Natural Bridges National Monument covers a relatively small area in southeast Utah, close to scenic highway UT 95 between Hanksville and Blanding. It features three huge, stream-carved natural bridges as well as a concentration of Anasazi Indian ruins. The bridges are named Kachina, Owachomo and Sipapu. A natural bridge is formed through erosion by water flowing in the stream bed of the canyon. During periods of flash floods, particularly, the stream undercuts the walls of rock that separate the meanders of the stream, until the rock wall within the meander is undercut and the meander is cut off.

Owachomo Bridge

Owachomo Bridge

Kachina Bridge at NBNM

Sipapu Bridge at NBNM

Bears Ears (near NBNM)

Bears Ears (near NBNM)

Welcome to Natural Bridges National Monument

credit: dvs

Rainbow Bridge is the largest natural bridge in the world at 290 feet (88 meters) tall and 270 feet (83 meters) across. The bridge has been formed by erosion of the sandstone by water flowing from Navajo Mountain towards the Colorado River. The bridge can be reached by a two-hour boat ride on Lake Powell from either of two marinas near Page, Arizona. It is located in one of the most rugged and remote regions of the United States, it was discovered in 1909 by an expedition that set out to find the great stone arch rumored by the Native Americans.

credit: Hansen, W.R.