Captivating Capitol Reef National Park: A Dayhiking Adventure, Utah

The Trip

“Capitol Reef may be one of the most secret and underappreciated national parks in the country—and the lack of crowds translates into a real sense of discovery for those who spend the time to get to know it...This 378-square-mile park in Utah offers similar geologic wonders to Zion or Arches (National parks). But is larger than either and it occupies an even more isolated and varied setting.” (National Geographic: Secrets of the National Parks)

This trip will take us to the defining feature of the area: Waterpocket Fold, also known as “the Reef," which is a 100-mile-long rock structure that was thrust up 6,800 feet from the Earth’s surface some 65 million years ago. It has since been eroded to its current height of 1,500 feet. It is “a real wrinkle in time through which visitors seeking secrets can escape into untouched wilderness.” (National Geographic: Secrets of the National Parks)

This national park also features remnants of the 19th century history of Utah: a one-room schoolhouse, a toolshed and blacksmith shop, a refurbished homestead and rusting farm machinery from a once thriving pioneer Mormon settlement. “The standout feature is 18 orchards totaling more than 3,000 trees” containing some rare fruit varieties such as Flemish Beauty pears, Yellow Egg plums and Red Astrachen apples. 

For a glimpse of even older history, we will visit the petroglyphs created by the Fremont Indians, some of which date back to 600 AD.

Day 1: Check in at our lodge will begin at 4:00 p.m. We will meet at 5 p.m. for a trip orientation meeting followed by dinner at our lodge.

Days 2-4: Depending on the needs of the group, we will choose hikes from the following possibilities:

Cohab Canyon Trail: 1.75 miles. This trail was used by early Mormon polygamists (or “cohabitationists”) to hide from Federal agents trying to enforce antipolygamy laws.

Grand Wash Trail: Easy, 2.5-mile trail through a narrow canyon. A side trail goes to Cassidy Arch, named for the famous outlaw, Butch Cassidy, who allegedly used Grand Wash on his way back and forth from nearby “Robber’s Roost." We may also get to see Desert Bighorn Sheep here.

Golden Throne Trail: Moderately strenuous hike up to the top of Capitol Reef.

Fremont River Trail: This 1-mile trail begins with an easy stroll through an apple orchard, but then climbs steeply for 480 feet for some great river views. Could be an option for hearty hikers.

Rim Overlook and the Navajo Knobs Trail: This trail begins with a 1-mile trek to famous Hickman Bridge, and then branches off onto the Overlook Trail, which offers a view from above of the natural bridge. After 2.3 miles, the Rim Overlook trail provides spectacular views of the Fremont River. For those interested in more hiking: in another 2 miles, the trail ends at Navajo Knobs.

Sulphur Creek Trail: A 5.8-mile trail that follows Sulphur Creek downstream. May require walking in the creek itself, depending on the water level at the time of the outing.

We will also visit the Fruita Historic District, site of the historic Mormon settlement and Fremont Indian petroglyphs.

Day 5: The trip ends after breakfast. Check out from the lodge by 11 a.m.

Getting There

The nearest airports to Capitol Reef National Park are Grand Junction, CO: 3 hours; Salt Lake City, UT: 3.5. hours; St. George, UT: 3.5 hours. Due to the distances from airports to the park, the trip leaders will not be able to provide transportation from any airports to the park. We encourage trip participants to try to arrange carpools among themselves.

Please do not make non-refundable travel arrangements until notified to do so by the trip leader.

Accommodations and Food

We will stay in a comfortable lodge outside the park as there are no accommodations, other than camping, within the park. Meals will be eaten in local restaurants.

Trip Difficulty

The trails chosen for possible inclusion in the trip itinerary range from easy to strenuous according to the established trail rating system; the rating of trails generally depends on the length and elevation gain, as well as the presence of obstacles such as boulders or creeks that must be traversed. The needs of the group will dictate exactly which trails are hiked on this outing. However, bear in mind that even trails rated easy and moderate can be challenging for those who are not in shape for trail hiking. Easy to moderate trails will likely be uneven and sometimes rocky and may have up to 600 feet of elevation gain. Strenuous trails will be more than 5 miles in length and may have up to 1,000 feet of elevation gain. Participants on this trip can expect hiking between 4 to 6 hours per day, mostly in the sun. Carrying enough water and wearing adequate sun protection are crucial. We recommend that prospective participants honestly assess their fitness level for this day hiking trip before signing up and that they engage in a fitness program several months prior to the trip. While working out at a gym can help, by far the best physical preparation for a hiking trip is actually getting out and hiking on natural trails well in advance of the trip.

Equipment and Clothing

A detailed equipment and clothing list will be sent to all signed up participants well in advance of the trip.

References

• Secrets of the National Parks. National Geographic Society, 2013. Washington, D.C.
• Guide to National Parks of the United States. National Geographic Society, 2011. Seventh Edition. Washington, D.C.

Conservation

The Sierra Club motto is “Explore, enjoy, and protect the planet.” The mission of Sierra Club outings is to enable Sierra Club members to “explore and enjoy” some of the most beautiful places on Earth, while also learning about what is being done to protect the places visited. Usually Sierra Club outings include guest speakers or other programs aimed at educating the trip participants about conservation efforts in the region.

The conservation message of this outing will focus on the role of national parks in preserving America’s most outstanding landscapes and valuable ecosystems. 2016 was the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service and we will continue to celebrate this milestone while also noting the anniversaries of individual parks some of which predate the establishment of the Park Service.

Capitol Reef National Park was first established as a National Monument in 1937; it was promoted to National Park status in 1971. The park protects important geologic features such as Waterpocket Fold, a 100-mile-long monocline. The name Capitol Reef comes from “a particularly colorful section of the fold where rounded Navajo sandstone forms capitol-like domes and sheer cliffs form a barrier to travel, often referred to as a “reef” (Guide to National Parks of the United States, National Geographic). The park also protects important remnants of Utah history in that it contains both ancient Native American petrogylphs dating back to 600 AD as well as structures from a 19th century Mormon pioneer settlement, complete with heritage fruit trees.

All national parks that contain mineral or fossil fuel resources can legally be mined or drilled under leases to industry by the federal government. Generally, most presidents have avoided engaging in industrial exploitation of national parks; however under the current Administration, that precedent appears to be in jeopardy. It is the hope of the Sierra Club that outings to these parks will encourage participants to want to help protect them from industrialization.

Sierra Club National Outings is an equal-opportunity provider and when applicable will operate under permits obtained from U.S. federal land agencies.