Classic West Coast tours include a 1-day to 2-day stop in Page, just enough time to visit the great classic destinations: Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, and if there is any time left, Lake Powell. However, many people don’t realize that it would take almost a week to see everything this lucky small city in Arizona has to offer. This is by no means an exaggeration.
If you are among the fortunate ones who have quite a bit of time to spend in the area, if you like to explore the wildest territories of the West by venturing out on remote trails reachable only by off-road routes in a 4×4 vehicle, then this article is for you. We will talk about the Skylight Arch, a striking natural arch located “symbolically” on the border between Arizona and Utah. As a matter of fact, one of the symbols of the state of Utah is an arch in Arches National Park!
Contents
Location
As I was saying, the Skylight Arch is located in Utah near Big Water and is a few miles from the Arizona border. The arch is located in the vast Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. Because of its unique shape (which I will briefly discuss in the section about the trail), the arch stands out among the rocky outcrops of a mesa, and in fact is visible even from US-89, precisely at this point on the road.
So, if you have ever made the trip between Kanab and Page before, you may have even seen it without knowing what it was. The time to get from Page to the trailhead is about 40 minutes, but allow for an hour in case you run into snags on the dirt road or if there are parts where you will need to park and continue on foot.
Skylight Arch Trailhead Directions
To understand how to get to the Skylight Arch we will divide the route into two parts, but first, I must warn you that you can only reach the trailhead of this trail with a 4×4 vehicle because most of the journey is on a sandy dirt road full of potholes and rocks. If you venture out with a standard category car, you risk getting stuck and damaging it-not the best scenario for a rental car. Since the arch is in a remote area, I recommend using your GPS!
- I explained the first part of the itinerary in the article about Stud Horse Point, a scenic spot that is located just down the road. The incredible Stud Horse Point is located almost 2 miles before the trailhead, so take this route, and while you’re there, admire the hoodoos and the view.
- The second part of the route, as I have already mentioned, can only be done by car if you have a 4×4. Otherwise, if you park your car before Stud Horse Point and want to get there on foot, you will need to plan well for a very long hike up the mesa to the arch and back.
- From Stud Horse Point continue the road north. Here and here you will find intersections with secondary roads. Keep going straight on the main road.
- The last mile is on a rough road very close to the edge of the mesa. Continue until you reach a sign indicating the end of the road. With your 4×4 you could make it this far, but many people decide to stop 1 mile before the trailhead and continue on foot since the road is really tricky.
Video
This video will give you an idea of the road to take to get to the trailhead and will give you a glimpse of some of the amazing views that can be seen driving along the trail.
Skylight Arch Trail
If you were able to park your car and take the trailhead, you have certainly passed the most difficult part. From the trailhead, you will have to walk 2 miles along the edge of the mesa to the arch. While it may not be really suitable for those who suffer from vertigo, the trail is very easy to walk, except for a few passages on rocks, which are still fairly easy to overcome. The elevation gain is only 197 ft, but what will captivate you is the view you will see around you: for a long stretch on your right, you will see the panorama of Stud Horse Point with its surreal colors and the lone monolith rising from the plain below.
On the opposite side, you will see the desert around the exclusive Amangiri Resort, dotted with hoodoos, buttes, and stunning plateaus. In the background, you will see before you the imposing Lone Rock, much of Lake Powell, and, in the distance, Navajo Mountain. Along the trail you will also see many bizarre rock formations, which are common in this area.
When you arrive at your destination, be careful because you will risk ending up inside the arch! This is no joke! The Skylight Arch is a so-called “inverted arch”: as the official Glen Canyon website explains, “you will be able to stand on top of the arch and simultaneously look down through it.” In other words, you will be faced with a chasm in the rock. The arch, which is the outer circumference of the chasm, can also be climbed if you take great caution. Look at the picture below to see what I mean! In addition to the view described above, you will also see US-89 below you.
Hike Map
Cost of Admission
The Skylight Arch is part of the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, which is included with your national parks annual pass. However, you will not have to show it to anyone to access the trailhead, since there are no visitor centers on this road.
Other Attractions Nearby
The area has an incredible abundance of natural beauty. If you want a full experience, take a few days and visit all the places listed in our article about the attractions in Page, starting with nearby New Wave, Arizona. If, on the other hand, you’re headed north, check out our tips on things to see around Kanab (there are plenty of places to choose from, including Vermilion Cliffs, Toadstool Hoodoos, Old Paria, and the Coral Pink Sand Dunes).
Where to Stay
For a truly unforgettable experience, I recommend that you go to the Amangiri Resort, tucked away in a spectacular valley below the mesa where the Skylight Arch is located. You’ll wake up in a room with a view of the buttes, wade in a luxurious pool that looks as if it were set in a ravine of the mesa. There are some really remarkable nature trails nearby, as you can read in our article about the Amangiri resort.
Book a room at the Amangiri Resort
If, on the other hand, you want to stay in somewhat less exclusive accommodations, check out our article on where to stay in Page, or look for a hotel in Big Water, a tiny town along US-89.
