Lake Mead National Recreation Area · Arizona, Nevada

Liberty Bell Arch

1.8 mi of trail, end to end · Hike the Liberty Bell Arch Trail: 5.5 mi round trip in the Service's write-up · about 200 ft of climbing · 550 ft of descent · 1,289 ft–1,669 ft · native surface · trail class Minimally Developed · hiking · seasonal: CLOSED DURING SUMMER MONTHS

ViewsArches

1,658 ft 1,312 ft · 1.7 mi high 1,668 ft

Along the way Liberty Bell Arch Liberty Bell Arch Trail Overlook

Hike the Liberty Bell Arch Trail 5.5 mi round trip · the Park Service's write-up

4-8 Hours · dogs allowed · entrance fee applies · Winter, Spring, Fall · season The Liberty Bell Arch Trail is closed annually from May 15 - September 30.

A arch in the middle of a rock.
Liberty Bell Arch stands tall above the Colorado River. Photo: NPS

To help keep visitors and first responder staff safe from dangerously high temperatures during the hottest time of year, Lake Mead National Recreation Area institutes an annual seasonal closure of certain strenuous trails from May 15 to September 30.

Temporary closures will take place outside of these dates when temperatures are forecasted to reach 95 Fahrenheit or higher at Willow Beach (AZ), or if flash floods are possible.

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The Liberty Bell Arch trail starts from the White Rock Canyon parking area and heads west under the highway bridge towards the Colorado River. While there is no river access on this trail, hikers are rewarded throughout their adventure with geological highlights, remnants of a historic magnesium mine going back to the days of WWII, and a fantastic panoramic view overlooking the Colorado River from 1000 ft. up.

Trail Information

Trailhead: DIRECTIONS

Parking: Shared trailhead. Parking located just off U.S. Highway 93 before mile post 4, south of Hoover Dam.

Distance: 5.5 miles roundtrip

Elevation Gain: 750 ft. elevation change

Difficulty: Strenuous

THIS TRAIL IS NOT MAINTAINED

Services: Scenic view/photo spot, trash/litter receptacles.

Accessibility This trail is an unmaintained route through a normally dry desert wash. The wash is made of soft sand, gravel, rocks, and boulders its entire length. There are steep grades as well as rock ledges a few feet high that must be climbed over.

This hike on nps.gov

On the parks map

All 19 trails in Lake Mead National Recreation AreaFind a trailOn the parks mapPark on nps.gov

About this trail's facts

The lines are the National Park Service's public trails layer, the trailheads and the waterfalls, views, peaks and historic places along them the Service's public points of interest, read 2026-10-16 and simplified for the map; the length is the line's, end to end. The write-ups are the Service's own "things to do" text, unedited. Heights come from USGS 3DEP through Terrain Tiles on AWS (Mapzen/Tilezen), read along each line and rounded; a short trail on steep ground can be off by a few tens of feet. Closures change: check the park's own site before you go.