Cassidy Arch - Capitol Reef National Park

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Capitol Reef National Park

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Cassidy Arch - Capitol Reef National Park

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Difficulty: Moderate
Length: 3.1 miles / 5.0 km
Duration: 1-3 hours

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Overview: Named after the famous Butch Cassidy, Cassidy Arch is located in the central portion of Capitol Reef National Park, specifically just within the western walls of Grand Wash, beside the Scenic Drive. The arch trail is a spur off of the larger Frying Pan Trail, a route that climbs northeast atop the Waterpocket Fold before dropping down into Cohab Canyon and onto Highway 24.

The arch is large and spectacular, photogenic at almost any angle. It sits 500 feet above the Scenic Drive and the Grand Wash Trail, offering a pleasant diversion on any trip. The climb is steep, but worth the visit.

The hike to Cassidy Arch in Capitol Reef National Park is a very fun hike. After you leave the wash, the first part of the trail gains evelation very rapidly and has several switch-backs. The trail is in very good condition; rock stairs have been constructed at steep portions, and rock cairns mark the way when the trail is not visible.
The trail ends at the spectacular Cassidy Arch, which is situated about 500 feet above the road and trailhead below.

Tips: It looks intimidating, but don't miss the opportunity to walk out on top of the arch.

Points of Interest

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Grand Wash Trailhead

The Grand Wash connects to the Scenic Drive at this point, two miles south of Fruita. Just under 300 yards from the Scenic Drive, there is a parking area that serves as the de facto trailhead to the wash. The arch is actually visible from the road below.

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Rock House

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Oyler Mine

Before the atomic bomb and the uranium boom of the Fifties, this claim was first filed in 1904. Here an early prospector started a stone building, and possibly a corral or pen.

In the 1920s pieces of uranium ore from this mine were ground up and mixed in drinking water, or worn in packets in waistbands or on arthritic joints, to "cure" rheumatism and other ailments. There are no statistics to indicate which was more harmful - the disease or the cure.

The cliff is unstable and subject to rockfall, and potentially dangerous concentrations of radioactive materials may occur within the mine. Do no attempt to enter the tunnels.

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Parking Area

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Cassidy Arch Trailhead

Cassidy Arch Trail forks out of Grand Wash about three quarters of a mile from the parking area.

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View of Cassidy Arch

The Frying Pan Trail branches off of the Cassidy Arch Trail after 1.1 miles, and heads up toward Cohab Canyon. There are many viewpoints points along the rim of the gorge, accessible from the Cassidy Arch and Frying Pan Trails.

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Cassidy Arch from Above

The Cassidy Arch Trail ends above the arch itself, offering great photo opportunities from a higher vantage point. There are no official routes to reach the base of the arch.