Capitol Reef National Park is a United States National Park, in south-central Utah. It is 100 miles (160 km) long but fairly narrow. The park, established in 1971, preserves 378 mi² (979 km²) and is open all year, although May through September are the most popular months.Called "Wayne Wonderland" in the 1920s by local boosters Ephraim P. Pectol and Joseph S. Hickman, Capitol Reef National Park protects colorful canyons, ridges, buttes, and monoliths. About 75 miles (120 km) of the long up-thrust called the Waterpocket Fold, extending like a rugged spine from Thousand Lake Mountain southward to Lake Powell, is preserved within the park boundary. Capitol Reef is the name of an especially rugged and spectacular part of the Waterpocket Fold near the Fremont River. The area was named for a line of white domes and cliffs of Navajo Sandstone, each of which looks somewhat like the United States Capitol building, that run from the Fremont River to Pleasant Creek on the Waterpocket Fold. The local word reef referred to any rocky barrier to travel
Trails
Summary
Difficulty
Distance
Hickman Bridge - Capitol Reef National Park
The Hickman Natural Bridge trail is a very relaxing and scenic trail in Capitol Reef National Park.
The Hickman Natural Bridge trail is a very relaxing and scenic trail in Capitol Reef National Park.
Easy
1.8 mi
2.9 km
2.9 km
Cassidy Arch - Capitol Reef National Park
This 3-mile hike takes you to the top of Cassidy Arch, which is situated 500 feet above the road and trailhead below.
This 3-mile hike takes you to the top of Cassidy Arch, which is situated 500 feet above the road and trailhead below.
Moderate
3.1 mi
5.0 km
5.0 km
Guides
The Hickman Natural Bridge trail is a very relaxing and scenic trail in Capitol Reef National Park.
This 3-mile hike takes you to the top of Cassidy Arch, which is situated 500 feet above the road and trailhead below.
Community Trips
Capitol ReefThe Waterpocket Fold, a 100-mile long wrinkle in the earth\'s crust
known as a monocline, extends from nearby Thousand Lakes Mountain to
the Colorado River (now Lake Powell). Capitol Reef National Park was
established to protect this grand and colorful geologic feature, as
well as the unique natural and cultural history found in the area.Hickman BridgeModerate; self-guiding nature trail
...
Sulphur Creek is an entertaining river hike through a marvelous slot canyon.
Everyone will enjoy splashing down the river and admiring the breath-taking landscape.
Children find this hike particularly enjoyable. Nothing beats playing in water to help the
miles melt away.
...
For pictures and description of this trail, see http://dyeclan.com/outdooractivities/hiking/hickmanbridge.
I also have lots of other fun outdoor activities in and around Utah on my website: http://dyeclan.com/outdooractivities.
These include canoeing, canyoneering, caving, hiking, hot springs, rock
climbing, and fun places. The site's a work in progress, so check back
often.
For pictures and description of this trail, see http://dyeclan.com/outdooractivities/hiking/cassidyarch.
I also have lots of other fun outdoor activities in and around Utah on my website: http://dyeclan.com/outdooractivities.
These include canoeing, canyoneering, caving, hiking, hot springs, rock
climbing, and fun places. The site's a work in progress, so check back
often.
We walked the Hickman Bridge Trail in Capitol Reef NP. The trail takes you through an arch called Hickman Bridge. Unfortunately, I forgot to start Everytrail on my iPhone until we we headed down the trail to the parking lot. It's a beautiful hike and the bridge is a great example of the power of erosion.
A classic hike in Capitol Reef National Park. Cassidy Arch is well worth the half-mile detour, and the 360-degree views from the highest point on the trail are great. The north end of the Frying Pan trail joins the Cohab Canyon trail; Cohab is a pretty canyon and an easy short hike from the campground at Fruita.
Capitol Reef might well be our favorite national park, and this might be our new favorite trail. The trail notes on the map say "lots of interesting side canyons to explore". We didn't explore them on this trip, but wow we plan to go back. Spending a couple of nights would be the way to check out all the side canyons.The trail is generally easy walking, though probably a third of it...
We accessed this trail off Hwy 12 into
the Pleasant Creek Campground area. We parked the ATV's at the end
of the trail and then walked up the canyon a ways. The wildflowers
were an added treat to the gorgeous rock/cliff/canyon wall
formations. We were looking up at "the Salmon" and "Nicks
Peak" as we went along. The wind was absolutely horrible this
day. When we were on the ATV the wind...
Easy hike from the Capitol Gorge trailhead. Really neat natural pools in the sandstone called the Tanks. Would be really neat to visit after a rain storm whereas the Tanks would be full of water, but check with the ranger station in Fruita to make sure the road to the trailhead is open.
Reviews
