Round Trip Distance: 0.5 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation: 5026 - 5132 feet
Cellphone: 0-3 bars
Time: 30 mins.
Trailhead: Gemini Bridges
Fee: none
Attractions: Scenic canyon and natural bridges
The Gemini Bridges trail leads to twin natural bridges that span a section of the rim above an arm of Bull Canyon near Moab, Utah. The site is popular with hikers, mountain bikers and off road enthusiasts of all kinds. Parents with small children will need to keep them close as they approach the bridges and rim of the canyon to safeguard them from the unprotected ledges.
The Gemini Bridges trailhead is located along the Gemini Bridges Road. The lower end of the road begins at mile 135.5 of Highway 191 and the upper end of the road is at mile 13.1 of Highway 313. The 5 mile section of the Gemini Bridges Road from the turnoff on Highway 313 to the trailhead is accessible by 2-wheel drive passenger cars during dry weather whereas the lower 7.5 miles section of the road from Highway 191 to the trailhead requires a vehicle with 4-wheel drive.
The easy trail from the parking area to the bridges is less than a quarter mile.
The twin bridges guard the mouth of a large basin or alcove with the openings providing a path for water to drain into Bull Canyon. The forces of water are the chief difference between the natural development of a bridge and an arch. Generally speaking a bridge is an arch that was cut by water.
Many people approach the area of the bridges and walk around the right side across the slickrock.
After looking back at the slickrock it can be a little shocking to realize how thin the rock actually is. While it is still very sturdy it isn't quite the solid mass of rock one may have imagined.
The east bridge on the left has an opening that is 85 feet high by 44 feet wide. The inner bridge on the right has an opening that is 60 feet high by 67 feet wide. The top of the bridges are about 26 feet wide and the gap in the middle is about 10 feet. Two people have fallen to their deaths trying to jump the narrow part of the gap that is about 6 feet wide.
A memorial plaque commemorates Beau James Daley who died driving his jeep across one of the bridges. The plaque says that he died doing what he loved most but he was only 19 years old so it is doubtful that he had experienced enough of life to say whether there would be many more things that he would have loved equally as well or even more.
The view looking down Bull Canyon is almost worth the trip in itself. People with a good 4x4 or OHV can drive up the canyon and see the bridges from below.
Local clubs and merchants have come together to pay for a nice bike rack at the trailhead. On this day there were more visitors that arrived via mountain bikes than in vehicles.
Another hike in the area that is a short distance away towards Highway 313 is Four Arch Canyon. The Gemini Bridges are a fun place to visit with part of the fun being how you get there. It is too bad that the location has experienced the tragedies of indiscretion that it has. We make mention of them only so others will consider the risk so they don't have a similar experience. If you would like to see it for yourself then all you have to do is 'Take a hike'.
