Cassidy Arch

The Cassidy Arch Trail starts from the Grand Wash area, reached by driving an unpaved spur road off the Scenic Drive. From the wash, the trail climbs fairly steeply up switchbacks and slickrock to gain the canyon rim, a moderately strenuous ascent of around 700 feet over the roughly 3.4-mile round trip.

As you climb, the views open up over Grand Wash and the folded red-rock landscape. The trail then follows cairns across slickrock to the arch, where you can carefully walk out onto the top of the span, an unusual and thrilling experience, with the canyon floor far below.

Because you can walk on top of Cassidy Arch and the trail crosses slickrock with steep drop-offs, caution is essential. Keep well back from edges, watch children closely, wear shoes with good grip, and take care in wet or icy conditions when the slickrock becomes slippery. The exposure is part of the thrill, but it demands respect.

The arch's name comes from Butch Cassidy, the legendary outlaw who, with his Wild Bunch, is said to have hidden out in the maze of canyons in this part of Utah in the late 1800s. The story adds Old West color to the hike, connecting the dramatic landscape to the region's frontier history.

The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is a place we chose through independent editorial review, never a paid placement.

Cassidy Arch is a dramatic natural sandstone arch in Capitol Reef National Park, Utah, notable because hikers can actually walk out on top of the span, with the canyon dropping away below. Reached by a moderately strenuous trail that climbs from Grand Wash up to the canyon rim, it offers a rare, exhilarating perspective and sweeping views over the red-rock country. The arch is named for the famous outlaw Butch Cassidy, who is said to have used the rugged canyons of this region as a hideout. Combining big scenery, a genuine sense of adventure, and a touch of Wild West legend, Cassidy Arch is a favorite for hikers looking for something more thrilling than an easy walk.

Yes, one of the unique features of Cassidy Arch is that, unlike most arches you view from a distance, you can carefully walk out onto the top of its span. The trail leads to the slickrock above and around the arch, and hikers can step out onto it, standing on the natural bridge of rock with the canyon far below. It is a thrilling and unusual experience, but it demands great caution: there are sheer drop-offs with no railings, so you must stay aware of the edges, watch your footing on the slickrock, keep children very close, and avoid it if you are uncomfortable with heights or if conditions are wet or icy. Treated with respect, walking on the arch is a highlight of the hike.

The Cassidy Arch hike is moderately strenuous. It covers about 3.4 miles round trip with roughly 700 feet of elevation gain, climbing fairly steeply from Grand Wash up switchbacks and slickrock to reach the arch on the canyon rim. The ascent is the main challenge, along with some exposure to drop-offs and the need to follow cairns across slickrock, which requires attention to route-finding. It suits hikers with reasonable fitness who are comfortable with heights and uneven terrain, but is not ideal for those with mobility issues or a fear of exposure. As with all Capitol Reef hikes, bring plenty of water and sun protection, wear shoes with good grip, and avoid the slickrock when it is wet or icy.

Butch Cassidy was a famous American outlaw of the late 1800s, the leader of a gang known as the Wild Bunch, notorious for train and bank robberies across the West. The remote, maze-like canyons of southern Utah, including the country around Capitol Reef, are said to have provided hideouts for Cassidy and his gang, who used the rugged terrain to evade the law. Cassidy Arch is named in his honor, reflecting the local lore that ties this dramatic landscape to the outlaw's story. Whether Cassidy ever stood at this exact arch is uncertain, but the name captures the Wild West history of the region and adds a memorable legend to one of the park's most exciting hikes.