Wrather Arch is the name of a natural arch

Natural arch

A natural arch or natural bridge is a natural geological formation where a rock arch forms, with an opening underneath. Most natural arches form as a narrow ridge, walled by cliffs, become narrower from erosion, with a softer rock stratum under the cliff-forming stratum gradually eroding out until...

 in north Arizona

Arizona

Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...

. It is located in the eponymous Wrather Canyon, a small tributary

Tributary

A tributary or affluent is a stream or river that flows into a main stem river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean...

 of the Paria Canyon, which is itself an important tributary of the Colorado River. With a span of 75 meters (246 feet), Wrather Arch is the longest natural arch outside of the state of Utah

Utah

Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...

 (although this claim may be superseded by Aloba Arch

Aloba Arch

Aloba Arch is the name of a natural arch located in the African nation of Chad. Large natural arches are somewhat rare outside of the Colorado Plateau of the southwest United States, although it is unknown if this is a true reflection of the geology or simply because many areas rich in sandstone,...

 in Chad

Chad

Chad , officially known as the Republic of Chad, is a landlocked country in Central Africa. It is bordered by Libya to the north, Sudan to the east, the Central African Republic to the south, Cameroon and Nigeria to the southwest, and Niger to the west...

, whose unverified span may be slightly longer), making it the 4th longest natural span according to the Natural Arch and Bridge Society. Wrather Arch is distinguished among the great natural bridges in the USA as being the least accessible. Located in the heart of the Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness

Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness

The Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness is a wilderness area located in northern Arizona and southern Utah, USA, within the arid Colorado Plateau region. The wilderness is composed of broad plateaus, tall escarpments, and deep canyons....

area, it can only be accessed on foot. Being located almost at the midway point of the Paria Canyon trail, potential visitors must hike nearly 32 kilometres (19.9 mi), frequently walking in the shallow river, to witness this remote landform.