Cathedral Valley, in the northern part of Capitol Reef National Park, is a mesmerizing geological wonder The area gets its name from the towering rock formations that resemble Gothic cathedrals, with massive monoliths and intricate sedimentary layers creating a surreal landscape Capitol Reef itself is known for its diverse and stunning red-rock scenery, but Cathedral Valley stands out as an extraordinary highlight within the park It is an area I have visited many times over the years, and always enjoy We did an ove...

One of the more popular roadside attractions when passing through Capitol Reef, the Fruita one room schoolhouse is worth a stop The schoolhouse dates back over a hundred years to 1896 when local Fruita settlers build it The current version is refurbished and is meant to look the same as it did around 1936 The last class to use the school graduated in 1941 How far the area has come in the last 70 years! It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places Most times of the year, deer can be seen foraging in the ...

The Behunin cabin is a great example of what early settlers in Southern Utah lived in The cabin, built by Elijah Cutler Behunin Cabin in 1883-1884 was renovated in the 1960's by the National Park Service to preserve it for future generations The cabin was only lived in for a year before the Behunin family moved to Fruita, but illustrates the simplicity of a settlers home, and the resourcefulness of settlers to make do with what was available The cabin is made with sandstone and cement plaster walls, and a wood and ...

Opened to wagon traffic in 1884 by hard working pioneers, Capitol Gorge has to be one of the better short hikes in Capitol Reef The work needed to clear the passage for early wagons must have been daunting Today the road is closed just before the narrows, with a good picnic area at the trailhead Those not wishing to hike, may still want to make the drive to the trailhead The side road from the scenic byway to the trailhead is dirt, but accessible to most vehicles, and quite scenic as it descends the upper part of t...

Tucked a few miles down a rough jeep road, Herdina Park feels a world away from the pavement and crowds of the main area of Arches NP Due to the rough jeep road, this area of the park is not visited very heavily Those that do visit generally just visit Eye of the Whale Arch and return If you are wanting to wander, however, opportunities for solitude and beauty abound I've visited the area many times over the years and have never seen anyone else and rarely even seen footprints For the experienced climber, canyoneer...

Burro Wash is a great technical canyon in Capitol Reef The approach is lengthy, requiring either a long car shuttle or a bit of a grunt up the reef This description takes the grunt up the reef approach and requires no car shuttle The canyon is not particularly technical, making it a good choice for all abilities All-in-all, this is just a lovely day out in Capitol Reef Expect big views, and a few great slot sections Note: If you are not a technical canyoneer, hiking up Burro from the bottom provides a pleasant and ...

This is a short and very popular hike On a busy spring or fall weekend, finding a parking spot at the trailhead can be difficult The hike gains a bit of elevation, but is suitable for most It meanders up above the Fremont River, then does a loop of Hickman Bridge, a natural bridge with a 133 foot span, before returning to the trailhead Motivated hikers can make this a side trip to the Rim Overlook or Navajo Domes, while families or less motivated can visit the bridge ...

One of the things I love about Capitol Reef National Park is the variety of hikes to do Having visited the park countless times, I also love the fact that there are still amazing hikes I have yet to discover! Pleasant Creek Gorge is one of those gems in the park that sees little attention The hike starts in open desert, then winds its way through a dramatic gorge following Pleasant Creek up stream The gorge was originally used as one of the paths connecting the summer range high country of Boulder Mountain to the l...

Pleasant Creek is home to likely the largest petroglyph panels in Capitol Reef It is surprising the National Park Service doesn't promote this short hike The hike is short enough it is nearly a roadside attraction, and should be accessible to most who are up for a short walk The hike can be hot and buggy in the summer, but is short enough to be tolerable even in the heat and potential bugs Note: It should go without saying, but do NOT add to the graffiti or deface the rock anywhere in the park It is against federal...

Visible from many areas of the park, the Golden Throne hike is a good hike for getting out of the canyon bottoms and seeing the big scenery the park offers This hike offers very little shade, don't attempt it in the full heat of a summer afternoon Though it gains a fair bit of elevation 220 m, it feels fairly gradual For photos, evening lighting really lights up the Golden Throne and Capitol Gorge From the end of the trail, there are big views of Miners Mountain, Boulder Mountain, and the Henry Mountains