Exploring to Porthole Arch & Squaw Window

Squaw Window along the Kokopelli Trail near Dewey Bridge and east of Moab, Utah — Squaw Window

Before I left for Utah last year, I was browsing one of my favorite websites about hiking in Utah. The author mentioned a nice exploration trek he took along the Kokopelli Trail east of Moab near Dewey Bridge to find two arches – Porthole Arch and Squaw Window. We took a gamble and followed his directions up the road. We did miss one turn, but otherwise it was a pretty easy hike along a dirt road to two fun little arches, not to mention fantastic views of the Colorado River, the La Sal Mountains, and more!

Quick Stats

Round Trip Length: 9.4 miles Trail Type: Out & back with spurs Elevation Gain: 2,860ft. Pets: Yes Fees: None

Dewey Bridge and the Colorado River from along the Kokopelli Trail east of Moab, Utah — Dewey Bridge and the Colorado River from along the route

We started out by driving up the Kokopelli Trail (a marked dirt road located just on the east/north side of the Dewey Bridge). (Note: GoogleMaps calls this Owl Draw Upland, but the sign a short distance up the road says Kokopelli Trail.)

The beginning of the Kokopelli Trail - the sign is to the right. Near Dewey Bridge and east of Moab, Utah — The beginning of the Kokopelli Trail – the sign is to the right

There is a parking area near the highway. We parked here, but if you have high clearance, you can continue a quarter of a mile up the road to a second parking area to cut off a little mileage.

Fall Cottonwood trees along the Colorado River from the Kokopelli Trail near Dewey Bridge and Moab, Utah — Cottonwood trees along the Colorado River

Walk up the road. (You can also drive if you have a good 4×4 vehicle; I hear the road was built for mountain biking, so you can also bike much of this route.) Views are almost immediately good back down on the Colorado River. You can also see Dewey Bridge.

The Colorado River from the Kokopelli Trail near Dewey Bridge east of Moab, Utah — The Colorado River

As we walked along, the first of several groups of Ford Broncos came up behind us. The local Bronco Ranch takes guests up here to teach them how to drive off-road.

The broncos, off to learn how to off-road! Bronco Ranch, Kokopelli Trail, Dewey Bridge, Moab, Utah — The broncos, off to learn how to off-road!

The staff couldn’t have been nicer and more respectful of us, making sure that we were able to walk where we needed to go without being in danger. The guests were also very nice – I’m used to some 4×4 enthusiasts resenting hikers on their routes, so it was great to find people who were just enjoying themselves and were happy to let us give way as well as give us safe passage up the hill.

Hiking along the first part of the Kokopelli Trail near Dewey Bridge and east of Moab, Utah — Hiking along the first part of the road

The road winds its way up to the first real 4×4 hazard a short distance before mile 1.1. Just above the hazard is a wire gate. It wasn’t hard for hikers to get through, though if you open it, there is a sign requesting you to close the gate. We saw free-range cattle later on, so I’m guessing that’s why the gate is necessary.

The gate on the Kokopelli Trail, looking toward Dewey Bridge east of Moab, Utah — The gate on the Kokopelli Trail, looking toward Dewey Bridge

Be sure to take a good look around you up by the gate. The views down on the Colorado River are spectacular!

Approaching the alcove (on right) on the Kokopelli Trail east of Moab, Utah. Porthole Arch is over to the left but out of sight. — Approaching the alcove (on right). Porthole Arch is over to the left but out of sight.

Keep walking along the road as it turns north around the outcropping of rock. About half a mile later, you’ll come to a spur road that goes off on the right, heading for an alcove. While it’s not a required side-trek, it was pretty cool. The entirety of our spur was 0.4 miles.

Exploring in the alcove along the Kokopelli Trail near Dewey Bridge and east of Moab, Utah — Exploring in the alcove

Walk another tenth of a mile along the main dirt road to the place where it crosses a wash. This is where you want to turn right, up the wash, to find Porthole Arch.

The place where the Kokopelli Trail crosses the wash where you want to turn right for Porthole Arch, Dewey Bridge, Moab, Utah — The place where the road crosses the wash where you want to turn right for Porthole Arch

The arch itself is invisible from this angle. Just keep following the wash and social trails (don’t crush the fragile soil or leave footprints) into an alcove that looks like it has at least three minor alcoves in it.

Hiking up the wash toward the alcove with Porthole Arch off of the Kokopelli Trail near Dewey Bridge east of Moab, Utah — Hiking up the wash toward the alcove with Porthole Arch

Once in the alcove (about 0.4 miles from the road), look up to the left and you’ll see Porthole Arch!

Porthole Arch along the Kokopelli Trail near Dewey Bridge east of Moab, Utah — Porthole Arch!

