Utah has thousands of beautiful red rock arches, natural bridges, spires, hoodoos and other formations. Each is completely unique and interesting. Here are just 15 for your viewing pleasure – both popular and lesser-known formations.
- Coyote Natural Bridge
Jason Corneveaux/flickr You’ll find this pretty arch about 8 miles into the Coyote Gulch hike.
- Delicate Arch
Dmitry.S./flickr Every Utahn should see Delicate Arch. Not just because it’s the most popular, but because it really is breathtaking. It’s also very accessible and easy to photograph.
- Double Arch
Lauryn/flickr Two arches for the price of one! Find Double Arch at Arches National Park; it’s just a half mile round-trip hike.
- Fantasy Canyon
rjcox/flickr The formations at Fantasy Canyon look like the weird bones of creatures in a sci-fi movie!
- Goblins
Jimmy Thomas/flickr You could spend hours wandering through Goblin Valley State Park.
- Mesa Arch
Jim Lemire/flickr The arch itself is incredible, but the view THROUGH the arch is just astounding. Visit Mesa Arch at Canyonlands National Park.
- Mexican Hat
Aaron Wolpert/flickr This formation is named because people thought it was shaped like a Mexican sombrero. Perhaps that was long before the days of Star Trek, because I think it looks just like a spaceship…
- The Mushrooms
James Marvin Phelps/flickr They really do look like mushrooms, don’t they? See them at Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.
- Owachomo Bridge
Yugang Bai/flickr This is Owachomo Bridge, one of three at Natural Bridge National Monument.
- The Sentinel
James Marvin Phelps/flickr The Sentinel is a distinctive hoodoo in Bryce Canyon National Park.
Unfortunately, since the time of publication, The Sentinel is no longer standing.
- Rainbow Bridge
Andy Morffew/flickr Rainbow Bridge is one of the world’s largest natural bridges. Find it at Rainbow Bridge National Monument.
- The Toadstools
James Marvin Phelps/flickr Find these gorgeous beauties at Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.
- Upper Muley Twist Arch
Jason Corneveaux/flickr Upper Muley Twist Arch can be a bit tricky to find - the trail is not maintained, so you’ll need to have basic map navigation skills. Find it in Capitol Reef National Park.
- Waheap Hoodoos
Gabe Tarassenko/flickr White hoodoos are definitely not the norm in Utah - we’re used to seeing those red rock wonders. These hoodoos are white because they’re made of Entrada Sandstone - it’s 160 million years old. These are not far from The Toadstools, in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.
- The Wave
thaths/flickr The Wave is technically just inside the Arizona border, but the only way to get to it is from Utah, so we’re counting it here. These sweeping rock formations are fascinating, and really fun to photograph.
Do you have a favorite Utah rock formation? Show us your pics!
Jason Corneveaux/flickr
You’ll find this pretty arch about 8 miles into the Coyote Gulch hike.
Dmitry.S./flickr
Every Utahn should see Delicate Arch. Not just because it’s the most popular, but because it really is breathtaking. It’s also very accessible and easy to photograph.
Lauryn/flickr
Two arches for the price of one! Find Double Arch at Arches National Park; it’s just a half mile round-trip hike.
rjcox/flickr
The formations at Fantasy Canyon look like the weird bones of creatures in a sci-fi movie!
Jimmy Thomas/flickr
You could spend hours wandering through Goblin Valley State Park.
Jim Lemire/flickr
The arch itself is incredible, but the view THROUGH the arch is just astounding. Visit Mesa Arch at Canyonlands National Park.
Aaron Wolpert/flickr
This formation is named because people thought it was shaped like a Mexican sombrero. Perhaps that was long before the days of Star Trek, because I think it looks just like a spaceship…
James Marvin Phelps/flickr
They really do look like mushrooms, don’t they? See them at Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.
Yugang Bai/flickr
This is Owachomo Bridge, one of three at Natural Bridge National Monument.
The Sentinel is a distinctive hoodoo in Bryce Canyon National Park.
Unfortunately, since the time of publication, The Sentinel is no longer standing.
Andy Morffew/flickr
Rainbow Bridge is one of the world’s largest natural bridges. Find it at Rainbow Bridge National Monument.
Find these gorgeous beauties at Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.
Upper Muley Twist Arch can be a bit tricky to find - the trail is not maintained, so you’ll need to have basic map navigation skills. Find it in Capitol Reef National Park.
Gabe Tarassenko/flickr
White hoodoos are definitely not the norm in Utah - we’re used to seeing those red rock wonders. These hoodoos are white because they’re made of Entrada Sandstone - it’s 160 million years old. These are not far from The Toadstools, in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.
thaths/flickr
The Wave is technically just inside the Arizona border, but the only way to get to it is from Utah, so we’re counting it here. These sweeping rock formations are fascinating, and really fun to photograph.
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