Skyline Arch Trail

Skyline Arch is a great way to see a large natural sandstone arch up close, and it does not require a difficult hike to enjoy. The flat and sandy trail is less than a half-mile round trip, so most of the family will get the opportunity to walk through the foreboding desert environment of Arches National Park in a safe manner. There are several sandstone "fins" to see along the way. Most arches begin as fins after water and ice erode sections of the rock face. The Entrada layer of stone that is common in this park was formed about 163 million years ago and then later exposed to us by the changing weather.

In 1940 a large piece of the inside of the arch broke away, nearly doubling the size of the hole and demonstrating that Arches is a living park with features that constantly change.