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scenic drive through Capitol Reef has some of the best and most
accessible scenery in the park. Described below are the sights and
hikes along the
Main Scenic Drive. On other
pages is the same information for: |
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Scenic
Hwy. 24 |
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| Sights & Hikes Along Main Scenic Drive |
| The park's paved Scenic Drive takes
you past the visitor center, campgrounds and a very pleasant picnic
area to trails and viewpoints along the west side of the reef. You
should plan on spending at least a day stopping at the sights, taking
a few hikes, and maybe having a picnic lunch. |
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Fremont Gorge Overlook Trail |
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Strenuous -- 4.5 mi. out/back -- 1,000 ft. -- 3 hrs. |
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Fremont Gorge Overlook Trail crosses a mesa then climbs steeply to a lookout 1,000 feet above the Fremont River. |
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Fremont River Trail |
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Moderate -- 2 mi. out/back-- 460 ft. -- 1-1/2 hrs. |
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Fremont River Trail runs along orchards adjacent to the Fremont River and then climbs Miners Mountain to a good viewpoint of the reef. |
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Cohab Canyon Trail |
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Moderate -- 1.7 mi. oneway -- 770 ft. -- 1-1/2 hrs. |
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The Cohab Canyon Trail climbs steeply over switchbacks then more gradually to a hidden canyon above the campground. A short side trail leads to a lookout. You can bear right onto Frying Pan Trail at mile 1.1 or continue to the left and descend to Hwy. 24 near the Hickman Bridge Trail trailhead. |
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Frying Pan Trail |
Strenuous
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[3 mi. oneway]
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1,000 ft.
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2 hrs.
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Frying Pan Trail begins at mile 1.1 of Cohab Canyon Trail and follows the ridge of the Capitol Reef escarpment before joining Cassiday Arch Trail about 3/4 of a mile from the arch. |
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Cassiday Arch Trail |
Strenuous
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1-3/4 mi. oneway
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980 ft.
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1-1/2 hrs.
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Cassiday Arch Trail climbs steeply up the northern face of Grand Wash Canyon and then heads across slickrock to a vantage point near Cassiday Arch. It intersects the Frying Pan Trail after one mile. |
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Grand Wash Trail |
Easy
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2-1/4 mi. oneway
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200 ft.
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1-1/2 hrs.
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Grand Wash Trail travels
along a narrow wash bottom beneath 800 foot sheer canyon walls.
You can start at the end of Grand Wash Road or off Hwy 24 , 4-1/2
miles east of the visitor center. [see
photo] |
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Old Wagon Trail |
Strenuous
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3-3/4 mi. out/back
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1,000 ft.
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2-3 hrs.
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Old Wagon Trail crosses a wash and then climbs through shrub woodland along an old wagon road. The trail leaves the road near the end and climbs to a knoll with great views of the reef. |
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Golden Throne Trail |
Strenuous
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4 mi. out/back
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1,100 ft.
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3 hrs.
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Golden Throne Trail climbs steadily out of Capitol Gorge to great views of the reef and Golden Throne, a massive sandstone monolith. |
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Capitol Gorge |
Moderate
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You can hike along the dry riverbed in the bottom of Capitol Gorge at the end of the scenic drive. The gorge cuts through the reef to the east. At 3/4 of a mile are natural water tanks typical of the "Waterpocket Fold" and at 1-1/2 miles is a "pioneer register" -- names scratched on the walls. The riverbed can be followed another 3 miles to Notum Road on the east side of the reef. |
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