Conditions Right Now
Use sunset as your turnaround alarm.
Why Hike This
You can stand on top of this one, which is rare and which changes the whole experience. The trail leaves the Grand Wash floor and climbs slickrock to arrive at the arch from above, so the first view is looking down through the opening rather than up at it. There are no railings and the drop-offs are real, so this is a poor choice for a kid who runs. The trailhead sits on the Grand Wash dirt spur off the paved Scenic Drive, fine for passenger cars but subject to closure after storms.
The Trail
You can walk ON TOP of this arch. Named for Butch Cassidy, who hid nearby.
Pack Loadout (Strenuous)
3+ liters water, broken-in boots, layers for weather swings, headlamp, real food (jerky, trail mix), trekking poles, first-aid kit, and an early start.
Difficulty follows the National Park Service’s own rating for this trail (source).
Getting There
Make it a weekend: Fruita Campground (Camping, 0 mi) · Singletree Campground (Camping, 14 mi) · Boulder Mountain Lakes (Fishing, 21 mi) · Fish Lake (Fishing, 31 mi)
More hikes nearby: Navajo Knobs (Hike, 1 mi) · Hickman Bridge (Hike, 1 mi) · Grand Wash (Hike, 2 mi) · Capitol Gorge & The Tanks (Hike, 7 mi)
Quick Answers
- How long is the Cassidy Arch hike?
- 3.1 miles round trip with 666 feet of elevation gain.
- How hard is Cassidy Arch?
- Strenuous. Kid rating: 3 out of 5.
- When should I hike Cassidy Arch?
- Best season: Spring & Fall.
- Why hike Cassidy Arch?
- Walking on top of a natural arch is not something most parks allow, and Cassidy Arch is one of the rare places you can. The route climbs steadily over open slickrock out of Grand Wash and delivers you onto the span itself. There is no railing and no fence, so treat the edges with respect.