Want a quick 3.2 mile RT hike that’s close to Grand Junction that’s kid and dog-friendly? Well, look no further than Wombat Arch. I found a photo of this arch scrolling the dark corners of the internet and told my husband this looked like the perfect family adventure. So two weeks ago we piled in the car and made this our destination!
Wombat Arch is located on BLM land and is accessible via a quick hike that takes you to the rim of one of the branches of Bangs Canyon. You can stop at the arch overlook, or follow a primitive trail marked with cairns that leads you to the base of the arch. We went on a Saturday and didn’t see any soul on the trail which was great because our dogs could run free wearing their electronic recall collars.
To access the East Creek trailhead you’ll turn onto Highway 141 off Highway 50 towards Gateway and right after the bridge over East Creek you’ll see a parking area on the left side of the road. Park here and you’ll actually see a cattle fence (barbed wire and a branch) that you can open up so you can go under the bridge to the other side of the road where the trail begins, rather than walking the busy road.
There’s two trails you will see, an old trail to the right that looks more primitive and a new trail to the left which is basically a 4x4 road. We stuck to the trail on the left although either will get you to where you need to go. You'll see a sign for the Tabeguache trail as it climbs steadily west. At the 1.1 mile point you’ll see an orange metal fencepost on the right and you’ll turn here and walk straight until you see the arch straight ahead. The trail basically cliffs out here and you’ll think there’s no way you can get close to the arch. However, if you look to the left you’ll see cairns that lead you down a primitive trail for an easier route into the canyon. There was snow on the ground when we went so we followed footprints in the snow and faint cairns covered in snow until we wound our way down into the canyon. If it seems too hard or you feel you are cliffed out then know you’re probably taking the wrong route!
If you look right over my daughter’s head you can see wombat arch from the rim of the canyon. If you walked straight here you’ll have a great view from a distance if you don’t feel like hiking down!
Once we climbed down into the canyon we headed back east towards the base of the arch then climbed up directly under it. At first we climbed up on the right side of the arch, but the easier side to the base was actually the left side. You might pass some cows or at least cow pies along the way as this is a grazing area for them as well! After spending some time at the arch we hiked back down and out the way we came.
If you want an extra adventure you could keep driving down to Gateway Canyons Resort for lunch or book a night or two there!
BLM land is wonderful because it’s multi-use and there’s rarely the crowds you see in National Parks. While this arch may not be famous, it makes a great daycation hike that’s dog and kid-friendly and about 20 minutes from downtown Grand Junction if you are visiting the area or perhaps on your way to Montrose!
Though the trail was snow packed we didn’t need micro-spikes since we were all wearing sturdy hiking boots. This time of year though, it’s always helpful to bring traction with you for encountering slippery situations. I added a few options for traction in my Amazon store front in case you’re in the market for new spikes! I always keep a pair in my backpack in winter and early spring for hikes in the area.
Pro-tip: try and get underneath arches for a unique perspective on the rock formation!
I hope you enjoy this adventure of the month! Remember, you can subscribe to my patron newsletter for even more access to my favorite hikes in Colorado and beyond!
As always Leave No Trace and pack out what you pack in. There’s no restrooms at the trailhead or doggie poop bags so plan accordingly!