Capitol Reef National Park

“The light seems to flow or shine out of the rock rather than to be reflected from it.” Clarence Dutton, Geologist, 1880

The Petroglyphs on the bluffs above Freemont River illustrate hunting, farming and community; they are attributed to the ancestors of the Zuni, Hopi and Paiute Tribes dating back to the Common Era (600-1300). But the Mormon settlement at the confluence of the Freemont and Sulphur Creek tells a different story; a narrative including Pioneer life and orchards dating back centuries. One of the structures than remains is the Gifford House, built in 1908 and features baked goods and ice cream for sale. The cinnamon rolls are delicious but the mini pies did not satisfy this pastry chef.

We hiked up to Navajo Knobs at only 9.2 miles it’s the longest developed hike in the park with a 1670 foot elevation gain. This hike actually follows a sinuous bluff of Navajo Sandstone first featuring an overlook of Hickman Bridge – a stone arch and The Castle – Sandstone spires. Eventually climbing to the Knobs with rising above the most amazing geologic feature of the park. A wrinkle in the earth’s crust extending over 100 miles. It was created over time by deposition, uplift and erosion dating back 280 million years!

We stayed the night at Wonderland RV Park in Torrey, Utah right outside the park. This was overall a fantastic RV Park that even had a sheepskin wagon you could camp in, disc golf, places to hang your hammock to overlook Boulder mountain and the best showers we have experienced this whole trip. The owners at Wonderland were extremely friendly and happy to be shutting down for the season at the end of October.

The following day we hiked into a true slot canyon! An unmarked route into Sheets Gulch. The dry river bed was filled with so many cool rocks and boulders including large black chunks of petrified wood. We saw volcanic tuff and sandstone pieces that were veined with white cement or black magnesium making for a variegated stripe on the boulders and in the canyon walls. Hiking through this water pocket fold in the earth’s crust is truly spectacular; the one sided fold in the otherwise horizontal rock layers is visible here. Making for an amazing experience for an avid hiker climbing chockstones and dry waterfalls into a narrow sandstone canyon.

This land was protected in 1937 as a National Monument and became a Park in 1971. Priding themselves on the ancient orchards and protecting wildlife Capitol Reef is a real treat. Dozens of wild turkeys graze under the fruit trees and the young bucks rutting at sunrise made a truly magical autumn experience.

Hickman Bridge from above