Unable to leave well enough alone, we scramble up the slickrock for a better view. You can’t climb up to the arch (it’s far too steep) but I did enjoy the views from higher up.

High up on the slickrock below Porthole Arch along the Kokopelli Trail near Dewey Bridge east of Moab, Utah — High up on the slickrock

From here, we scrambled back down and took a cross-country shortcut back to the Kokopelli Trail. You can see the arch from the road if you know where to look: it’s also pretty obvious how the arch received its name!

Porthole Arch from the Kokopelli Trail near Dewey Bridge east of Moab, Utah — Can you spot Porthole Arch?

Keep walking along the road as it rises to the top of a hill. About mile 3.4 (or about 0.9 miles from Porthole Arch), the road splits. You want to turn right (straight) following the sign for the Kokopelli Trail. (It seems the left road takes you down to a couple of overlooks of the Colorado River.)

The road junction. You want to turn right. Kokopelli Trail, Dewey Bridge, Moab, Utah — The road junction. You want to turn right.

The road after this junction is incredibly scenic. To the left are cliffs with peek-a-boo views of the La Sal Mountains, while to the right are great views of red and white slickrock cliffs/formations. It’s beautiful!

Hiking along the Kokopelli Trail. With views like this, you forget you're on a road! Dewey Bridge, Moab, Utah — Hiking along the Kokopelli Trail. With views like this, you forget you’re on a road!

We met a couple of people out in jeeps. Again, they were so very courteous. We moved over to let them pass.

Jeeps along the Kokopelli Trail near Dewey Bridge east of Moab, Utah — Jeeps along the Kokopelli Trail

What we should have done was, 0.9 miles after the junction, to turn right up a wash (the road crosses the wash, so it’s pretty obvious).

The road at the wash where we should have turned right (behind the photographer) on the Kokopelli Trail to get to Squaw Window, east of Moab, Utah — The road at the wash where we should have turned right (behind the photographer)

Unfortunately, my directions didn’t cover this very well, so we kept walking another 0.2 miles along the road until we could see the back side of Squaw Window.

Squaw Window from the south from near the Kokopelli Trail, Dewey Bridge Moab, Utah — Squaw Window from the south

Realizing our mistake, we set off cross-country (being careful to stay on social trails, washes, or rocks to minimize our impact) to walk around and into the alcove where we could scramble up under the window.

Squaw Window near the Kokopellli Trail near Dewey Bridge east of Moab, Utah — Squaw Window

We also scrambled around on the rock formations in the alcove.

Rock formations near Squaw Window and the Kokopelli Trail, Dewey Bridge, Moab, Utah — Rock formations near Squaw Window

The views were incredible from up here toward the La Sal Mountains. It was about noon, so the mountains were still a bit hazy.

The La Sal Mountains from near Squaw Window and the Kokopelli Trail, Dewey Bridge, Moab, Utah — The La Sal Mountains from near Squaw Window

On our way back to the road, we followed the wash we should have taken up to the arch. There are a few dryfalls, but nothing that can’t be easily scrambled. Interestingly, after the last waterfall (maybe 3-4ft. tall), the wash became full of cows’ hoof prints. Apparently, the cattle walk up the wash to the puddle below the last dryfall to find water.

Hiking down the wash toward the Kokopelli Trail. See the hoof prints? Dewey Bridge, Moab, Utah — Hiking down the wash. See the hoof prints?

Walking back, the views were even more spectacular to the rock formations, cliffs, and mountains to the east.

Hiking back down the Kokopelli Trail toward Dewey Bridge east of Moab, Utah — Hiking back down the road

While I’m not usually fond of walking roads, the Kokopelli Trail is definitely worth the trek if you happen to be in the area! I’m sure it would be just as scenic from a bike seat or a jeep, too, though you’ll have to take to your feet to get up to the arches.

Porthole Arch along the Kokopelli Trail, Dewey Bridge, Moab, Utah — Porthole Arch

Round Trip Trail Length: 9.4 miles out & back to include both arches and the alcove

Elevation Gain: 2,860ft. (4,129ft. to 4,802ft.) (Actually, it’s probably slightly less than this since my GPS/GoogleEarth gets a little bit confused in the alcoves when it comes to just how high I’m hiking…)

Facilities: None

Fees: None

Approaching the alcove along the Kokopelli Trail near Dewey Bridge east of Moab, Utah — Approaching the alcove

Trail Notes: Be wary and considerate of 4×4 vehicles that also use the road. Try not to trample the fragile soil by staying on the road/in washes/on slickrock whenever possible. You don’t need a GPS for this route but you do need to understand how to look for arches and find them without signs. This route would be extremely hot in the summer. If you can, hike in the area in mid-October, when the cottonwood trees are showing forth their golden leaves… it’s spectacular!

