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Natural Arches to Photograph in the USA

750 natural arches in 38 states, each with computed light, night-sky and weather data for planning. Pick a state, or start with the most documented locations below.

Top natural arches

Delicate ArchNatural Arch
Delicate ArchGrand County, UT
Natural BridgeNatural Arch
Natural BridgeRockbridge County, VA
Landscape ArchNatural Arch
Landscape ArchGrand County, UT
Kolob ArchNatural Arch
Kolob ArchWashington County, UT
Double ArchNatural Arch
Double ArchGrand County, UT
Hickman Natural BridgeNatural Arch
Hickman Natural BridgeWayne County, UT
Double O ArchNatural Arch
Double O ArchGrand County, UT
Druid ArchNatural Arch
Druid ArchSan Juan County, UT
Wilson ArchNatural Arch
Wilson ArchSan Juan County, UT
Grosvenor ArchNatural Arch
Grosvenor ArchKane County, UT
Mesa ArchNatural Arch
Mesa ArchSan Juan County, UT
Angel ArchNatural Arch
Angel ArchSan Juan County, UT
Cassidys ArchNatural Arch
Cassidys ArchWayne County, UT
Broken ArchNatural Arch
Broken ArchGrand County, UT
Arch RockNatural Arch
Arch RockMackinac County, MI
Corona ArchNatural Arch
Corona ArchGrand County, UT
Sipapu BridgeNatural Arch
Sipapu BridgeSan Juan County, UT
Stevens ArchNatural Arch
Stevens ArchKane County, UT
Turret ArchNatural Arch
Turret ArchGrand County, UT
Skyline ArchNatural Arch
Skyline ArchGrand County, UT
Kachina BridgeNatural Arch
Kachina BridgeSan Juan County, UT
Yellowstone Natural BridgeNatural Arch
Yellowstone Natural BridgeTeton County, WY
Wall ArchNatural Arch
Wall ArchGrand County, UT
Wrather ArchNatural Arch
Wrather ArchCoconino County, AZ

By state

Map

How to photograph natural arches

Arches glow when reflected light bounces off nearby rock — the underside of an arch often turns bright orange just after sunrise or before sunset.

  • Frame distant features through the opening of the arch for a natural window.
  • At night, arches make classic Milky Way foregrounds; low-level lighting or blue hour exposures keep the rock detailed.
  • Use a wide lens and get close to emphasize the span against the sky.
  • Never climb on arches; many are fragile and climbing is prohibited on park lands.
  • Midday sun creates hard shadows, but can light the underside through reflection in narrow canyons.

Season: Spring and autumn offer mild temperatures in desert arch country; summer heat is extreme at midday.