Cox Canyon Arch

Cox Canyon Arch is a 35-foot-tall, 42-foot-wide sandstone arch in a side canyon north of Aztec, and it’s the most photographed of the more than 300 documented arches scattered through the sandstone country around town. The golden sandstone and the short, easy access make it a great stop for anyone curious about the region.

What to Do

From the small trailhead, two routes lead up to the arch: an easy path on the left, good for kids or dogs, and a steeper route on the right with some scrambling near the top. Either way, it’s about fifteen-minutes up to the arch itself. Wear grippy shoes, sandstone is really slick. If you want to see more, there are dozens of smaller, unnamed arches in the canyon you can explore.

How Much Time to Spend

This is a quick stop. Thirty to forty-five minutes covers the hike up, time at the arch, and the walk back down.

Getting There

From Farmington, take NM-516 northeast through Aztec, where it becomes US-550. Continue on US-550 for about 10.9 miles, then turn left onto County Road 2300 and follow it 1.3 miles before turning right onto CR 2310, which leads to the trailhead. The roads are unpaved but generally manageable in a standard car during dry weather.

Cox Canyon Arch is a worthy detour if you’re already driving through Aztec or heading north into Colorado!