Wrather Arch facts for kids
Wrather Arch is an amazing natural rock arch located in the Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness area. You can find it in Coconino County, which is in northern Arizona.
This giant arch is made of sandstone. It sits in a place called Wrather Canyon, which is a small canyon connected to the Paria Canyon. The Paria River eventually flows into the mighty Colorado River near a spot called Lee's Ferry.
A pilot named Royce K. Knight from Page, Arizona, first saw Wrather Arch from his plane. This was in a remote area west of Glen Canyon. In 1963, Knight and Walter M. Edwards from National Geographic flew to the arch by helicopter. They figured out it was about 165 feet tall and 250 feet wide. A National Geographic news report from 1966 said that Wrather Arch was "Tall as a 15 story building." They even mentioned that the famous Taj Mahal building could fit inside it!
How Big is Wrather Arch?
For a long time, people thought Wrather Arch was the longest natural arch outside of Utah. It was first reported to be about 246 feet (75 m) wide. However, new discoveries have changed this. Longer arches have been found in places like China, Afghanistan, and Chad.
Also, experts from the Natural Arch and Bridge Society (NABS) have measured Wrather Arch again. They now believe its span is closer to 180 feet (55 m). Because of these new measurements and discoveries, Wrather Arch is no longer on their list of the "largest arches over 200 feet."
How to Visit Wrather Arch
Wrather Arch is known for being one of the hardest major natural bridges to reach in the Southwestern United States. It's deep inside the Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness area. The only way to get there is by hiking the Paria Canyon Trail.
The arch is about halfway along this hiking trail. This means visitors have to walk about 18 miles (29 km) to see it. If you want to hike to Wrather Arch, you need to get a special permit. You can get these permits from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) office in Kanab, Utah.
