An area first discovered by prospector Cass Hite, Utah's Natural Bridges National Monument celebrated its 100th anniversary this year (2008) on April 16th. Catching the attention of President Theodore Roosevelt, the park was established to protect three very large natural structures and countless artifacts. The General Land Office renamed the park's three bridges with Hopi Indian names, Owachomo, Sipapu and Kachina.The natural sandstone bridges, created by ancient active streams, span distances of 180 to 268 feet. Natural bridges are usually formed differently than natural arches. While bridges are formed by running water, the arch structures are created by a slow process of seeping moisture and frost wedging.
     The Kachina Bridge is named for its rock art symbols used on Kachina Dolls. This fragile evidence, including petroglyphs and stone tools, provide hints of early habitation during the archaic period from 7,000 B.C. to A.D. 500. Pictured here is the Owachomo Natural Bridge, meaning rock mound, the oldest of the three bridges. Spanning Armstrong Canyon, Owachomo is the last site on the park's one way loop road. Short hikes lead to the base of each bridge. Other unmaintained trails follow both the Armstrong and White canyons, connecting the three bridges.