
Natural Bridges National Monument was designated the world's first International Dark Sky Park in 2007
Photo: NPS Photo / Jacob W. Frank
Three majestic natural bridges invite you to ponder the power of water in a landscape usually defined by its absence. View them from an overlook, or hit the trails and experience their grandeur from below. Declared a National Monument in 1908, the bridges are named "Kachina," "Owachomo" and "Sipapu" in honor of the Ancestral Puebloans who once made this place their home.
The entrance to Natural Bridges is at the end of UT 275, which is roughly 35 miles west of Blanding, Utah, on UT 95. Driving time from Blanding is roughly 45 minutes.
Get directions →Natural Bridges is part of the Colorado Plateau, a "high desert" region that experiences wide temperature fluctuations, sometimes over 40 degrees in a single day. The temperate (and most popular) seasons are spring (April-May) and fall (mid-September-October), when daytime highs average 60 to 80 F and lows average 30 to 50 F. Summer temperatures often exceed 100 F, making strenuous exercise difficult. Winters are cold, with highs averaging 30 to 50 F, and lows averaging 0 to 20 F.

Fire Restrictions Rescinded in Southeast Utah Group Parks
Due to lower temperatures accompanied by higher humidity, fire danger has moderated across southeastern Utah. Beginning at 12:01 a.m. Friday, September 4, Arches and Canyonlands national parks, along with Natural Bridges and Hovenweep national monuments, will rescind fire restrictions.

Call for 2027 Community Artist in the Parks
The Southeast Utah Group of parks will accept applications for the 2027 Community Artist in the Parks (CAIP) program September 1 to September 30, 2026.
Fire Restrictions Increase in Southeast Utah Group Parks
Fire danger is increasing in southeastern Utah due to prolonged drought and rising temperatures. On Friday June 26, 2026, Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, Hovenweep National Monument, and Natural Bridges National Monument will increase fire restrictions.