Christmas Tree Arch

Christmas Tree Arch, Arches National Park, Moab

Christmas Tree Arch is located in the Windows Section of Arches National Park.  Park between Double Arch and the North Window, and take off between the canyon walls between the two arches.  We hiked to Christmas Tree most recently in November of 2023 with snow on the ground.  I think there is a primitive trail that would take you to the arch, but we only found a few cairns to follow and otherwise were exploring without a trail.  My son James and I had been there before, so we knew what we were looking for and basically how to get there.  Christmas Tree Arch is at the very end of a canyon and you can't see it until you get there, so don't give up!  When you see the fin with Little Duck Window in it, hike around it, and that next canyon is the one that houses Christmas Tree Arch at the very end.

You can climb inside the arch, but on the other side is a sheer cliff drop-off.  Christmas Tree Arch is about halfway to Ribbon Arch, so after you visit this one, go around the next fin and keep walking until you see Ribbon Arch up in the cliffs on the left.

This was our hike to Ribbon Arch.  Christmas Tree is the left-handed jut in the middle.  Ribbon Arch is the little circle up at the top.  The green dot is where we parked our car.  The red dot was after we hiked through the North Window on our way back.

Hiking off into the snow

Slippery and icy in the November snow

cute tiny arches that we found

our views of Christmas Tree Arch as we got closer to it

My son James was the only one who dared to climb into the arch because of all the ice

Jamey taking a photo of us from inside the arch

view of us from inside the arch

James taking a photo from under the arch

Under Christmas Tree Arch

James making his way back down from Christmas Tree Arch

The hike back down

In 2012 my son James and I visited Christmas Tree Arch:

2012