Utah · Hiking

Willow Gulch and Broken Bow Arch Trail

2.0 mi
round trip
389 ft
climb
4,197 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Mar–May, Oct–Nov
best months

Clear today

Weather is good · OpenWeather · checked 9 h ago

Is Willow Gulch and Broken Bow Arch Trail open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. It doesn't name Willow Gulch and Broken Bow Arch Trail, so check the source for the area it covers (2 listed).

As of · Source: NPS · Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Willow Gulch and Broken Bow Arch Trail is an easy hike in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area in Utah, managed by the National Park Service. The route is about 1.95 miles long, with a total elevation gain of 389 feet, and it makes an out-and-back trip of roughly 3.9 miles from a low point of about 3,796 feet to a high of about 4,197 feet. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from the nearby Bullfrog Basin weather station show April highs around 72°F and October highs around 73°F, while July averages about 100°F. A fee is charged for the visit. The trail sits within the recreation area, so plan for that before you head out. Nearby options include the Fifty-Mile Canyon Trail about 2.5 miles away and the Sunset and Moonrise Arch Trail about 4.8 miles away. Climbers can find the Escalante Arm about 5.2 miles off, and the Coyote Gulch - Crack-In-The-Wall Trail is about 5.5 miles away.

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

  • Best time to go · Mar–May, Oct–Nov

    Best time to visit Willow Gulch and Broken Bow Arch Trail

    Best months: March–May and October–November. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      46° / 26°

      4 wet · 1 snow

    2. Feb

      53° / 30°

      4 wet · 1 snow

    3. Mar

      63° / 36°

      4 wet

    4. Apr

      72° / 44°

      3 wet

    5. May

      82° / 53°

      3 wet

    6. Jun

      94° / 64°

      1 wet

    7. Jul

      100° / 71°

      3 wet

    8. Aug

      97° / 68°

      4 wet

    9. Sep

      88° / 60°

      4 wet

    10. Oct

      73° / 46°

      3 wet

    11. Nov

      58° / 34°

      3 wet

    12. Dec

      46° / 26°

      3 wet · 1 snow

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Bullfrog Basin, UT, 21.9 mi away at 3,822 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Sunset and Moonrise Arch TrailPhoto: John Fowler from Placitas, NM, USA, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Sunset and Moonrise Arch Trail

~8 min drive

1.30-mile out-and-back hike in Utah with 292 ft elevation loss.

Coyote Gulch - Crack-In-The-Wall TrailPhoto: Greg Willis from Denver, CO, usa, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Coyote Gulch - Crack-In-The-Wall Trail

~9 min drive

5.06-mile out-and-back hike in Utah with 1,037 ft elevation gain and loss.

Lower Dry Fork TrailPhoto: Greg Willis from Denver, CO, usa, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Lower Dry Fork Trail

~25 min drive

2.88-mile out-and-back trail in Utah with 1,262 ft elevation gain/loss

HIKE

Hole In the Rock Trail

~36 min drive

37.64-mile out-and-back trail in Utah with 3,398 ft elevation gain and loss.

Fortymile Ridge TrailPhoto: Greg Willis from Denver, CO, usa, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Fortymile Ridge Trail

~9 min drive

0.57-mile out-and-back hike on Fortymile Ridge in Utah with 42 ft of elevation gain.

Reflection Canyon TrailPhoto: Jason Hollinger, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Reflection Canyon Trail

~10 min drive

15.14-mile out-and-back hike in Utah with 1,667 ft elevation gain.

HIKE

Fifty-Mile Canyon Trail

~4 min drive

2.98-mile out-and-back trail in Utah with 4,551 ft elevation gain.

Coyote Gulch - Jacob Hamblin TrailPhoto: Greg Willis from Denver, CO, usa, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Coyote Gulch - Jacob Hamblin Trail

~11 min drive

0.06-mile lollipop trail in Utah with 13 ft of elevation loss.

Coyote Gulch - Jacob Hamblin Arch TrailPhoto: Greg Willis from Denver, CO, usa, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Coyote Gulch - Jacob Hamblin Arch Trail

~11 min drive

4.0-mile out-and-back hike in Utah with 740 ft elevation gain.

HIKE

Hole In The Rock Trail

~14 min drive

0.55-mile out-and-back trail in Utah with 792 ft elevation loss.

Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors