The fertile soil and protection from wind create the perfect microclimate for farming and cultivated by Native tribes for thousands of years who created a unique irrigation system by forming culverts for rainwater to flow down into the valley. On the Grand Wash Road Trail, a dry streambed, I spotted a peregrine falcon soaring slowly overhead.Īn orchard already picked clean near the visitor centerPhoto credit: Ann Bush 5.
Park Rangers at headquarters sometimes know where to find the rare bighorn sheep that blend in with the canyon walls, though binoculars are helpful. Over 100 species of mammals, reptiles, fish, and amphibians call Utah home, along with 239 species of birds and 900 species of plants. Trekking poles are recommended on all trails. Beware of altitude sickness and carry plenty of water. Other more strenuous trails lead the robust hiker to the top of dramatic cliffs with drop-offs that gave me goosebumps but were well worth the hike with vistas of the Waterpocket Fold. The Capitol Gorge trail was once the main gap in the rugged monocline and was the primary travel route for Native tribes and later Mormon settlers. One pleasant easy trail that winds through the canyon following the river is the Fremont River Trail. Unique Hiking Trailsġ5 trails varying in length from half a mile to 4.7 miles provide incredible views and canyon experiences. Small creeks flow through the park along Scenic Highway 24 and the Fremont River Trail.Photo credit: Ann Bush 2. Beware of bicyclists who love this less traveled route winding through unusual rock formations created by the earth’s gradual movements.
The road ends suddenly, blocked by the impressive monocline and a favorite hiking trail leading towards the massive bulge of rock. After entering the park, pay a small fee to continue following the route’s sidekick leading to historic sites, trailheads, and amazing views. The main route into Capitol Reef National Park, State Highway 24, is a beautiful drive long before reaching the park. I started with park rangers in the well-designed visitor center and ended the day with an apple. I fell in love with this little secret place in Utah and had quite a few fantastic experiences that I am glad to share. However, variations in Utah’s topography, geology, elevation, and precipitation combine to create seven zones within the state, resulting in a patchwork of pinyon-juniper, ponderosa, and mixed conifer forests, grasslands, mixed shrubs, and towering red rock ridges popular with mountain climbers.Ĭapitol Reef National Park is a remarkable place often considered not worth a stop in the rush to see its more photographed natural phenomenal siblings. The sweeping desert plains are speckled with immense rugged buttes rising from a sea of sand sprinkled with pinyon-junipers and mixed shrubs. The Utah landscape looked barren as I traveled on the roads leading to four well-known national parks, Arches, Zion, Bryce, and Canyonlands.
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