Explore Captivating Capitol Reef and Enchanting Escalante, 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.

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. Especially notable are the 18 orchards with 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.

After three days in Capitol Reef, we will travel for approximately 1.5 hour to Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in Escalante, Utah. This Monument spans nearly 1.87 million acres of America's public lands in southern Utah, protecting a variety of natural habitats. We will be traveling the land of the Ancestral Puebloan and Fremont people, who expertly farmed this rugged land and built granaries to store what they grew. Their descendants include people from the Hopi, Paiute, Zuni, Ute, and Navajo tribes. The best way to see this Monument is with local guides as they know the unmarked routes to the most outstanding sites in the Monument. We will be doing just that for two days.

Day 1: The trip begins with check in at our lodge near Capitol Reef National Park at 3:00 p.m. We will meet at 3:30 p.m. for a trip orientation meeting followed by dinner at our lodge. If time allows, we will visit the Historic Fruita District in the Park, site of the historic Mormon settlement and Fremont Indian petroglyphs.

Days 2-3: Depending on the needs of the group, we will choose hikes from the following options:

• 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: A 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 of the natural bridge from above. 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.

Day 4: We will check out of our lodge no later than 9 a.m. and travel toward Escalante, Utah. Along the way, we will stop at the Anasazi State Park Museum in Boulder, Utah. Upon arrival in Escalante, we will hike in Escalante Petrified Forest State Park before checking into our lodge in this town.

Days 5-6: We will explore some of the most outstanding features of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument with local guides, on routes known only to them. This should ensure solitude for our group in this amazing place.

Day 7: After breakfast, we will visit the Escalante Heritage Hole in the Rock Center. The trip ends at approximately 11:00 a.m. with checkout from our lodge.

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. We always recommend that participants purchase refundable airline tickets and travel insurance.

Accommodations and Food

We will stay in two comfortable lodges near our two destinations. The trip price will cover lodging costs, all breakfasts, items for sack lunches, and two dinners. Participants will be on their own for the remaining dinners.

Trip Difficulty

The trails chosen for possible inclusion in the trip are mostly rated moderate 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 tend to be more than 5 miles in length and may have up to 1,000 feet of elevation gain. Participants on this trip can expect to hike 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.
• Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument website: https://www.blm.gov/programs/national-conservation-lands/utah/grand-staircase-escalante-national-monument

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 and national monuments in preserving America’s most outstanding landscapes and valuable ecosystems, as well as important cultural sites.

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.

Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument was established in 1996 by then President Bill Clinton. Its boundaries were later shrunk to about 1/3 its original size in 2017 by then President Trump. On Oct. 8, 2021, President Biden restored the monument’s original boundaries. It protects five life-zones -- from low-lying desert to coniferous forest and rock art panels, occupation sites, campsites, and granaries created by a number of ancient Native American tribes.

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. It is the hope of the Sierra Club that outings to these parks will encourage participants 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.