Markagunt High Plateau Scenic Byway (U-14)
Flanigan Arch, UT

This arch, discovered in 1916 by William Flanigan near Cedar Breaks National Monument almost became a monument itself. The arch remains a local landmark, but reaching it is a challenge, recommended for persistent and experienced hikers only. The Sierra Club maintains a hiker's log on the top of the arch, and according to a local magazine article, in 30 years only 300 hikers have added their names to that log.

The arch has a span of about 50 feet and is 100 feet high. The hike to it begins below the slide area on SR-14 between mile markers 7 and 8. A short dirt road can get your vehicle down to to the riverside from there, if the creek is dry. From there, hikers go up Coal Creek, then Ashdown Creek, clambering over rocks, threading their way through undergrowth and often wading. About 1 1/2 miles up Ashdown Gorge, you can see the arch 550 feet above the canyon floor, on the north side, if you look sharp.

Reaching the arch itself is not easy, and hikers should check with local citizens for directions.