Where is Chinese Arch?

Chinese Arch is at stop 15 on the East Auto Tour inside Golden Spike National Historical Park, about 32 miles west of Brigham City, Utah.

Why is it called Chinese Arch?

It's named in honor of the thousands of Chinese laborers who built the Central Pacific Railroad, part of the first transcontinental railroad completed at Promontory Summit in 1869.

Is Chinese Arch a natural formation?

Yes. It's a natural limestone arch formed by erosion. Its name and memorial marker came later.

How long does it take to visit?

Plan on a few minutes at the arch itself. Add it to your Golden Spike visit by driving the East Auto Tour.

Chinese Arch

Q: Do I have to pay to see Chinese Arch?

Yes. It's inside Golden Spike National Historical Park, so the park entrance fee applies.

A Natural Monument to the Railroad’s Chinese Workers

Chinese Arch is a natural limestone arch along the East Auto Tour at Golden Spike National Historical Park, about 32 miles west of Brigham City. The arch is named in honor of the thousands of Chinese laborers who built the Central Pacific Railroad, and today it stands as a memorial to their work on the first transcontinental railroad.

It’s a quick, easy stop. Most visitors see it while driving the East Auto Tour after visiting the Last Spike Site.

Quick Facts

Role

County Seat

Population

About 20,000

Signature event

Peach Days

To Salt Lake

About 1 hour

To Golden Spike

About 45 min

To Bird Refuge

15 minutes

The Story Behind the Name

The Central Pacific began hiring Chinese workers in 1865, and by 1868 more than 11,000 were working on the railroad. They blasted tunnels through the Sierra Nevada and laid track across Nevada and Utah to reach Promontory Summit in 1869. Many stayed on with the railroad afterward, and a Chinese work camp near this spot is thought to have given the arch its name. The arch was originally known by a name now considered a slur. After an effort led by Utah’s Chinese American community in the mid-2000s, it was officially renamed Chinese Arch.

Plan Your Trip

Get the Free Guide

Things to do at Chinese Arch

See the Arch on the East Auto Tour

Year-round · Stop 15 · Gravel road

Follow the East Auto Tour along the original railroad grade to stop 15. The arch sits just off the road on the left, with a marker explaining its history.

Read the Memorial Marker

Year-round · Roadside · Quick stop

The National Park Service marker tells the story of the Chinese railroad workers and how the arch became their memorial.

Pair It with the Last Spike Site

Year-round · Visitor center · Same park

Start at the visitor center to learn the full railroad story, then drive the East Auto Tour to see the arch.

Make a Day of It

Golden Spike National Historical Park

Steam engines · Last Spike Site · Auto tours

Chinese Arch is one part of the larger Golden Spike story. See the replica locomotives, stand where the last spike was driven, and drive the original grade.

Learn More About the Golden Spike

Spiral Jetty

Great Salt Lake · Gravel road · Add 2–3 hours

Continue on to Spiral Jetty, Robert Smithson’s famous earthwork on the Great Salt Lake, about 16 miles past Golden Spike on gravel road.

Brigham City

Last full services · Fuel, food & lodging · Start here

Fuel up and grab food in Brigham City before heading out to Promontory.

Before You Go

Fuel Up First

There’s no food or fuel near the park. Fill up in Brigham City and bring water and snacks.

Entrance Fee

Chinese Arch is inside Golden Spike National Historical Park, so the park entrance fee applies. Pay at the visitor center by card.

RVS & TRAILERS

The East Auto Tour isn’t approved for RVs or vehicles pulling trailers. Leave them at the visitor center.

Cell Service

Coverage is limited. Download maps before you go.

Frequently Asked Questions

Plan Your Visit to Chinese Arch

Chinese Arch is a small stop with a big story. Pair it with the Last Spike Site and the steam engines for a full day at Golden Spike, then head back to Brigham City for dinner and a place to stay.