Uranium Arch

Uranium Arch, just north of Moab, Utah off highway 191

I have only been to Uranium Arch twice.  The first time was in 1999 after we bought our suburban and could finally go on the many four wheel drive trails in and around Moab.  The second time was in 2023 over Thanksgiving break.  We went there on our way in to Moab.  There are a few ways to get to Uranium Arch, but all require four wheel drive.  We went the shorter way, which means pulling off highway 191 less than a mile before you reach the turn for highway 313 (leading to Canyonlands).  The 4wd road was a lot rougher than we remembered, so we ended up leaving our suburban when we were still 2 miles out from the arch, and just hiking the rest of the way.  The hike wasn't bad, but since there are multiple roads leading to Uranium Arch, we ended up taking the wrong road back and having to hike cross-country to our car when we saw it off in the distance after we had passed the 2 mile mark of our trek back.  Next time we go, we will turn on highway 313 and come in on 7 mile rim road and just walk the last half mile, because I think the rest of the road would be more mild than the way we went.  I don't remember the road being as rough when we went in 1999, or maybe our old beat-up suburban could just handle more than our new suburban.

Uranium Arch is one of my favorite arches.  It is one that is pretty easy to get on top of and underneath.  My daughter Lizzie did a cartwheel on top of it while we watched from below.  There were several other groups of people there when we went in 2023, but we had the arch all to ourselves in 1999. The round trip including hiking and driving on the 4 wheel drive trail took us about 2 1/2 hours total.  It is definitely worth the trip!  If you don't have a 4wd car you will not be able to make it.  And the hike would be pretty long if you hiked the entire thing.  If you're able to rent a jeep, this arch should be at the top of your list when visiting Moab!

starting the 2 mile trek from where we parked our suburban to Uranium Arch

we had great views of the Monitor and Merrimack off in the distance

There were plenty of signs along the way

We got passed by several vehicles that were better equipped than we were for the road

There were several signs directing us to the arch

There is our first glimpse of the arch

My husband James on top of the arch

My daughter Lizzie under the arch

Me under one of my favorite arches

View from underneath the arch

cave under the arch

view of the arch from inside the cave

Uranium Arch

Lizzie climbing onto the arch

Lizzie on top of Uranium Arch

Lizzie doing a cartwheel on the arch

Me and Lizzie on top of Uranium Arch

I was pretty scared by myself on top of the arch - I am so afraid of heights!

Me and Lizzie on the arch

We turned on this road for 7 mile rim.  Next time we go, we're going to try going straight and see if that road is a little bit milder, because I'm pretty sure it joins up with the other road, since we ended up following a different road on our way back by mistake.

Where we parked we were exactly 2 miles from the arch

Lizzie's view from on top of the arch

On top of Uranium Arch

the opening between the arch and the cave

scenic view from on top of the arch

This was our hike back to the car, since we ended up taking the wrong road back, and saw our car off in the distance, so hiked cross-country back to it.

1999, James with my sons Ethan and Ian under Uranium Arch

1999 - it doesn't seem like the arch has changed much in the past 24 years

1999 James and my boys under Uranium Arch

1999, my husband James and our boys at Uranium Arch

1999 - looks like my son Micah is digging in the sand under the arch