: 1.5 miles, 400 foot elevation change, 1.25 hours
Owachomo: .4 miles 180 foot elevation change, .5 hours
Horsecollar Ruin: A .6 mile round trip trail leads from a trailhead on the Bridge View Drive to an
overlook of Horsecollar Ruin, an early Puebloan site. The hike is relatively flat and takes about 30 minutes.
NOTE
Hiking during winter months, when snow and ice can make conditions very hazardous, is undertaken at the hiker's
own risk.
Programs/Activities
Spring, summer and fall: evening ranger programs may be presented in the campground
amphitheater, one or more nights each week with varying schedules and topics. Guided walks and
visitor center patio talks may be offered. Winter: due to limited staffing and visitation, no special
programs are presented during the winter months. A ten minute video program is shown at the visitor
center throughout the year.
A Junior Ranger Program is available, with an eight page Kids Newspaper full of stories, puzzles,
games, and activities. Badges are awarded to children who finish the required number of activities
for their age group.
Lodging and camping facilities
There is no lodging in the park. Lodging is available in Fry Canyon, Blanding, Bluff, Mexican Hat,
and Monticello, Utah. Contact the San Juan County Travel Council at 1-800-574-4386 for further
information on lodging, dining, and area attractions.
The Monument's 13 site campground is open year-round, but it is not cleared of snow in the winter.
The fee is $10 per night. No reservations are accepted and there is no group site available. Wood fires are permitted, but no
wood gathering is allowed inside the Monument. Vehicles over 26 feet long are not allowed in the
campground. All sites fill by early afternoon from early March through late October. Rangers at the
visitor center can give directions to nearby alternative camping areas.
Food/supplies
None are available at the Monument.
Accessibility
The visitor center and rest rooms are accessible to all persons. The campground has no designated
site for disabled persons but has several sites and one rest room accessible. The three bridge
overlook trails are accessible via a concrete sidewalk, however the sidewalk to the Kachina Bridge
viewpoint may not be accessible with a standard wheelchair, due to its slope.
Basic Visit Recommendations
Plan to spend at least two to three hours to see the bridges and hike to at least one. Bring all
required food, gasoline, and other supplies with you, as none is available at the Monument. Pets
and bikes are not permitted on any trail or off-road area. Plan accordingly. Arrive by noon to claim a
campsite for the night.
Visitor Impacts
Hiking is restricted to trails, wash bottoms, and slick rock areas. Travel in other areas destroys the
fragile cryptobiotic soil crusts that is critical to all other life in the region. Careless and uninformed
hikers, bikers, and drivers do tremendous damage to the area's ecosystem through off-road or
off-trail travel. Fragile archaeological sites are often damaged by people entering them and sitting,
standing, or climbing on walls. Others remove artifacts, and some touch rock art panels. Each of
these acts damages these fragile and irreplaceable sites. Though wood collecting for campfires is
prohibited, many people still break limbs from trees for firewood.
Walking or climbing on the bridges is prohibited. It is dangerous, and it detracts from the
experiences of many other visitors who wish to view them without interference.
Adjacent Visitor Attractions
The best source of general information is:
San Juan County Travel Council
117 S. Main
Monticello, UT 84535
1-800-574-4386
Additional Information
Please direct all inquiries to:
Natural Bridges National Monument
Attention: Information Request
P.O. Box 1
Lake Powell, UT 84533
Email: NABR_ranger_activities@nps.gov
Author: Neal Herbert
http://www.nps.gov/nabr
Last Update: August 12, 1999
