Top natural arches
Natural ArchClifty Creek Natural Bridge
Natural ArchGrand Gulf Natural Bridge
Natural ArchCassville Natural Bridge
Natural ArchSandy Creek Natural Bridge
Natural ArchSt James Natural Bridge
Natural ArchRoche Percée Natural Arch
Natural ArchRock Bridge
Natural ArchRound Spring Natural Bridge
Natural ArchTurner Natural Bridge
Natural ArchHahatonka Natural Bridge
Natural ArchGateway Arch
Natural ArchDuChien Cave Natural Bridge
Natural Arches by county
All natural arches (32)
| Name | County | Elevation | Nearest town | Sky |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clifty Creek Natural Bridge | Maries County | 213 m | Dixon | 3 |
| Grand Gulf Natural Bridge | Oregon County | 209 m | Thayer | 2 |
| Cassville Natural Bridge | Barry County | 384 m | Cassville | 3 |
| Sandy Creek Natural Bridge | Lincoln County | 170 m | Bowling Green | 3 |
| St James Natural Bridge | Phelps County | 259 m | Saint James | 4 |
| Roche Percée Natural Arch | Boone County | 192 m | Columbia | 4 |
| Rock Bridge | Boone County | 187 m | Columbia | 5 |
| Round Spring Natural Bridge | Shannon County | 208 m | Winona | 2 |
| Turner Natural Bridge | Shannon County | 319 m | Salem | 2 |
| Hahatonka Natural Bridge | Camden County | 245 m | Camdenton | 4 |
| Gateway ArchGateway Arch | City of Saint Louis | 138 m | St. Louis | 8 |
| DuChien Cave Natural Bridge | Pike County | 212 m | Bowling Green | 3 |
| Unity Village Natural Bridge | Jackson County | 269 m | Lee's Summit | 7 |
| Hootentown Natural Arch | Stone County | 348 m | Clever | 3 |
| Lost Hill Natural Arch | Greene County | 341 m | Springfield | 6 |
| Dry Sac Arch | Greene County | 352 m | Springfield | 6 |
| Gravois Mills Natural Bridge | Morgan County | 227 m | Versailles | 2 |
| Henley Natural Arch | Cole County | 207 m | Wardsville | 3 |
| Ash Cave Natural Arch | Barry County | 385 m | Cassville | 3 |
| Needles Eye Natural Arch | Wright County | 358 m | Mountain Grove | 2 |
| Cliffdale Hollow Natural Bridge | Jefferson County | 153 m | Crystal City | 4 |
| Haynie Branch Natural Bridges | St. Clair County | 276 m | Humansville | 2 |
| Arch Cave | Miller County | 185 m | Wardsville | 2 |
| Bat Cave Arch | Miller County | 195 m | Wardsville | 3 |
| Paddy Creek Natural Arch | Texas County | 287 m | Licking | 2 |
| Anvil Rock Arch | Osage County | 201 m | Taos | 3 |
| The Emerald Grotto | Shannon County | 245 m | Salem | 2 |
| Pickle Springs Double Arch | Sainte Genevieve County | 274 m | Farmington | 3 |
| Selmore Natural Arch | Christian County | 371 m | Ozark | 5 |
| Sweden Fork Natural Bridge | Douglas County | 325 m | Ava | 2 |
| Kaintuck Hollow Natural Bridge | Phelps County | 265 m | Rolla | 3 |
| Pinnacles Bluff Arch | Phelps County | 269 m | Saint James | 4 |
Sky = estimated Bortle class (1 darkest – 9 brightest).
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.