Jeep Arch (Gold Bar Arch) Trail

Jeep Arch (Gold Bar Arch) Trail

Page Type Page Type: Route
Location Lat/Lon: 38.59907°N / 109.63955°W
Additional Information Route Type: Hiking
Seasons Season: Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Additional Information Time Required: Half a day
Additional Information Difficulty: Hike
Sign the Climber's Log

Overview

Jeep Arch (aka Gold Bar Arch) rises at the upper end of a beautiful stony canyon to the north of Colorado River near the town of Moab, Utah. Jeep Arch is so called because, with some imagination, the opening of the arch may appear as the silhouette of a Jeep. A trail/beaten path start on Potash Road near Colorado River, goes through a culvert under railroad tracks and then climbs 900 vertical feet up the canyon to reach the arch. La Sal Mountains can be seen through the opening of Jeep Arch.


Jeep Arch Map
Jeep Arch Map

Getting There

From Moab follow Route 191 north. Cross the Colorado River and continue 1.4 miles until you see the sign for State Route 279 (Potash Road). Turn left (west) onto this road and follow it paralleling Colorado River. A little more than 11 miles, you will see a sign for Corona Arch Trailhead. Park just beyond this trailhead where you see a culvert under railroad tracks. You will have to hike through this culvert. I did not see any signs for Jeep Arch Trail.

Route Description

Trailhead Elevation: 3960 ft
Elevation at Jeep Arch: 4860 ft
Distance: 2.1 miles one way




At the trailhead, you will see a culvert running through a railroad embankment. Hike through the culvert.

Trail goes through the culvert
Hiking through the culvertWalking through the culvert



Right after exiting the culvert, I saw a sign saying “Jeep Arch Trail” pointing to the left (west). The trail took me up the western slopes of the canyon a short distance and then came to a sudden end. I did not know why that misleading sign was there. If you have any information about the sign, please let me know (see information provided by others under "Comments"). The route described here ignores the sign and remains at the bottom of the canyon for some time.

You will find yourself at the bottom of a canyon. Follow the beaten path up the canyon.

Canyon, right after exiting the culvert



You will then reach a dry water pour-over. A beaten path on the right (east) side of the canyon will take you above the pour-over

First pour-over
Near the first pour-over



Continue up the canyon until you reach a second pour-over. A pool of water may be spotted at the base of this pour-over. A path on the right side will take you to its top.

Near the second dry pour-over
Water pool from above the second pour-over



The floor of the canyon will now be made of slickrock. Boulders come to fill the canyon.

Boulder filled canyon, where you exit the canyon
Slickrock canyon, near where you climb out



You will need to leave the floor of the canyon at this spot. Locate the cairns on the left side that take you up a slope.

The cairns show the route up the slopeCairns showing the way up the slopes



Looking back down into the canyon:

Looking back down into the canyon
Boulder filled canyon, looking back down after leaving the canyon



Continue following the cairns up the western slopes of the canyon.

On Jeep Arch Trail
On Jeep Arch Trail
On Jeep Arch Trail
On Jeep Arch Trail



Once you get near this tower, the trail splits starting a loop. You can go one way and return the other.

Where the loop starts



Continuing up:

On Jeep Arch Trail
On Jeep Arch trail
On Jeep Arch Trail
On Jeep Arch Trail




On Jeep Arch Trail
On Jeep Arch Trail
On Jeep Arch Trail
On Jeep Arch Trail



East face of Jeep Arch:

East face of Jeep ArchEast face of Jeep Arch



West face of Jeep Arch:

West face of Jeep Arch
West face of Jeep Arch



La Sal Mountains seen through the opening of the arch:

La Sal Mountains seen through the openning of Jeep Arch



Views from the arch:

Colorado River more than 900 ft below, as seen from Jeep ArchColorado River barely seen
Views near Jeep Arch
Views near Jeep Arch
Views near Jeep Arch





Essential Gear

Hiking equipment.




Parents 

Parents

Parents refers to a larger category under which an object falls. For example, theAconcagua mountain page has the 'Aconcagua Group' and the 'Seven Summits' asparents and is a parent itself to many routes, photos, and Trip Reports.