Cobra Arch
Categories: Hiking
Cobra Arch is a remote seven mile cross country hike in the Paria Wilderness. Access to the area requires a 4 wheel drive vehicle. From a certain angle it really does resemble a Cobra, even down to the texture of scales. The hike is very sandy so it’s a strenuous seven miles and is certainly not recommended during summer months. Along the way i came across some “brain” sandstone and some crazy formations that resemble a petrified underwater landslide. Until that day i had never seen anything like it. Enjoy the pictures.
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The first interesting place i came to was this “brain stone” area interspersed with sand dunes and water pools.
![](https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-102.jpg 1200w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-102-480x720.jpg 480w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-102-768x1152.jpg 768w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-102-800x1200.jpg 800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-102-570x855.jpg 570w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-102-370x555.jpg 370w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-102-722x1083.jpg 722w)
This is what rocks look like when they aren’t trampled by cows and people. Buckskin Gulch cuts across the center and in the distance is the White Pocket area.
![](https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-104.jpg 1800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-104-480x320.jpg 480w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-104-768x512.jpg 768w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-104-800x533.jpg 800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-104-570x380.jpg 570w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-104-370x247.jpg 370w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-104-722x481.jpg 722w)
A lone Juniper sat in the center of this sand dune.
![](https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-109.jpg 1800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-109-480x320.jpg 480w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-109-768x512.jpg 768w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-109-800x533.jpg 800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-109-570x380.jpg 570w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-109-370x247.jpg 370w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-109-722x481.jpg 722w)
All these lichen looking splotches on the rock seem to be concretions that never formed hard layers of shells, so they are being eroded away with the rest of the rock face.
![](https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-110.jpg 1800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-110-480x320.jpg 480w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-110-768x512.jpg 768w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-110-800x533.jpg 800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-110-570x380.jpg 570w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-110-370x247.jpg 370w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-110-722x481.jpg 722w)
Hmm, looks like i might be getting close to Jabba’s palace.
![](https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-111.jpg 1800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-111-480x317.jpg 480w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-111-768x506.jpg 768w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-111-800x528.jpg 800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-111-570x376.jpg 570w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-111-370x244.jpg 370w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-111-722x476.jpg 722w)
A breaking wave of that famous Paria Sandstone.
![](https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-113.jpg 1800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-113-480x320.jpg 480w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-113-768x512.jpg 768w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-113-800x533.jpg 800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-113-570x380.jpg 570w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-113-370x247.jpg 370w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-113-722x481.jpg 722w)
I wanted some pictures of that Juniper tree but i didn’t want to mess up the pristine sand so walked around the back through that half corkscrew of a little slot.
![](https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-117-480x320.jpg 480w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-117-768x512.jpg 768w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-117-800x533.jpg 800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-117-570x380.jpg 570w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-117-370x247.jpg 370w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-117-722x481.jpg 722w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-117.jpg 1800w)
![](https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-115-480x320.jpg 480w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-115-768x512.jpg 768w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-115-800x533.jpg 800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-115-570x380.jpg 570w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-115-370x247.jpg 370w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-115-722x481.jpg 722w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-115.jpg 1800w)
A moki marble birthing ground.
![](https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-120.jpg 1800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-120-480x282.jpg 480w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-120-768x451.jpg 768w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-120-800x470.jpg 800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-120-570x335.jpg 570w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-120-370x217.jpg 370w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-120-722x424.jpg 722w)
This place was just crazy. It clearly looks like mud or something was flowing over the top of the other rocks. This was just in one specific place, and above what you can see it was immediately buried under sand and plants.
![](https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-122.jpg 1800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-122-480x320.jpg 480w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-122-768x512.jpg 768w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-122-800x533.jpg 800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-122-570x380.jpg 570w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-122-370x247.jpg 370w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-122-722x481.jpg 722w)
This was fun and sometimes tricky to traverse.
![](https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-123.jpg 1800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-123-480x320.jpg 480w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-123-768x512.jpg 768w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-123-800x533.jpg 800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-123-570x380.jpg 570w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-123-370x247.jpg 370w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-123-722x481.jpg 722w)
![](https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-125.jpg 1800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-125-480x320.jpg 480w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-125-768x512.jpg 768w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-125-800x533.jpg 800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-125-570x380.jpg 570w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-125-370x247.jpg 370w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-125-722x481.jpg 722w)
A nice water source.
