Place

Lexington Arch

Large 200 foot limestone arch on the side of a canyon
View of Lexington Arch from park bench

NPS Photo

Quick Facts

Benches/Seating

Rising high above the floor of Lexington Canyon, this imposing natural arch was created by the forces of weather working slowly over a span of centuries. Lexington Arch is unusual in one important respect: it is carved from limestone. Most of the natural arches of the western United States are composed of sandstone. The fact that Lexington Arch is made of limestone leads to speculation that it was once a passage in a cave system. Flowstone, a smooth glossy deposit that forms in caves, has been found at the base of the opening lending support to this theory.

The hike to the base of the Arch is over 2.7 miles (total round trip mileage is 5.4 miles). The last quarter mile climbs several short switchbacks to the arch. *Expect an additional 0.5 - 1 mile each way for walking up the washout on the road before reaching the official trailhead.

Great Basin National Park

Last updated: March 24, 2022