Arch Canyon Track
Trail Length: 8.1 miles
Low-End Rating: 3
High-End Rating: 4
When it has been raining this trail may not be accessible. If there is a chance of rain you should not be in this canyon. But if the weather is good and has been good then you can have a really good time all the way to the end. If you hike at the end the trip is even better.
The trail is easy to find. It starts on the left just after the start of the Comb Ridge trail, just before crossing the creek coming out of Arch Canyon. If you have been to the overlook on Posey's Trail you can get a very good view of this deep canyon.
At the start of the trail it goes into the creek and the trail turns immediately left. Note that if go straight through this creek crossing you will end up in some campsites instead. If you have found the trail you will find a kiosk with lots of information.
The start of the trail is the muddiest so you will find out right away if the trail is passable or not. It is not recommended to run this trail alone or without a winch as it's easy to get stuck. Do not go around the muddy areas if the trail goes through them.
Mixed in with the muddy areas is a detour to see the Arch Canyon Ruin. It is a short trip and an easy walk and it's marked with a sign. These are some of the easiest ruins to get to and they should not be missed.
Continue along the trail and pass under the overlook on the Hotel Rock trail. The canyon is narrow here and the creek crossings continue, but the mud is usually easier to deal with. The creek bottom turns to hard sand instead.
You will see a canyon on the right and the tip of rock made by that canyon houses the Jailhouse Ruin. It can be hard to spot. Look for two logs used in the ruin's construction set vertical and parallel to each other.
Keep working your way through sandy stretches, rocky sections, and hills. The trail is very rarely straight. The canyon starts to open up and you can spot the Mule Canyon Ruins on the left.
There are still creek crossings all the way to the end but they will become much less of a concern. If you look to the left as you get close to the end of the 4x4 trail you can see the white rock where the overlook is on the Texas Flat trail. That overlook provides an easy way to see the end of the Arch Canyon trail.
The trail eventually ends at a wide, flat and shady area for parking. There is a campsite near the end as well. There are signs that mark the way to the hiking trail to see the arches. You can see the Cathedral Arch from the parking area.
The hike to Angel Arch is an easy one and it isn't far from the parking area. If you hike a much longer distance all the way to the end of Arch Canyon you can see Keystone Arch.
Return the way you came in.