Liberty Bell Arch Hiking Guide

Contents

Overview

South of Hoover Dam (on the Arizona side), there is a natural arch called Liberty Bell Arch, perched high on a barren butte. The name comes from its resemblance to the iconic Liberty Bell in Philadelphia. If you can’t make out the bell, make sure you’re looking at the negative space formed by the arch.

Just past the arch, the trail winds up to the top of a cliff that overlooks the Colorado River, 1000 feet below.

Quick Facts

Distance: 5 miles out and back
Hike Time: 3 hours
Elevation Gain/Loss: 850 feet
Fee: Free
Dogs: Yes
Difficulty: Moderate

Hiking to Liberty Bell Arch

The hike begins at White Rock Canyon Trailhead, which is also the starting point for Arizona Hot Spring. I’ve wanted to check out the hot spring for awhile, but we had our dog and 2-year-old daughter with us, and that route has a slippery 20-foot ladder.

As it happens, Liberty Bell Arch is a great alternative to the not-so-kid-friendly Arizona Hot Spring. If you find yourself in the Las Vegas area, I highly recommend this hike.

From the parking lot, walk to the east end and you’ll see a trailhead sign. It has a beautiful photo of Liberty Bell Arch in the springtime with desert marigolds in the foreground.

From here, follow footprints down to the wash and continue underneath the highway. Around 0.5 miles from the trailhead, there are three paths exiting the wash. Ignore these, and continue down the wash. Soon, it starts to narrow.

About 1 mile from the trailhead, turn right at the signed junction. Another 0.5 miles up the trail, sits a dilapidated ore cart from a World War II-era magnesium mine.

2 miles from where you started, Liberty Bell Arch comes into full view from below. Continue 0.5 miles uphill to get an outstanding view of the Colorado River from the canyon rim. Nearby, there is an ammo box that has a notebook and pen in it. If you care to, sign in and leave a message!