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 area. I also hiked 800 miles from Arches National Park to Zion National Park, so it’s safe to say I know this place better than most.
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. The permit itself it $185 and each guest will have to pay the entrance fee. Corona Arch elopement permits are significantly cheaper, 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.
This may change in the future after a couple lied on their permit and trashed some BLM land beneath Castleton Tower in 2023. It was awful to read about and I feel like the photographer was definitely culpable, which again, is why you should choose a local photographer with accountability and not someone just passing through. I should get an email if this changes and will update this guide with any news.
Hiking
Corona Arch is a roughly 1.5 mile hike. It’s not a particularly difficult hike, 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 can 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 precarious.
I have a lot of thoughts about the best time of day and weather conditions to shoot at Corona Arch. Corona Arch is not an easy place to photograph and there are a number of difficulties unique to this location, so hiring a local photographer for your elopement at Corona Arch is pretty key to nailing the timing.
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
