Sight · Capitol Reef National Park
A remote double arch for experienced canyon hikers.
Overview
Brimhall Natural Bridge is a remote double arch in Brimhall Canyon, a side canyon of Halls Creek along the Waterpocket Fold. Reaching it from Halls Creek Overlook is a serious backcountry outing: allow about 4.7 miles round trip and three to five hours, with a drop of more than 800 feet, wading and exposed scrambling; a pool may be deep enough to require swimming. Save it for experienced canyon hikers comfortable with route-finding and changing conditions. You can also see the bridge from Halls Creek Overlook without making the descent.
Parkwolf’s verdictIs this the hike for you?Map
Plan your stop
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Capitol Reef Tour Guide
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Capitol Reef National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
See the Capitol Reef audio tour“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Guide
From the Capitol Reef Visitor Center, the drive to Halls Creek Overlook is about 56 miles, including roughly three rough miles on the final road. High-clearance four-wheel drive is recommended for that stretch; the road can be impassable when wet. The hike itself descends from the overlook, crosses the valley floor and enters the side canyon. Carry drinking water, and check current road and water advisories before setting out.
This is an unusual pair of natural openings in sandstone, carved by erosion in Brimhall Canyon. The Waterpocket Fold began forming about 50 to 70 million years ago, as sandstone layers tilted; erosion later shaped its cliffs and arches. From Halls Creek Overlook, the bridge sits within a broad view of the folded rock and desert.
The bridge is named for Dr. Dean Brimhall, an authority on prehistoric Native rock art in Utah’s canyon country. It is a natural formation, not a built crossing.
From the overlook, include some of the Waterpocket Fold around the bridge so the picture shows its scale and setting. Down in the canyon, the double arch rises above a bend; the close view comes only after the steep descent and water obstacles. Keep to the established route rather than scrambling for a camera angle.
Wildlife
50 sightingsBighorn SheepMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
322 sightingsMule DeerMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
70 sightingsMarmotMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
13 sightingsCottontail RabbitMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
33 sightingsTurkeyMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
14 sightingsRavenMost seen around 9 AMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Capitol Reef. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
Keep exploring
ChallengingHalls Creek Narrows22.4 mi · 3.5 days · 1.2 mi awayA remote 22.4-mile backpack through a water-filled sandstone canyon.
ChallengingBrimhall Natural Bridge Trail4.6 mi · 4 hr · 1.2 mi awayA 4.6-mile arch hike with a steep return and possible swim.
ChallengingHalls Creek Overlook Trail2.4 mi · 3 hr · 1.2 mi awayA steep, cairned descent into Halls Creek’s quiet canyon floor.Parkwolf’s Capitol Reef ranking
The audio tour guide for the drive, plus offline maps, trails, and wildlife heatmaps for when the signal drops.
