Horizon Arch Trail

The route to Horizon Arch runs up Mitchell Canyon wash for a little over a mile before leaving the drainage entirely and picking a cross-country line over a hillside, a ridge, and a stretch of open ground to the arch — roughly 3.3 miles one way with about 850 feet of elevation gain. Cairns mark the way at the key turns, but there's no maintained tread, and even hikers who've done it before say it's easy to lose without a topo map and GPS.

What to know

• Access is via Alley Wash Road off Main Street in Escalante to reach Coal Bed Canyon and Mitchell Canyon
• Mark your turnaround point at the ridge line so you can find your way back to the vehicle
• No shade or water sources along the route — this is Grand Staircase-Escalante backcountry, plan accordingly