Natural Bridges National Monument

Last summer in Utah, I saw arches and natural bridges. You may ask, what is the difference between these two types of features? One difference is where you may find these features: arches stand on the skyline whereas bridges form in the bottoms of deep canyons. Another difference could simply be a word play: by definition, a bridge is a structure spanning and providing passage over a river, chasm, road, or the like. In fact, a natural bridge forms when running water cuts away chunks of rock underneath. Arches and natural bridges come into existence when water erodes sandstone. Once water dissolves the cement between the grains of sand in a narrow fin of sandstone, frost wedging and gravity begin to work. While seeping moisture and frost shape arches, running water carves natural bridges. As the curving meanders of streams carved down into the sandstone, they undercut the canyon walls and bent back upon themselves until only a thin fin of stone separated them. Flash floods periodically pounded against weak spots formed by the soft siltstone layers in the sandstone. Eventually, the water cut through the narrow neck of the meander, forming a natural bridge.

There are 3 bridges in the Monument. A circular one-way road leads to the viewpoints to all three. Being on a rush schedule, I only hiked to the last bridge.

Sipapu Bridge is the largest of the 3 bridges. Sipapu means "the place of emergence," an entryway by which the Hopi believe their ancestors came into this world.


In the canyon there is the Horsecollar Ruin where Indian people once lived more than 700 years ago.

Kachina Bridge is believed to be the youngest of the 3 bridges. Kachina is named for rock art on the bridge that resembles symbols commonly used on kachina dolls. Under the bright sun and also because it is positioned at such an angle to the overlook, it is hard to see that it is a bridge. You will have to believe me that the big patch of green trees is where the water would flow underneath the bridge.

Owachomo Bridge is the smallest and thinnest, yet the oldest of the 3. Owachomo means "rock mound," a feature atop the bridge's east abutment. This should be on the left in the next 2 photos. Do you see it?


Even though Owachomo Bridge is thought to be the oldest, it is probably only about 5000 years old. This, in contrast to the age of the sandstone it is built upon (~260 million years), makes me think about ephemerality vs. eternity, and the relativity of everything.