Corona Arch, Moab, Utah

Eight of us got together in Las Vegas and drove 7 hours on I-70 to arrive Moab, Utah last night.
It was not a coincidence that all of them are physicians either now or in the past.
The hiking trip was planned a year ago. They were:
Kilhwa Choung, Seongkoo Cho, and Youngchan Shin from Columbus, OH;
Byungkoo Choi from Las Vegas; Doukyung Chai and his wife from Augusta, Maine;
and then me and my wife. A few couldn't make the trip because they were heading somewhere else.

In the endless remoteness of the western desert on Colorado Plateau, Moab is in the middle of nowhere. The nearest major airports are in Las Vegas, Salt Lake City, and Denver and they are at least 6-7 hours away by Interstate Expressway.

In Moab city's information brochure, it says,"If you have time only for one hiking, go to Corona Arch."
So, in the first morning of a week-long trip, we decided to get it over with Corona Arch.

Corona Arch has  a 140-foot by 105-foot opening, a partly freestanding arch with one side being a part of adjacent cliff. It is a buttress type arch made of Navajo sandstone. The hiking route is a 1 1/2 mile hike up Bootlegger Canyon from the trailhead. The arch is located in a striking slickrock setting. Corona Arch is written as and often called "Little Rainbow Bridge" in the map, which is an injustice because it is a huge arch and there is nothing little about this arch.
Note: This is smaller than the real "Rainbow Arch" in the Rainbow Bridge National Monument, Utah near Lake Mead. The Rainbow Arch is the largest arch in the world. Both arches have very similar appearance.

Bowtie Arch is adjacent to Corona Arch, formed in a different geologic process. Both arches are side by side.

General Information:
The Corona Arch Trail is relatively easy for almost everyone. No special gear is required other than footwear suitable for walking over slickrock. The hike involves walking approximately 1 1/2 miles each way over a well maintained trail with an elevation gain of 440 feet. The route will require approximately two or three hours round trip to complete.

Much of the route is exposed to the sun and there is little shade available. During hot weather an early morning or evening hike is recommended. Every member of your hiking party should carry at least one liter of water. This hike should be easily accessible year round.

Navigation for this hike is easy. The route is well marked with cairns. Just follow the cairns on slick rocks and occasional sandy trails. There are steel cables and ladder on the way to assist those who are not used to rocky slopes. Most people could climb without them.

If you have time, drive along the Colorado River to Potash. The canyon is magnificent on both sides of the river. You will know that you are in the world's best canyon and mesa country.

You might want to stop and look at the Potash Petroglyphs and Dinosaur Tracks on the drive to the trailhead. You pass right by them and they only require a couple of minutes extra to enjoy.

Gold Bar Campground and picnic site are located across the road from the Coronaq Arch trailhead, on the shore of the Colorado River. It has picnic tables and bathroom facilities. For more information or for reservations, please call the Bureau of Land Management Moab Field Office at (435) 259-2100.

After crossing the railroad tracks follow an old eroded road bed through a gap in the slickrock bench above. After reaching the top of the bench the route follows a trail of cairns (little piles of rock) northeast towards the base of a large sandstone cliff. Follow the base of the cliff east to a safety cable that protects a slightly exposed section of trail. Corona Arch is visible from this point.

After the first safety cable continues to follow the base of the cliff to a second safety cable and moki steps carved into the sandstone. Climb to the top of the moki steps. From the top of the moki steps continues east, climb a short ladder up over a ledge and follow the cairns up to the top of a large bench. From this point, it is easy to walk along the wide slickrock bench, beneath Bowtie Arch (N38º 34' 28", W109º 37' 19"), and on to the base of Corona Arch (N38º 34' 47", W109º 37' 12"). Please be careful of steep drop-offs along the trail.

The map of Bootlegger Canyon, Corona Arch, and Bowtie Arch.
There is the Pinto Arch but there's no trail to reach it.
 


A kiosk at the trailhead



It was early in the morning as we were preparing for a hike up the rocky walls.
The trailhead was in the shade while higher rocks were uder the morning sun.
Chilly late autumn morning, but the air was crispy and pleasantly sweet.
We were full of life with great expectations in our heart.



A huge Navajo sandstone cliff just above the trailhead, on the west side of the Colorado River canyon.
We climb up and turn left under the cliff and then cross a railroad that seems to come from nowhere.
This part is short but steepest part of the trail.



Potash Railroad Spur: The railroad track was built in 1964. The spur connects the Potash Plant at the end of Utah 279) to the main railroad line in Crescent Junction. Just below Corona Arch, the train enters a one mile long tunnel to emerge near U.S. highway 191. The train runs several times per week, hauling potash to the main railroad line at Crescent Junction, at Interstate 70. We can see the carved wall on both sides of the tract.

When I saw the railroad tract coming out between the rocks from nowhere, I wondered how it could be.
The tract came through a tunnel one mile long through the rocks and suddenly appeared here.