![](https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-124.jpg 1800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-124-480x320.jpg 480w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-124-768x512.jpg 768w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-124-800x533.jpg 800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-124-570x380.jpg 570w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-124-370x247.jpg 370w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-124-722x481.jpg 722w)
Looks like the back of a double wide centipede.
![](https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-129.jpg 1800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-129-480x320.jpg 480w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-129-768x512.jpg 768w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-129-800x533.jpg 800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-129-570x380.jpg 570w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-129-370x247.jpg 370w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-129-722x481.jpg 722w)
After leaving the brain coral looking area I came to a fantastic slick rock are of paper thin intersecting cross bedding.
![](https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-130.jpg 1800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-130-480x320.jpg 480w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-130-768x512.jpg 768w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-130-800x533.jpg 800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-130-570x380.jpg 570w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-130-370x247.jpg 370w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-130-722x481.jpg 722w)
Don’t touch these, they are just as delicate as they look.
![](https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-131.jpg 1800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-131-480x262.jpg 480w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-131-768x419.jpg 768w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-131-800x436.jpg 800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-131-570x311.jpg 570w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-131-370x202.jpg 370w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-131-722x393.jpg 722w)
Looks like a dinosaur head
![](https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-132.jpg 1800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-132-480x267.jpg 480w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-132-768x427.jpg 768w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-132-800x445.jpg 800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-132-570x317.jpg 570w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-132-370x206.jpg 370w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-132-722x402.jpg 722w)
The same hoodoo from head-on
![](https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-147.jpg 1800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-147-480x322.jpg 480w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-147-768x515.jpg 768w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-147-800x537.jpg 800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-147-570x383.jpg 570w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-147-370x248.jpg 370w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-147-722x485.jpg 722w)
Finally, COBRA ARCH!
![](https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-148.jpg 1800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-148-480x320.jpg 480w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-148-768x512.jpg 768w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-148-800x533.jpg 800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-148-570x380.jpg 570w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-148-370x247.jpg 370w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-148-722x481.jpg 722w)
From the back
![](https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-143.jpg 1800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-143-480x320.jpg 480w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-143-768x512.jpg 768w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-143-800x533.jpg 800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-143-570x380.jpg 570w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-143-370x247.jpg 370w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-143-722x481.jpg 722w)
Some of the rocks in the area look like what you would see over at White Pocket.
![](https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-139.jpg 1800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-139-480x320.jpg 480w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-139-768x512.jpg 768w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-139-800x533.jpg 800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-139-570x380.jpg 570w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-139-370x247.jpg 370w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-139-722x481.jpg 722w)
There’s plenty of room to stand under it
![](https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-141.jpg 1800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-141-480x320.jpg 480w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-141-768x512.jpg 768w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-141-800x533.jpg 800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-141-570x380.jpg 570w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-141-370x247.jpg 370w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-141-722x481.jpg 722w)
From the top
![](https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-137.jpg 1800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-137-480x320.jpg 480w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-137-768x512.jpg 768w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-137-800x533.jpg 800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-137-570x380.jpg 570w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-137-370x247.jpg 370w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-137-722x481.jpg 722w)
From the north side
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The whole area where Cobra Arch lies is really cool.
![](https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-149.jpg 1800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-149-480x320.jpg 480w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-149-768x512.jpg 768w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-149-800x533.jpg 800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-149-570x380.jpg 570w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-149-370x247.jpg 370w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-149-722x481.jpg 722w)
On the way back I passed a cliff I had not noticed on the way in. A recent rockslide had exposed a clean cream face of rock with an amazing design formally hidden.
![](https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-151.jpg 1795w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-151-480x378.jpg 480w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-151-768x605.jpg 768w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-151-800x630.jpg 800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-151-570x449.jpg 570w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-151-370x291.jpg 370w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CobraArch-151-722x568.jpg 722w)
It looked just like the strokes of a paintbrush.
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Another rockface where too much paint had been applied to the canvas.