BOU AVENUE
Natural Bridges National Monument
Kelly Bou and I visited Natural Bridges National Monument in southeast Utah on 6 October 2010.  The main attractions of this small park are three natural bridges which can be accessed by trails descending from the main loop road.  We had considered a longer canyon hike that visits all three bridges, but park staff were not recommending it that day due to flash flood warnings.  Kelly and I settled for visiting each bridge individually by hiking down (and back up) their respective access trails.  We got soaked at one point by a severe thunderstorm, but thankfully, it was short-lived and did not diminish our enjoyment of this wonderful park.
Sipapu is Hopi for "the place of emergence". Sipapu Bridge is visible down in White Canyon.  Note the RV's at the Sipapu Bridge Trailhead at far left.
Surprisingly exposed for what is supposed to be a tourist trail. Kelly descends a wooden ladder on the way down to Sipapu Bridge.
Kelly likes this kind of hiking! Kelly hikes along an immense sandstone wall.
Watch your step around here especially if it's wet! A big ledge grants this view of Sipapu Bridge.
A lot of people stop here and don't bother descending further. Kelly returns along the big ledge to the turnoff which descends further into the canyon.
This is the best place to view and appreciate Sipapu Bridge. Sipapu is the highest (67 metres) of the three natural bridges in the park and also has the longest span (81 metres).
Hands up! Baby, hands up! Gimme your heart! Gimme gimme your heart, gimme gimme! Near the canyon bottom, Kelly lends her support to Sipapu Bridge.
Those ladders sure don't look very sturdy... Kelly climbs back up out of the canyon.
Kachina refers to some nearby petroglyphs that resemble symbols used on kachina dolls. This is looking down on Kachina Bridge from the access trail.
The weather was starting to turn bad right around this time... Kelly descends the trail to Kachina Bridge (not visible here).  Note the muddy waterfall at centre.
Maybe we should have stayed underneath this bridge for shelter. Kelly walks beneath Kachina Bridge.
We got thoroughly drenched on our way back from here. Kachina is the widest (13 metres) and thickest (28 metres) of the three natural bridges in the park.
Save the best for last! Kelly descends the trail to Owachomo Bridge.
The access trail is also the easiest to hike. Owachomo Bridge is the smallest and oldest of the three natural bridges.
Owachomo is Hopi for "rock mound". Kelly stands underneath Owachomo Bridge.
Almost looks like it could tip over! Kelly walks around a very large flake of rock.
This was incredible to see! The recent thunderstorm has resulted in a maelstrom at the confluence of the rivers coming from Tuwa Canyon (left) and Armstrong Canyon (right).
Kinda reminds me of the Guardian of Forever portal from Star Trek! Kelly pauses again beneath Owachomo Bridge on her way back to the trailhead.
Go and see this soon before it crumbles! Here is one last look.