Natural Bridges: Hiking to Sipapu Bridge

Hiking to Sipapu Bridge at Natural Bridges National Monument

Natural Bridges National Monument is a really cool area located in southern Utah. It pretty far off the beaten path, and a bit isolated but its beauty is right up there with Arches National Park. Just in a smaller version with less people! The park has a few bridges that are accessible by trail and the first one that you will come to is Sipapu Bridge. The hike to Sipapu Bridge is short but is surprisingly challenging but the views you are rewarded with are worth the effort.

Getting Started

Natural Bridges is about 40 miles from any towns on Utah 275. The drive out to it takes you through Bears Ears National Monument and is really lovely in the rock formations and isolations. Once you arrive at Natural Bridges there will be a visitor center to the right and then a long looping road that only heads in one direction. This loop will take you to the bridges and the first trailhead on the trip is Sipapu Bridge.

The Sipapu Bridge Trailhead has the most parking of all of the bridges and seemed to be very popular. The trail is very exposed and can get very hot so you will want to make sure you are prepared with water, sunscreen and a hat to block the sun. There is also a lot of walking on rock and sand and different levels of incline so I would suggest some shoes that have good grip as well before heading down the trail. Finally, there is a vertical ladder that you will need to take so this trail might not be right for everyone if you have a physical limitation.

The Trail to Sipapu Bridge

The trail to Sipapu Bridge begins with a quick walk across the flat boulders just off the parking lot. The trail is marked with rocks and small cairns and is pretty easy to follow but its also a great place to take in the grandeur of the entire scene.

The trail descends rather quickly with the help of a steel staircase that is bolted to the rock. Then a little further down the trail it descends even quicker with a vertical ladder that is attached to the rock. Between these steel steps, the rock is shaped into large steps that are intertwined with sandy dirt patches. Green trees and bushes grow just off the trail. Just tall enough to obscure some views but not quite tall enough to cast any useful shade.

The pitch of the trail was surprisingly steep for me. There is a pretty consistent grade in the 20-25% range. Those steep sections paired with slick rock made footing a bit tricky. There are handrails built in to the rock in certain areas that are helpful but it is a good idea to go slow and watch your footing. The trail leads to the base of the bridge but I didn’t make it all the way to the bottom. There was a couple enjoying that spot and the late summer vegetation had grown up and made for a difficult pass so I just enjoyed from about 100 yards from the base.

Views Along the Way

While the views are pretty epic for the entire, albeit short, hike, there is one spot that I really enjoyed. Just past the ladder there is a small extra trail that takes you to a view point. This trail is across some slick rock next to a giant wall of rock but the view is really worth the detour.

It gives a really nice perspective of the bridge before getting below it. There are other nice views of Sipapu Bridge throughout the hike. It helped me to stop and take breaks along the way to make sure that I didn’t get moving too fast down the steeper sections.

The closer I got the bigger the bridge looked. It is pretty impressive seeing these giant structures that sit above a stream bed. Seemingly dangling in the air but probably as sturdy as any man made bridge.

The hike to Sipapu Bridge isn’t very long but it is surprisingly steep but the views make each step worth it. I really enjoyed this hike and seeing the first of the bridges at Natural Bridges National Monument.

Video of the Hike to Sipapu Bridge at Natural Bridges

I have put this time-lapse video together of hiking to Sipapu Bridge at Natural Bridges National Monument so other hikers can get a feel of what the hike is like. If you enjoy this video make sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel. It is free to subscribe and you will get the latest outdoor content.

Distance and Elevation

If you don’t have the AllTrails app you might want to check it out, I really love mine. It records your progress and is a great way to search for hikes that are nearby and gives you difficulty measurements. According to AllTrails today’s hike was around 1.31 miles and had a total elevation gain of about 472 feet including undulations. That put the high point at around 6,208 feet. I was also moving for a total of 49 minutes.

Effort

For being such a short hike, the trek down to Sipapu Bridge was surprisingly hard. There is a steep staircase next to a rock wall and even a vertical ladder that you will have to manage on your way down to the base. As you get close to the base, the rock gets rather slick. Then it is back up the trail where you gain about 500 feet of elevation in around three-quarters of a mile. This was one of those that surprised me a bit so I am going to list it as a moderate hike.

Terrain

The terrain around Sipapu Bridge is a mix of softer sand like dirt, some slick rock, and steps made of stone. There is even a ladder to climb to get down to the base of the bridge. I was there on a sunny September day so it was pretty easy to navigate but I think it would be a challenge with any ice or snow or rain in the area. I would suggest a good pair of hiking boots or shoes with good grip to deal with the rocks.

Access

Natural Bridges National Monument is a bit in the middle of nowhere but the drive is really stunning. It is located on Utah 275. If you are coming from the north there is a stretch of about 40 miles (80 roundtrip) with no services. There is an entry fee at the Monument. Twenty dollars per vehicle and fifteen dollars per night to camp. The fees are collected at the visitor center and there are restrooms and several of the stops along the park loop.

Wrapping Up the Hike to Sipapu Bridge at Natural Bridges National Monument

This was a cool hike. The first bridge at Natural Bridges didn’t disappoint. I was really surprised at how challenging the hike was. Especially because it was such a short distance. Once I made it past the ladder and staircase it became really enjoyable and full of amazing views.

The hike is pretty steep and can be hard so I don’t know if this is for everyone but if you can make it is worth it. It is such a long and pretty drive to get this point. It felt great to get out of the car and enjoy the natural beauty of the Natural Bridges.

I have added this hike and all of my hikes to the interactive map page you can find here. If you have any suggestions for hikes or comments feel free to email me at fatmanlittletrails@gmail.com or you can follow me on any of the below social media platforms. Happy Hiking!

Gallery of the hike to Sipapu Bridge at Natural Bridges