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UT- Arch Canyon, Hotel Rock

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NAXJA Member #135
Location
Albuquerque, NM
Arch Canyon is a scenic drive through a canyon with a perennial stream. Hotel Rock is a steep, rough climb up the mesa from which Arch Canyon was carved. Anasazi ruins can be found along both trails, but especially in Arch Canyon.

Be aware that the upper half of Arch is designated as critical habitat for the Mexican Spotted Owl, this is the BLM's current travel plan for the trail:
In Arch Canyon, OHV use will be limited to the designated route up to the National Forest
boundary, a total of 8 miles one-way. Organized and commercial groups will be required to
obtain a Special Recreation Use Permit. This permit will allow access on the designated route up
to the National Forest boundary, except from March 1 through August 31. During this period,
access will be limited to 7.5 miles of the designated route and access will not be allowed on the
last half mile immediately before the National Forest Service boundary. This decision was based
on the fact that all of the riparian areas in Arch Canyon are in properly functioning condition and
this condition has not been affected by existing OHV use. In addition, by limiting OHV travel to
the designated route, any potential impacts to cultural resources will be minimized. Excluding
travel in the upper 0.5 mile of the route during the period March 1 through August 31 would
mitigate any impacts of noise disturbance on Mexican spotted owls during the breeding season.

Trail map:
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Part way up Arch Canyon. You cross the creek over 50 times on the 10 mile drive to the end of the vehicle route at the Manti-la Sal National Forest boundary.
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Keep an ear peeled for wild turkeys:
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The road ends underneath Cathedral Arch, there is also a decent campsite here. This part of the canyon has a delightful combination of soaring sandstone walls, a clear running creek and ponderosa pines.
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Similar looking Angel Arch is a short hike up from the end of the road
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One of the more obvious ruins. There are dozens of sites throughout the canyon.
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Arch Canyon, as seen from the overlook on Hotel Rock trail.
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The Hotel Rock trail is faint and hard to follow much of the way. The GPS track should come in handy here. Highway 95 cuts through Comb Ridge in the background.
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The toughest part of Hotel Rock Trail cuts up and over this spine of rock.
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Hotel Rock marks the end of the worst part of the trail. You can continue all of the way to Elk Mountain Road or turn around and go back down the way you came.
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