Since we arrived at Capitol Reef National Park a day earlier than planned, we were able to squeeze in some shorter hikes during the evening. First up was Capitol Gorge to Tanks Trail, a 2.5-mile hike that takes you through a narrow canyon and passes what is known as the Pioneer Register, a list of names and dates that has been etched onto the rock walls and marks the many pioneers who used this former thoroughfare. At the end of the trail is a short side trip up steep rocks to the tanks, which are a series of naturally formed recesses that are (sometimes) filled with water.
Next, we drove over to explore Goosenecks and Sunset Point, another 2.5-mile hike to enjoy the vistas of the Capitol Reef and watch the sun go down.
The next day…
Being so close to the park (less than 5 minutes) meant not having to get up as early, so we weren’t in any rush to wake up. After making coffee in our Jetboil – the first in 3 days so it tasted WONDERFUL – we packed up and drove back into the park. We had several shorter hikes planned, so we ate a quick breakfast of Aussie bites and (almost rotten) raspberries and hit the trails. We ended up hiking to Chimney Rock, Cassidy Arch, Hickman Bridge, and Cohab Canyon, covering just over 11 miles and gaining about 2,290 feet of total elevation.
Chimney Rock Loop Trail is a moderate 3.5-mile climb up switchbacks that offers panoramic views along the Waterpocket Fold. During most of the hike, you are treated to views of Chimney Rock, a natural rock spire that eroded out of the side of the mesa and stands 300 feet above the road.
Cassidy Arch Trail is one of the most popular hikes in the park, and for good reason. This 3-mile hike, which was named after the famous Butch Cassidy, leads to a large and spectacular arch that is photogenic at almost any angle. This is also a very popular route for technical canyoneering and rappelling.
Next was Hickman Bridge Trail, one of our favorites in the park. This easy 2-mile hike takes you through a scenic trek up to a large natural bridge, which sits over 300 feet above the Fremont River.
To finish up our day of exploring, we hiked Cohab Canyon Trail, a 3-mile trek through a hidden canyon with several spur trails and overlooks of Fruita, a historic town known for its orchards.
Though the visitor center was closed, we were in desperate need of more drinking water, so we went to check if they had a fountain outside. Thank goodness they did! We filled up our water jug and any bottle we had in our car – because who knows when the next time would be that we’d come across water again. There was also a pay phone outside (yes, those do still exist!), so we both made quick calls to our parents to let them know where we were, as cell reception had been spotty since leaving the hotel in Lander on Saturday. As we were leaving, we stopped to take a dip/shower/bath in the Fremont River, which runs through the park. Nothing could have been more necessary or refreshing at that moment. Feeling like brand new people, we hopped back in the car and started our drive towards Moab!
Must-sees: Our top three hikes were Cassidy Arch, Hickman Bridge, and Cohab Canyon. All three offer something unique and will provide you with different views of the variety of landscapes found in Capitol Reef National Park.
On Reflection: If we had another day in the park, we would have loved to do Navajo Knobs Trail. This is a 9-mile hike that consists of Navajo Knobs, a pair of small hills that sit atop a jutting section of the Waterpocket Fold at an elevation of 6,980 feet.
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