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Distance: See below
Difficulty: Moderate
Hike Time: Most visitors spend 2 to 3 hours - I spent 4.
Elevation: 6505 ft. at the visitor's center
Season: Year Round
USGS Maps: Moss Back Butte
Directions:
   From: Blanding,
             Utah		 Drive 3mi. South from Blanding on US 191 to the Utah 95 junction and turn West.  Follow 95 for 31 mi. to the Utah 275 junction, turn left and follow 275 for about 5 miles to the visitor's center.

From the visitor's center, you will drive a nine mile, one-way loop that will take you past the four main attractions of Natural Bridges National Monument.  The overlooks are encountered in the following order; Sipapu Bridge (the world's 2nd largest natural bridge), Horsecollar Ruin, Kachina Bridge and Owachomo Bridge.  At each bridge there is a trail down to the bottom of the canyons where there is an un-maintained trail between the Sipapu and Owachomo bridges.

Climbing on the bridges is prohibited.  Pets on leashes are allowed in the park but not in the canyons.  It is common for visitors to drive from outlook to outlook, hiking from each outlook to the base of the bridge below.  The steep hikes are of various lengths; and there are uneven steps, ladders and handrails to assist the hiker.   

It is also popular to hike down to the base of one bridge and then follow the canyon bottom trail to one or two of the other bridges.  The trail takes you below Horsecollar Ruin but I did not see a sign marking the trail to the ruin.  The ruin is about half way between Sipapu and Kachina bridges, somewhat above the canyon floor and to your right as you walk away from the Sipapu bridge.  Fortunately, the northern section of the ruin is very easy to see from the canyon floor if you keep an eye open for it. The trail through the canyons is easy to follow but the footing is very sandy, adding to the difficulty.  Summer temperatures can be very hot so bring plenty of water.  The BLM recommends a gallon per person per day.  Once you leave the canyon, there are clearly marked trails through the center of the park to enable you to loop back to your vehicle.

Loop Trail Distances

  Sipapu Kachina Owachomo
Sipapu 0 5.6 8.6
Kachina 5.6 0 5.4
Owachomo 8.6 5.4 0

Distance in Miles

The bridges are the main attraction, but the ruin is one of the most intriguing places that I have visited.  It alone is worth the drive to the Monument and the five and half mile hike.  Two of the rooms are nearly perfectly round, plastered inside and out, but have extremely unusual entrances.  Their entrances are shaped like horse collars and standout in relief from the surrounding walls.  Unlike most ruin rooms, the rock wall of the alcove was not utilized as the back wall of the room.  In addition, the Kiva is still standing and enough of its roofing is still intact to show how it had been constructed.

Enjoy,

Trekker