Corona Arch Wedding and Elopement Guide - Moab, UT
Hey! I’m Danielle, a wedding and elopement photographer in Moab, UT.
I lived in Moab for several years and guided hiking and archaeology trips in the the parks. I also hiked 800 miles from Arches National Park to Zion National Park, so I’ve spent more time wandering around southern Utah than most people in the area. I’ve even written hiking and travel guides to Moab for major media organizations, so sharing my knowledge about this place with visitors is an official (and hugely beneficial) skill.
This local experience is particularly important in a place like Moab and Corona Arch, where unexpected shadows and cliffs can really alter your wedding gallery.
I’m not saying you should pick the coolest photographer you find…but if having a photographer with some serious local expertise and skill behind the camera sounds like something you want on your very important wedding day, check out my Moab wedding and elopement packages.
About Corona Arch
Corona Arch is a beautiful alternative to Arches National Park for those who don’t want to pay the wedding fee or sit in endless traffic. It’s roughly 30 minutes outside of Moab, UT along the Colorado River and the perfect venue for a Moab wedding ceremony.
Your Moab elopement photographer should know all about Corona Arch already, because it’s a great place to avoid the timed entry and crowds that come with Arches National Park weddings. It’s one of the biggest arches in the area, is in the same area as several other arches, and getting married beneath it makes for some pretty epic scenery.
The secret is out though for people who want to see an arch without paying for Arches National Park, so work with your Moab elopement photographer to figure out a good time for your wedding.
Corona Arch is also a somewhat difficult location with the hiking and lighting, which I’ll explain further below.
TL;DR - I vastly prefer shooting weddings at Dead Horse Point Start Park and Canyonlands. It’s worth the $185 permit (or a little more, at Dead Horse) to have beautiful lighting, no shadows, and images that you’ll love for the rest of your life.
View more of Jan and Stacy’s Corona Arch elopement here.
Location
Corona Arch is about a 25 minute drive from Moab along Potash Rd. It’s a beautiful drive right along the river. You will lose cell service, however, so plan accordingly.
It’s worth nothing that Corona Arch is not particularly close to any other elopement sites, so it’s not a great spot if you hope to hit multiple locations.
Corona Arch vs Arches National park
Arches National Park elopements are heavily regulated and often have a ranger present on the day and at each shoot location. They also require a timed-entry reservation, which is not a very efficient system and you will still end up waiting in a lot of traffic at peak times. Permits for Arches National Park weddings are $185 and each guest will have to pay the entrance fee. Corona Arch elopement permits are significantly cheaper but obviously come with some trade offs, which you can read about below.
Unlike Arches National Park weddings, Corona Arch elopements will require some more difficult hiking. But that’s a small price to pay for a stunning arch away from the bulk of the crowds - and besides, you’re eloping because you enjoy hiking, right?
Permits
You’ll need a wedding permit to have a Corona Arch elopement. To get your Moab wedding permit for the Bureau of Land Management, view this page. The fee to elope at Corona Arch is $60, but the Bureau of Land Management will often issue free permits for very small, low impact weddings, though couples have unfortunately abused this in the past at other locations so it’s possible this will change in the future.
Hiking
Corona Arch is a roughly 1.5 mile hike. It’s not a particularly difficult hike for people in decent shape, though there is some elevation gain. People who are unstable on uneven ground or on steep rock will struggle on two parts of the hike, where a handrail and a ladder are installed to reach the next level. My 8 year old golden retriever could still scramble up this section on her own though, so most people should be able to handle it.
The hike time varies based on fitness, but for a very fit group the hike is about 25 - 30 minutes. For most Moab elopement groups, I estimate 40-45 minutes so we’re not rushed and can take photos along the way.
Time of year
Like the rest of southern Utah, it’s best to have your Moab elopement in the spring or fall. The hike can be strenuous for some people, so it’s best to avoid it in the summer when the temperatures are high. I’ve hiked the trail in winter and it’s usually clear of snow, but if there’s lingering ice or snow there are a few sections that could be precarious.
Time of Day
I have a lot of thoughts about the best time of day and weather conditions for elopements at Corona Arch that I’ll get into with booked clients. Everyone always comes to Moab wanting wedding photos under an arch, but arches are ultimately just gigantic rock formations that block the sun and cause all sorts of unsightly shadows and lighting issues. You’ll end up with a small handful of photos with really stunning lighting in the distance but for the most part galleries with arches end up just sort of…fine. Which is not what you want for your wedding gallery!
I try to steer wedding clients to the places with excellent lighting, like Dead Horse Point State Park and Canyonlands, but if you are dead set on an arch, you need to hire a local photographer who knows how to deal with the complexities of Corona Arch.
Pets
Unlike most wedding venues in Moab, Corona Arch is a pet-friendly place to have your elopement. You’ll definitely want to makes sure that you pet is in good shape (old doggo with hip problems might not be able to make the scramble) for the steeper slickrock sections. But our old golden retriever was running up the sandstone even at eight years old, so most dogs should be able to handle the hike. Just be sure to bring extra water!
More Venues in Moab
If you’re just getting started on your Moab elopement journey, check out my guides to some of the other wedding locations in Moab:
More Planning Tools
I also have a big, super-comprehensive guide to planning your elopement in Moab. Check out Jan and Stacy’s Corona Arch wedding too to get a solid idea of what you’re in for if you choose to get married here.
Moab Elopement Photographer / Moab Wedding Photographer / Moab Elopement Packages / Moab Wedding Venues / Arches National Park Weddings / Arches National Park Elopements / Corona Arch Elopement / How to Elope at Corona Arch
