Elephant Arch

Elephant Arch is a small natural sandstone arch in the Red Cliffs National Conservation Area and Red Cliffs Desert Reserve, in the hills north of Washington City, Utah. Hikers say its shape looks like the trunk and eye of an elephant. Our Elephant Arch trail guide and directions covers the trailhead, the route and what to bring.

The Arch

The arch is only about 7 feet tall and sits part way up a hillside at the end of the trail, so it is smaller than many people expect. It is on public land managed by the Bureau of Land Management's St. George field office, inside the reserve that protects Mojave desert tortoise habitat.

Hiking Information

The hike starts at the Mill Creek trailhead, on a dirt road about a mile north of Washington Parkway. It follows the Mill Creek Trail, then Bone Wash, then a signed Elephant Arch Trail to the arch, about 3.4 to 3.8 miles round trip with under 300 feet of climbing. Much of the wash is deep sand with little shade. There is no fee, and dogs must be on a leash.

Best Times to Visit

Fall, winter and spring are the best seasons. In summer, start at dawn and carry plenty of water, because the route is exposed to the sun for nearly its whole length.