Trail

Road

Signs

Scenery

Would I go 100 miles out of my way for this?

Overall Rating:

Looking up at Squaw Window near the Kokopelli Trail, Dewey Bridge, Moab, Utah — Looking up at Squaw Window

GPS Coordinates for Porthole Arch & Squaw Window

TH: 38.813515, -109.303515 (38°48.81090′, -109°18.21090′ / 38°48’48.6540″, -109°18’12.6540″) (4,142ft.) (0.0)

Gate: 38.812770, -109.316962 (38°48.76620′, -109°19.01772′ / 38°48’45.9720″, -109°19’01.0632″) (4,297ft.) (1.10)

Road junction to alcove: 38.817921, -109.320173 (38°49.07526′, -109°19.21038′ / 38°49’04.5156″, -109°19’12.6228″) (4,261ft.) (1.58)

Bright leaves in the alcove near the Kokopelli Trail, Dewey Bridge, Moab, Utah — Bright leaves in the alcove

Alcove: 38.818913, -109.319597 (38°49.13478′, -109°19.17582′ / 38°49’08.0868″, -109°19’10.5492″) (4,318ft.) (1.78)

Leave road: 38.818181, -109.321587 (38°49.09086′, -109°19.29522′ / 38°49’05.4516″, -109°19’17.7132″) (4,250ft.) (2.12)

Porthole Arch Viewpoint: 38.819136, -109.323920 (38°49.14816′, -109°19.43520′ / 38°49’08.8896″, -109°19’26.1120″) (4,320ft.) (2.50)

Views down from the slickrock near Porthole Arch near the Kokopelli Trail, Dewey Bridge, Moab, Utah — Views down from the slickrock near Porthole Arch

Road Junction: 38.813080, -109.328159 (38°48.78480′, -109°19.68954′ / 38°48’47.0880″, -109°19’41.3724″) (4,489ft.) (3.43)

Leave road: 38.817655, -109.345423 (38°49.05930′, -109°20.72538′ / 38°49’03.5580″, -109°20’43.5228″) (4,500ft.) (4.52)

Squaw Window Viewpoint: 38.823405, -109.342795 (38°49.40430′, -109°20.56770′ / 38°49’24.2580″, -109°20’34.0620″) (4,564ft.) (5.10)

Looking up at Squaw Window from the wash below, Kokopelli Trail, Dewey Bridge, Moab, Utah — Looking up at Squaw Window from the wash below

Squaw Window: 38.823530, -109.341419 (38°49.41180′, -109°20.48514′ / 38°49’24.7080″, -109°20’29.1084″) (4,594ft.) (5.14)

Return to road: 38.817976, -109.342918 (38°49.07856′, -109°20.57508′ / 38°49’04.7136″, -109°20’34.5048″) (4,437ft.) (6.28)

End: 38.813504, -109.303508 (38°48.81024′, -109°18.21048′ / 38°48’48.6144″, -109°18’12.6288″) (4,143ft.) (9.44)

Walking back down the Kokopelli Trail, Dewey Bridge, Moab, Utah — Walking back down the Kokopelli Trail

The gpx file for my trek to Porthole Arch and Squaw Window can be downloaded – please note that this and the GPS Coordinates are for reference only and should not be used as a sole resource when hiking this trail.

Download GPX File size: 149.0 KB Downloaded 41 times

(Note: I do my best to ensure that all downloads, the webpage, etc. are virus-free and accurate; however, I cannot be held responsible for any damage that might result, including but not limited to loss of data, damages to hardware, harm to users, from use of files, information, etc. from this website. Thanks!)

The wash at the Kokopelli Trail where you should turn up toward Squaw Window, Dewey Bridge, Moab, Utah — The wash at the road where you should turn up toward Squaw Window

Getting to the Kokopelli Trail

From Moab, Utah, drive north on US-191 (toward Arches National Park). Turn right on UT-128E at the traffic light just before crossing the Colorado River. (A sign will point right toward the Lions Park and Trail Hub.) Drive exactly 30 miles on UT-128, enjoying very scenic views along the river and of nearby red slickrock cliffs. Just after crossing the bridge over the Colorado River near the marker for Dewey Bridge, take a left onto a dirt road. A wide dirt area nearby can be used for parking.

The south side of Squaw Window near the Kokopelli Trail east of Moab, Utah — The south side of Squaw Window

From I-70, take Exit 214 toward Cisco. After 0.4 miles, turn left onto UT-128W; stay on the road for 11.5 miles. Just before the bridge over the Colorado River, turn right onto a dirt road. A wide dirt area nearby can be used for parking.

Visual trail map and elevation profile for my trek up the Kokopelli Trail to Porthole Arch and Squaw Window

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