Squirrel Creek to Eye of Heaven Arch

Dogs Off-leash

Features Birding · Geological Significance

This 10-mile out-and-back trail takes you up a rugged canyon and along a ridgeline to a beautiful arch overlooking Water Canyon. While its neighboring hike, Water Canyon, garners more attention for its dramatic canyon walls, this trail still offers a great experience and is an ideal spot to find solitude.

Begin by parking at the Squirrel Canyon Trailhead and starting your hike on the well-marked trail from the parking lot. Hike 0.5 miles until you reach Short Creek, a generally dry riverbed, and then start heading up the canyon. Expect to walk on a lot of soft sand.

At 1.6 miles in, take a left turn up Squirrel Canyon. As you enter Squirrel Canyon, the trail becomes more interesting than the lower canyon.

At 2.9 miles into the canyon, you'll reach an intersection; go left here. Follow the obvious trail until reaching a intersection on the Sawmill trail at 3.7 miles into the trail.

Go left again and follow the narrowing road In some places, the trail may become faint or cross over slickrock, but continuing in a straight direction will guide you to the arch. Around 4.7 miles into the trail, you'll be on top of an obvious ridgeline overlooking Water Canyon, where the Eye of Heaven awaits.

From here, return along the trail you came on to reach your vehicle. Alternatively, you can make a larger loop by traversing the Sawmill Trail across the White Domes into Water Canyon. This route goes through the Canaan Mountain Wilderness and can be challenging to navigate. I would highly recommend studying the route beforehand, downloading the map, and bringing a GPS or your phone fully charged.

Plants vary, as fir, ponderosa pine, and aspen prefer the snowy high country winters, while pinon, cliffrose, and mesquite flourish in the desert heat. Likewise, animal life is diverse.