This 6-mile round trip hike starts above the banks of the Colorado River east of Moab, Utah, and travels up a scenic canyon alongside a much smaller stream. The trek terminates at a stunning 243-foot long natural bridge, the sixth largest natural rock span in America. The level dirt trail to Morning Glory Bridge ascends just 330 feet and offers plenty of serenity along the way.

Why is it called Negro Bill Canyon? William Granstaff settles in Moab in 1877, becoming the first non-Caucasian pioneer to do so. He had success ranching in the area that now bears his name. William Granstaff Campground adjacent to the trailhead inherited his given name, while Negro Bill Canyon took a more colorful title. If they ever decide to change the name, Granstaff Canyon has a nice ring to it to it.

The creek meanders down Negro Bill Canyon

This single-track trail begins to the left of a year round stream that produces plentiful plant-life in Negro Bill Canyon, including poison ivy. Be on the lookout for those irritating leaves-of-three, especially if you venture off trail. The start of the hike is remarkably level allowing quick movement into this beautiful canyon.
The steep walls of this north-south running trench provide good early morning and late afternoon shade.

The trail widens 0.4 miles from the start, showing evidence that the canyon was previously open to 4X4 vehicles. An outcripping on the left side of the trail looks as though it may have once been inhabited or at least used for storage. Continue along the east bank of the shallow creek. At 0.85 miles, the first noticeable elevation is gained as you ascend a short rise in the canyon floor. Enjoy the nice views up and down canyon, and continue toward Morning Glory Bridge.

Looking down Negro Bill Canyon

At the 1.15-mile mark, a path spurs off to the left traveling a short distance into an indentation in the canyon wall. Green hanging gardens give the bump-out an alluring look, and this is a great place to test your echo (if you are interested in that sort of thing). Be on the look out for poison ivy if you trek this way.

The main trail continues south into the canyon. Just under a mile and a half from the start, you will cross the shallow creek for the first time. Get used to rock hopping. There are nine more crossings to come. Signs mark the trails as it flip-flops back and forth across the creek. Nevertheless, determining the proper path is tricky at times. If you end up on a false trail, simply backtrack to the correct route and continue upstream.

One of the ten creek crossings

Halfway through the creek crossings, the canyon bends to the left, and a side canyon heads off to the right. This is not the side-canyon containing Morning Glory Bridge, so proceed up the main channel. After 2.6 miles, at a more prolific Y in Negro Bill Canyon, you will cross the creek for a tenth and final time. The trail now embarks up the side canyon to the right, ascending the final 150 feet to Morning Glory Bridge.

The side canyon containing Morning Glory Bridge

The natural bridge crosses the back of the canyon, narrowly separated from the rock wall behind it. This makes the landmark less prominent from a distance, but quite dramatic close up. Morning Glory Bridge is sometimes called Morning Glory Arch by those who believe it to be an alcove arch rather than a natural bridge. That debate is for the geologists and erosion enthusiasts, but no matter how you label the impressive span, it is one monumental sight.

Morning Glory Bridge

Another curious feature lies just below the arch. A stream of water can be seen and heard flowing directly out of a fracture in the rock face. This adds to the magic of the spot. After taking a moment to relax beneath the sandstone bridge, return the way you can for a 6-mile round trip trek. Negro Bill Canyon is protected by the Bureau of Land Management, so no fee or permit is required to hike to Morning Glory Bridge.

A Canyoneering team rappels off Morning Glory Bridge

Writer’s note: Signs at the trailhead label the distance to Morning Glory Bridge at both two and 2.5 miles, and most publications describe this as a 4-mile round trip hike. My GPS tracker recorded the distance to the bridge at 3 miles. This measurement matches the distance I typically hike during the time I was on the trail. If your experience ends up being shorter, please let me know.

Desert Evening Primrose along the trail

To get to the trailhead: From Highway 191 in the city of Moab, head east on Scenic Byway 128 along the Colorado River. After three miles, turn right into the marked parking lot for Negro Bill Trailhead. There is a bathroom and an information kiosk near the start of the trail.

Use the map below to create your own directions:

Photos

 

                                               

These photos were taken in June of 2010. Click to enlarge.

 

Nearby Trails

 

	Mill Creek This half-mile hike visits a swimming hole that offers refreshing escape from Utah’s Summer scorches.
	More trails in Utah Explore other hikes in Zion, Canyonlands, and Arches National Parks.

 

Similar Trails

 

	Landscape Arch in Arches National Park This level 2.5-mile hike visits the longest natural arch in the world along with two other enjoyable arches.
	Double Arch in Arches National Park This 0.8-mile hike visits a pair of connected arches in the Windows region of Arches National Park.
	Mesa Arch in Canyonlands National Park This half-mile loop visits a picturesque arch spanning across the mesa’s edge.
	Arch Rock in Joshua Tree This 0.3-mile loop visits a natural arch in the granite formations around White Tank Campground.

 

Camping

 

BLM Campgrounds There are 25 campgrounds operated by the Bureau of Land Management surrounding Moab, Utah outside Arches and Canyonlands National Park.

 

More Info

 

The BLM webpage for Negro Bill Canyon

Negro Bill Canyon on utah.com

Negro Bill Canyon on protrails.com

Negro Bill Canyon on wikipedia.org

 

The 2-mile round-trip hike up Natural Bridge Canyon is a great trek for those interested in learning about the geological history of Death Valley. Also, the natural bridge is just cool to walk under.

A panel at the trailhead provides illustrations of the various geological features visible in the canyon, making it easy for hikers to spot the faults, chutes, and mud drippings along the way.

From the panel, the trail quickly enters the mouth of the canyon. The gravel floor makes hiking uphill a bit tiresome (but hiking back down is a breeze). Half a mile from the start, the walls of the canyon narrow and the 50-foot tall natural bridge spans the canyon.

Differential erosion created the impressive bridge. This is the main attraction of the hike of course, but the canyon has more to offer.

Mud drippings on the canyon wall beneath the bridge

Continue under the bridge, and the canyon will bend past a dry falls that pours into the canyon. Thousands of years ago, a stream flowed into the canyon here. The long vertical chute was created when the canyon eroded much more rapidly than the streambed above.

The trail then presents two easy obstacles. Scrunch down to get around a large bolder lodged in a narrow part of the canyon. Then cross a sloping marble dry falls, which can be easily climbed, before coming to a 20-foot dry falls that cannot. The trail stops here. Turn around and hike back out the canyon, enjoying another passage under the nature bridge.

To get to the trailhead: From Furnace Creek, drive 13 miles south on Badwater Road and turn east (left) on to a dirt road toward Natural Bridge Canyon. It is 1.5 miles from Badwater Road to the trailhead.

Use the map below to create your own directions:

Photos

 

                           

These photos were taken in November of 2009. Click to enlarge.

 

Nearby Trails

 

	Golden Canyon – Gower Gulch Loop This 4-mile loop visits stunning terrain in the badlands region near Furnace Creek.
	Artist’s Drive This 9-mile drive crosses a sloping mountainside composed of vibrant soil colored by rich metals.
	Badwater Basin This is the lowest place in North America — a required stop for first time visitors to Death Valley.
	Sidewinder Canyon This 4 to 7-mile hike visits narrow slot canyons full of pour-overs, carve outs, and dark passages that beg to be explored.
	Death Valley Explore more destinations in Death Valley National Park

 

Camping

 

Death Valley Campgrounds There are nine campgrounds spread throughout this large park to facilitate your visit.

 

More Info

 

Natural Bridge Canyon on birdandhike.com

The official website for Death Valley

Death Valley on Wikipedia