# Angel Arch

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Natural arch in San Juan County, Utah

Angel Arch Rock arch East aspect in the morning light Angel Arch Location in Utah Show map of Utah Angel Arch Angel Arch (the United States) Show map of the United States Coordinates: 38°03′07″N 109°45′18″W / 38.0519325°N 109.7551235°W / 38.0519325; -109.7551235[1] Location Canyonlands National Park San Juan County, Utah, U.S. Age Permian Geology Cedar Mesa Sandstone Dimensions • Width 120 ft (37 m) • Height 135 ft (41 m) Elevation 1,735 m (5,692 ft) [1] Topo map USGS Druid Arch

**Angel Arch** is the largest natural arch located within [Canyonlands National Park](/source/Canyonlands_National_Park), in [San Juan County, Utah](/source/San_Juan_County%2C_Utah).[1][2] Some consider it the most beautiful and spectacular arch in the park, if not the entire canyon country.[3] It is situated in a side canyon of Salt Creek Canyon, in the Needles District of the park. Precipitation [runoff](/source/Surface_runoff) from Angel Arch drains north into the nearby [Colorado River](/source/Colorado_River) via Salt Creek. A 29-mile round-trip hike to Angel Arch leads to a viewpoint, and an additional 0.75-mile trail [scrambles](/source/Scrambling) up into the arch opening. The arch's descriptive name comes from its resemblance to an angel with wings folded, and standing with its back to the arch opening.[4] Before this feature's name was officially adopted in 1963 by the [U.S. Board on Geographic Names](/source/U.S._Board_on_Geographic_Names), it was called Pegasus Arch.[1] The [first ascent](/source/First_ascent) was made in June 1993, by John Markel and Kevin Chase.[5]

## Geology

This geological formation is an eroded [fin](/source/Fin_(geology)) composed of [Cedar Mesa Sandstone](/source/Cedar_Mesa_Sandstone), which is the remains of coastal [sand dunes](/source/Dune) deposited about 245–286 million years ago, during the early [Permian](/source/Permian) period.[6] The top of the formation rises 450 feet (140 m) above the canyon floor, and the opening has a height of 135 feet (41 m), and a width of 120 feet (37 m).[7]

## Climate

Spring and fall are the most favorable seasons to visit Angel Arch. According to the [Köppen climate classification](/source/K%C3%B6ppen_climate_classification) system, it is located in a [Cold semi-arid climate](/source/Cold_semi-arid_climate) zone, which is defined by the coldest month having an average mean temperature below −0 °C (32 °F) and at least 50% of the total annual precipitation being received during the spring and summer. This desert climate receives less than 10 inches (250 millimeters) of annual rainfall, and snowfall is generally light during the winter.

## Gallery

		- Angel Arch

		- The Molar (left) and Angel Arch at mid-day

		- East aspect in afternoon

		- Southeast aspect

		- Southwest aspect

## See also

- [Colorado Plateau](/source/Colorado_Plateau)

- [Geology of Utah](/source/Geology_of_Utah)

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-gnis_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-gnis_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-gnis_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-gnis_1-3) ["Angel Arch"](https://edits.nationalmap.gov/apps/gaz-domestic/public/search/names/1434965). *[Geographic Names Information System](/source/Geographic_Names_Information_System)*. [United States Geological Survey](/source/United_States_Geological_Survey), [United States Department of the Interior](/source/United_States_Department_of_the_Interior). Retrieved August 29, 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Mike White / Douglas Lorain, *Best Backpacking Trips in Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico*, University of Nevada Press, 2016

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** S. W. Lohman, *The Geologic Story of Canyonlands National Park*, Geological Survey Bulletin 1327, U.S. Government Printing Office, 1974, page 68.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Ron Adkinson, *Utah's National Parks*, Wilderness Press, 2001.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["First Ascents-since 1911"](https://www.deserttowersbook.com/first-ascentssince-1911).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-cany_6-0)** ["Canyonlands National Park - Cedar Mesa Sandstone"](https://nps.gov/cany/learn/nature/cedarmesa.htm). [National Park Service](/source/National_Park_Service). Retrieved August 29, 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** [Bob Fagley, Angel Arch](http://www.naturalarches.org/BobsArches/AngelArch1.html)

## External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Angel Arch (Canyonlands National Park)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Angel_Arch_(Canyonlands_National_Park)).

- [Canyonlands National Park](https://www.nps.gov/cany/planyourvisit/needles.htm) National Park Service

- Angel Arch: [weather forecast](https://www.yr.no/en/forecast/daily-table/2-5534445/United%20States/Utah/San%20Juan/Angel%20Arch)

- Angel Arch: [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0VVfMLL4nkY)

- [1956 photo (as Pegasus Arch)](https://calisphere.org/item/1fd3c82e1ac9ed14e0a6f685e12183b4/)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Angel Arch](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angel_Arch) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angel_Arch?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.