Park 8: Capitol Reef
National Park, UT: Today was a
travel day with a short stop at Capitol Reef Nat’l Park. After leaving Moab, UT on I-70, we took a
left and drove Utah 12, the scenic byway, to the park.
Capitol Reef is known for its towering sandstone domes, rock formations that undulate like waves, and a long arch known as Hickman
Bridge. We hiked the steep 2 mile roundtrip trail to the “Bridge” over a terrain of
fine sand and slickrock and then picnicked along the Fremont River that transverses the park.
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| Drive into Capitol Reef Nat'l Park |
After leaving Capitol Reef, the drive to Bryce Canyon NP was
indescribable. From the mountain passes of aspen and pine at 9,600 feet in the Dixie Nat'l Forest to the Staircase Escalante National Monument, very narrow
necks of roadway that drop 2,000 feet on either side of the road to the
canyon floors, to buttes and mesas towering above the plateau floor and more undulating
waves of “fins” as described back in Arches NP---the short 100 mile drive was truly scenic overlaod!
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| Hickman Bridge |
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| Capitol Dome through Hickman Bridge |
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| 9600 ft Summit of Dixie Nat'l Forest |
After such an unexpected drive, we were pleased to check in to Bryce Canyon Lodge in time for Happy Hour on our private deck.
Odometer: 4,089 miles.
Park 8: Capitol Reef
National Park, UT: Today was a
travel day with a short stop at Capitol Reef Nat’l Park. After leaving Moab, UT on I-70, we took a
left and drove Utah 12, the scenic byway, to the park.
Capitol Reef is known for its towering sandstone domes, rock formations that undulate like waves, and a long arch known as Hickman
Bridge. We hiked the steep 2 mile roundtrip trail to the “Bridge” over a terrain of
fine sand and slickrock and then picnicked along the Fremont River that transverses the park. 
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