Loop Trail,
Natural Bridges National Monument
The Loop Trail is a very popular trail as it provides hikers with an opportunity to hike through all three of the Natural Bridges, the Sipapu Bridge, Kachina Bridge and the Owachomo Bridge.
Elevation
The Loop Trail has a maximum elevation of 5,871 ft., a minimum elevation of 5,631 ft. and an elevation range of 240 ft.
Metrics
| [ A to B ] or [ B to A ] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Length 2 | Min Ele 3 | Max Ele 4 | Range 5 |
| 5.6 mi | 5,631 ft | 5,871 ft | 240 ft |
| [ A to B ] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Time 6 | Floors 7 | Gain 8 | Loss 9 |
| 2.5 hrs | 10.3 | 124 ft | 216 ft |
| [ B to A ] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Time | Floors | Gain | Loss |
| 2.5 hrs | 18.0 | 216 ft | 124 ft |
Calories
The following chart shows the total calories that you may expend on the trail while hiking in both directions. The chart is based on data derived from a statistical model of energy expenditure that relates gross weight, typical speed and trail topography.
Topo Maps
Download the PDF Loop Trail topo map and the adjoining quads to plan your hike. These are full-sheet, 7.5 Minute (1:24,000 scale) topographic maps.
Adjoining 7.5' Quadrangle Legend
- Northwest Topo Map: Jacobs Chair, UT
- North Topo Map: The Cheesebox, UT
- Northeast Topo Map: Woodenshoe Buttes, UT
- West Topo Map: Fry Spring, UT
- Topo Map: Moss Back Butte, UT
- East Topo Map: Kane Gulch, UT
- Southwest Topo Map: Red House Spring, UT
- South Topo Map: Pollys Pasture, UT
- Southeast Topo Map: Cedar Mesa North, UT
FAQ
What is the length of the Loop Trail?
The length of the trail is 5.6 miles (9.0 km) or 12,292 steps.
How long does it take to hike the Loop Trail?
A person in good physical health can hike the trail in 2.5 hours in one direction and in 2.5 hours in the opposite direction.
Warnings
Prevent tick bites: Treat clothing and gear, such as boots, pants, socks and tents with products containing 0.5% permethrin.
(cdc.gov)
- The Brown dog tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus) may be present in this area. The Brown dog tick transmits Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.
- The Rocky Mountain wood tick (Dermacentor andersoni) may be present in this area. The Rocky Mountain wood tick transmits Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Colorado Tick Fever, and Tularemia.
- The Western blacklegged tick (Ixodes pacificus) may be present in this area. The Western blacklegged tick transmits Anaplasmosis and Lyme Disease.
Footnotes
- Steps is a unit of distance equal to the sum of stride lengths that vary with the terrain.
- Length is the distance of the trail between the two trailheads, measured on the trail.
- Min Ele is the minimum elevation on the trail.
- Max Ele is the maximum elevation on the trail.
- Range is the difference between maximum and minimum elevation.
- Time is the typical total time required to hike the trail.
- Floors is the gain divided by twelve feet, the height of one floor.
- Gain (cumulative elevation gain) is the sum of every gain in elevation.
- Loss (cumulative elevation loss) is the sum of every loss in elevation.