Arch Hunting Resources

One of the things that can be difficult when getting started with the world of arch hunting is finding good resources that one can use. My goal with this page is to share some of the resources that I’ve found over the years. If this page is missing something that you think I should include, then please feel free to get in touch with me!

General Information

• Where to Find Arch Data - Learn what I consider arch data and where to get arch datasets.
• What is Considered an Arch? - Learn how large an opening needs to be to be considered an arch.

Planning

• CalTopo - By far one of the best online mapping tools currently available.
• USGS Maps - Provides access to the topographic maps produced by the United States Geological Survey.

Guides and Tutorials

• The Basics of Reading a Topographic Map - This is an introductory guide I’ve written to help you learn how to read a topographic map. This is an essential skill for anyone venturing into the backcountry. This is especially important given the fact that many arches are located off-trail in remote areas.

Datasets

These resources serve as arch datasets.

• NABS - If you join the Natural Arch and Bridge Society, you gain access to a members-only area. One of the many resources available from this area is a spreadsheet full of arches.
• WAD - If you join the World Arch Database, you get access to a large, searchable, online database of arches around the world.
• Kentucky Arches - The premier arch database for the state of Kentucky.
• Arches of the Red River Gorge - These DVDs, produced by Kentucky arch hunter Bill Patrick, provide a treasure trove of information about the natural arches and bridges in Kentucky’s Red River Gorge.
• Tennessee Landforms - Serves as an online database of various landforms in the state of Tennessee, including its many natural arches.
• Arches of the Escalante - Details the arches of Utah’s Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument.
• Aztec Natural Arches - Provides some information about the natural arches found in and around Aztec, New Mexico.
• The Natural Arches of Tassili National Park - Provides a collection of arches in Algeria’s Tassili National Park. The Natural Arch and Bridge Society now hosts it for posterity.
• The Natural Arches of Ahaggar National Park - Provides a collection of arches in Algeria’s Ahaggar National Park. The Natural Arch and Bridge Society now hosts it for posterity.

Publications

Various publications related to natural arches and bridges.

• SPAN - This is a newsletter that is published 4 times a year by the Natural Arch and Bridge Society. Members of NABS will get both a print copy of each new issue mailed to them and also have access to the full back catalog in the members-only area of the site.
• Nature’s Bridges and Arches by Robert H. Vreeland - Bob Vreeland was an arch hunter who sadly passed away in 2005. Throughout his years of exploring arches, he produced several books called Nature’s Bridges and Arches. Many of these publications can be difficult to find in print these days, but luckily, members of NABS can retrieve a PDF copy of them from the members-only section of their website.
• The Arch Hunter Books by Christopher Moore - These were a series of books on the subject of arch hunting that were published by Christopher Moore in the 90s. Like Vreeland’s books, these can be viewed in PDF form in the members-only area of the NABS website.
• The Journal of Natural Arch Discoveries - From 1992 to 2003, Christopher Moore published 44 issues of this journal. Each one consists of about 50 arches reported by NABS members and other sources. NABS has made PDF scans of these available on the members-only section of their website.

Other Resources

A collection of other resources that may prove useful to arch hunters.

• Bob’s Arches - Bob Fagley was a prolific arch hunter who sadly passed away in 2013. He documented many of the arches he visited on his website, called Bob’s Arches. Thankfully, NABS now hosts a copy of this website for posterity.
• Chad - Natural Arches of the Ennedi - This site, now hosted by NABS, provides some information about the natural arches found on the Ennedi Plateau in the Sahara Desert in Chad.