Doukyung Chai in the fore-ground. Jean Kim and Haeja Chai farther inside.

After climbing for a while, we see the huge rocky butte that contains both Bowtie and Corona Arches.
At first, in the morning sun, we couldn't discern the arch that is in the right side of the picture.
We thought it was just a shadow on the rocky cliff. Can you tell where the arch is ??



Jean Kim and Haeja Chai, climbing a slickrock slope.

We are just passing below a natural blind tunnel. We were not going to the hole in the wall.
It was a bit too steep to get there anyway and the hole was empty.
There are "moki steps" carved on the rock for convenience. Even without the steps, one can still climb up.



A few moki steps on slickrock (펀펀한 바위를 의미), there's a steel ladder. One can bypass the ladder to the left.



Youngchan Shin and Doukyung Chai at the ladder.
While I was bypassing the ladder by climbing up a gentle rocky slope, some of us prefer the ladder.



We are getting close to the final destination that is well visible. Now, can you see the arch ??
We came to an area where we could see a tiny bit of the blue sky showing under the arch.
The big hole at the left rock wall is the Bowtie Arch. At this point, it just looks like a big hole in the wall.
The Corona Arch is in the right side of the picture.



The big tunnel-like hole in the center is the Bowtie Arch. You still can not see the opening at the top.



Walking toward the rock wall...



Still some more distance to go and climb to the base of the cliff.
Another shallow arch is about to form (in geological time span) at the left mid part of the picture.
Just come back a few thousand years later (maybe more), you may find a new shallow arch.



Now, you see the Corona Arch with blue sky underneath. This is a big arch. Beautiful !!



Awesome ! It looks like someone actually carved the rock into an arch. Nature's amazing sculpture.



Still walking on the slickrock platform. We are almost under the Bowtie Arch.
The black wax-like paste on the rocky cliff surface shines against the morning sun.



We are looking up the Bowtie Arch to the left.



Now, you see the arch clearly. The roof is open to make the Bowtie Arch.
A ancient small pot hole on the top gradually got deeper and larger to make the big hole in the ceiling. 
But where's the bowtie ? My imagination isn't up to the task to make it out.
From Left: Youngchan Shin, Jean Kim (partially hidden), Seongkoo Cho, Doukyung Chai, Haeja Chai



A short stop to catch our breaths, while looking down the Bootlegger Canyon we climbed up.
We've been walking on slickrock surface for a long time. No dirt, no dust here.



One more look at the Bowtie Arch with a giant cavity underneath.



We are getting closer. Just a few steps away from the Corona Arch.
The rising sun is shinning from the right upper corner of the picture



As we get closer, the arch gets larger and higher.



Passing under the arch to the east (sunny) side of it.



Looking back at the arch from the sunny side (east side). See how tiny we are !!



Another Bowtie Arch is about to form. If the cavity gets a hole at the ceiling, it will be an arch.
The wide rocky ledge we were walking is disappearing into a rocky cliff.
Water must have been seeping through the rock layer showing teeth-like algae formation.



Youngchan Shin taking a picture.
Rocky cliffs everywhere. We are standing in the middle ledge of a giant rocky wall.



Looking back at the Bootlegger Canyon and the railroad track carved in the middle of the rocky slope.



A distant view of the eastern wall from the Corona Arch.



Lunch time, sitting on the rocky slope.
From left: Byungkoo Choi, Kilhwa Choung, Jean Kim, Youngchan Shin, Seongkoo Cho



Time to descend. This was the first arch we saw. There are a lot more arches to come.



The Corona Arch from below and eastern side. I happened to get this unusual view
when I climbed down the slope to retrieve my camera bag that fell and rolled down earlier.



Looking back at the Bowtie Arch far away. You can see a tiny sun-lit opening at the ceiling.
A solitary "Utah Juniper" tree hanging on a cliff for a few hundreds years.



On the way down, a group of "Prickly Pear Cactus" growing happily on extremely dry land.
Not just only surviving, they will bring beautiful flowers in the spring.
Do you see another arch being formed near the top of the rocky wall ??
Given enough time, it will make a beautiful arch in the sky. When will it be ?? 



Two more Bowtie Arches in the making in the rock wall to our right
but we, a few human beings, will never be able to come back to see them !!



The hikers are returning to the trailhead to the west, for a change, on sandy trail.
Below their feet, the Utah desert spreads out forever to the west.



The Colorado "River Runs Through It" just below the round-shaped rocky cliffs in front of us.
The river will always run with us or without us, carving ever deeper canyons into the bedrock.
In a few million years, from under the solid rock, arches will form and then disintegrate into sands.
Then, the river will carry them to the sea. There, they turn into a rock layer again, starting it all over again...

Some of the information data came from the Internet and "Climb-utah.com"
Photo (November 2, 2009) and webpage (November 15, 2009) by S. Steven Kim