One of the highlights of Canyonlands is actually an arch like the ones in Arches National Park. It's called Mesa Arch and it's only a half-mile hike off the road. It turned out to be our only hike in Canyonlands and well worth it. The view "through" the arch is quite different from anything in Arches because of the canyon behind it. The only bad thing was seeing all the idiots who chose to walk onto the top of the arch for their photo opp. Not only was it helping to deteriorate the arch faster than nature would by herself, but it was so dangerous. . . especially in the winds we were having that day. Both Rodney and I got a little queasy watching people do it. We had to not watch. Fortunately, no one fell that day while we were there. Our up-close-and-personal photos were as up-close as we wanted to get.
Here's the sign by the Park Service about Mesa Arch. "A lone span clinging to the canyon rim, Mesa Arch has greeted every sunrise for millennia. Repeated cycles of freezing and thawing created this geologic rarity as water seeped through cracks in the sandstone cliff. Eventually, these same forces will lead to its collapse. This short, relatively easy trail leads to Mesa Arch, one of the most scenic panoramas in Canyonlands. This natural stone arch frames spectacular views of the La Sal Mountains, Buck Canyon, Washer Woman Arch and Monster Tower. Distance 1/2 mile loop, 30 minutes."
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