Rainbow Bridge National Monument
By its wonderous size, to say nothing of its majesty and mystery, Rainbow Bridge has inspired humans throughout time. The arch is 290 ft high and spans 275 feet across the river; the top of the arch is 42 feet thick and 33 feet wide.

Tucked among the rugged, isolated canyons at the base of Navajo Mountain, Rainbow Bridge has long been held sacred by Native Americans. Ancestral Puebloan residents were followed by Paiute and Navajo groups. Several Paiute and Navajo families still reside nearby.

By the 1800s, Rainbow Bridge was also surely seen by wandering trappers, prospectors, and cowboys. Not until 1909, though, was its existence publicized to the outside world. Two separate exploration parties with Paiute guides endured heat, slickrock slopes, treacherous ledges, and sandstone mazes. Late in the afternoon of August 14, coming down what is now Bridge Canyon, the party saw Rainbow Bridge.

The next year, on May 30, President William Howard Taft created the National Monument. After the initial publicity, a few more adventurers journeyed to Rainbow Bridge. Teddy Roosevelt and Zane Grey were among the early travelers who made the arduous trek from Oljeto or Navajo Mountain.

Permit Information
There is no camping in Rainbow. Permit from the Navajo Nation is required for backpacking trail access to this monument; write to Navajo Nation, Parks and Recreation Department, Box 9000, Window Rock, Arizona 86515. No permit required for boat access.

Directions
Access is by private, rental, and tour boats across Lake Powell; a courtesy dock is available for short-term docking while people make the 1/2 mile walk to the bridge. Backpackers may travel by land; permit from the Navajo Nation is REQUIRED.

Information Center
There is a small ranger station at Dangling Rope Marina, approximately 10 miles south of Rainbow Bridge. It is only accessible by water. There are outdoor exhibits at Rainbow Bridge.

Activities