Lexington Arch, Great Basin National Park (4-29-22)

Lexington Arch is both large, with a span of about 60 feet and a height of about 50 feet, and unusual. Unlike most of the iconic arches in the Southwest, it's in limestone rather than sandstone. Most probably, the arch is a still-standing remnant of a collapsed cave. This is suggested by reports of cave deposits (flowstone) still preserved within the arch. In addition, limestone bedrock is ubiquitous in the area and hosts abundant caves. Lehman Caves in the main part of Great Basin National Park is only the most famous example.
The 2016 Strawberry wildfire burned off much of the forest cover in the vicinity of the arch, and debris flows from subsequent flash floods obliterated the original trailhead, such that the hike starts about a mile farther than formerly. The area is still well worth a visit, however, and in fact the absence of the forest cover gives views of the arch while still far away on the trail.
Unusually for a national park, dogs are permitted on the trail, probably because most of the trail is in BLM land.

Lexington Arch is both large, with a span of about 60 feet and a height of about 50 feet, and unusual. Unlike most of the iconic arches in the Southwest, it's in limestone rather than sandstone. Most probably, the arch is a still-standing remnant of a collapsed cave. This is suggested by reports of cave deposits (flowstone) still preserved within the arch. In addition, limestone bedrock is ubiqu…  (read more)

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