Utah Trip - Capitol Reef National Park

We stayed in Torrey, Utah, just outside Capitol Reek National Park, for 2 nights.  Capitol Reef is part of what is known as the Waterpocket Fold.  The Waterpocket Fold is a giant buckle in the earth's surface that stretches over 150 miles through south-central Utah.  It was created some 65 million years ago by a massive lifting of the earth's surface.

The park includes a 16 mile round trip scenic drive, several historic buildings, a fruit orchard that is still being operated, the Fremont River, natural arches, Native American petroglyphs, and the Pioneer Register.  The latter should better be called Pioneer Graffitii.  As pioneers passed through the narrow canyon now known as Capitol Gorge, they wrote their names on the walls of the canyon.

The Fremont River provides a steady source of water to the area.  As a result the early settlers turned to fruit production in order to make a living.  When the federal government created the national park, they took over operation of the orchards.  The view below is of the Gifford Farmhouse from the Cohab Canyon trail.  The farmhouse is maintained as a museum and store.

Our longest hike at Capitol Reef was on the Cohab Canyon Trail to the Frying Pan Trail to Cassidy Arch to The Grand Wash Road which was about 6.5 miles with elevation changes totalling almost 2,000 feet.  We were fortunate enough to meet a couple from England who offered us a ride back to the Visitor Center.  We gladly accepted as it was hot.  The picture below is of Cassidy Arch(Yes, it is named after Butch)

The fact that we got the ride gave us opportunity to take another hike up Capitol Gorge.

The next morning we hiked to Hickman Bridge, a natural arch named after a educator and Utah legislator who pushed to have Capitol Reef made a park.