
Eagle Canyon Arch
Central Swell
Overview
Thu 79 | 61 |
Fri 80 | 58 |
Sat 81 | 58 |
Sun 81 | 58 |
Mon 85 | 60 |
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Thu 79 | 61 |
Fri 80 | 58 |
Sat 81 | 58 |
Sun 81 | 58 |
Mon 85 | 60 |
View Full Weather Details |
Eagle Canyon Arch is an impressive arch tucked into the bottom of Eagle Canyon, south of I-70. The arch, though only having a span of about 12 feet, has a height of about 50 feet and looks dramatic in the context of the deep walls of Eagle Canyon. Reaching the arch can be done either via four-wheel drive vehicle, ATV, or by foot.
If trying to drive to the arch, the easiest route is from Swasey Cabin. Driving from the cabin is fairly narrow, with a few rock ledges and obstacles to negotiate. You will need a true high clearance four-wheel drive vehicle. For my skill level, I was happy to have a mid-size vehicle (Ford Ranger) and am not sure that I could have successfully gotten a full-size pickup down the trail. The stock Ranger had no problem, though a few spots required careful negotiation to avoid scraping the body.
Mountain biking or walking the jeep road is a great option if you don't have a vehicle capable of negotiating the rough road. The trail is somewhat popular, but even so, you are unlikely to encounter too many motor vehicles if walking.
Getting There
The first step is to reach Swasey's Cabin. The directions for reaching that are below.
Take exit 131 from I-70 (about 30 miles west of Green River). Go south off the freeway.
- Reset your odometer at the cattleguard after getting off I-70. ( 12S 529653E 4303574N / 38°52'50"N 110°39'29"W )
- 3.95 miles - Turn right. Signed Swasey Cabin. ( 12S 525563E 4299464N / 38°50'37"N 110°42'20"W )
- 5.0 miles - T-Junction, go right. ( 12S 524103E 4298697N / 38°50'12"N 110°43'20"W )
- 6.7 miles - Good side road on the left. STAY RIGHT. ( 12S 521720E 4299944N / 38°50'53"N 110°44'59"W )
- 7.65 Miles - Junction - Stay right. ( 12S 520577E 4300717N / 38°51'18"N 110°45'46"W )
- 8.5 miles - Junction - Stay left. Right goes to Dutchman Arch/Locomotive Point. ( 12S 519543E 4301501N / 38°51'44"N 110°46'29"W )
- 10.0 miles - Side road on the right to Lone Warrior Pictograph. Stay left for Swasey Cabin. ( 12S 517721E 4300189N / 38°51'01"N 110°47'45"W )
- 10.7 miles - Jct, go right. ( 12S 517774E 4298971N / 38°50'22"N 110°47'43"W )
- 11.4 miles - Swasey Cabin - This is the parking area for low clearance vehicles and the start of the 5-mile round trip hike to the arch. For those with capable vehicles that are continuing the drive, reset your odometer here. Hikers will park here and walk the rest of the rough road. The road begins descending as it heads west and begins making its way to the bottom of Eagle Canyon. ( 12S 516761E 4298620N / 38°50'10"N 110°48'25"W )
- 2.0 miles - Bottom of Eagle Canyon and junction. Go right, heading down canyon. The road in the bottom of Eagle Canyon is much better than the road down. ( 12S 514713E 4299297N / 38°50'33"N 110°49'50"W )
- 2.5 miles - Eagle Canyon Arch parking on the right. ( 12S 514464E 4299874N / 38°50'51"N 110°49'60"W )
- 4.4 miles - Lupacchiotta Side Canyon coming in from the west/left. ( 12S 512333E 4301116N / 38°51'32"N 110°51'28"W )
- 4.8 miles - I-70 Bridges ( 12S 511728E 4301248N / 38°51'36"N 110°51'53"W )
Route
From the big parking area, the arch is a stone's throw away. For the adventurous, you can scramble up to the base of the arch, then around to the left via easy scrambling to get behind the arch. There also appeared to be an easier route to the arch by continuing down Eagle Canyon a couple of hundred feet and climbing the dirt slope.
About 2 miles down from the arch, the road goes under the two arch bridges on I-70. They are very impressive to see from below and worth the side trip, especially if driving.
Swasey Cabin Trailhead |
12S 516755E 4298621N 38°50'10"N 110°48'25"W |
Bottom of Eagle Canyon |
12S 514713E 4299298N 38°50'33"N 110°49'50"W |
Eagle Canyon Arch Parking |
12S 514464E 4299874N 38°50'51"N 110°49'60"W |
Lupacchiotta Side Canyon |
12S 512333E 4301116N 38°51'32"N 110°51'28"W |
I-70 Bridge |
12S 511728E 4301248N 38°51'36"N 110°51'53"W |
I-70 |
12S 512912E 4301803N 38°51'54"N 110°51'04"W |
Rough Road Return to I-70 |
12S 510408E 4301828N 38°51'55"N 110°52'48"W |
Roughest Spot |
12S 511462E 4301871N 38°51'56"N 110°52'04"W |