Pleasant Creek Trail

Drive along Scenic Drive in Capitol Reef National Park and you'll find this trailhead at the end of the road. After 7 miles of driving, you'll arrive at the Pleasant Creek Road turnout and parking area. From here, the road continues to Capitol Gorge, but is unpaved. We had to park at a small parking lot near Pleasant Creek Road because Capitol Gorge Road was closed to vehicles. This was not...

Capitol Reef National Park is filled with excellent hikes, and the hike to the Golden Throne should not be left out of the conversation.  This hike is 2WD accessible, has moderate distance, and decent elevation gain, making it a great hike and exercise for everyone.  The trail begins from the Capitol Gorge Trailhead and Parking Area.  There is not a ton of parking here, so if you go on the week...

The Grand Wash is a canyon in Capitol Reef National Park featuring several-hundred-foot-tall sandstone walls. The canyon walls are, for the most part, widely spaced, except for a half mile long section of scenic "narrows". Hike to nearby Cassidy Arch if you have extra time. Beware of potentially deadly flash floods, get a flash flood report from a ranger.

Follow the scenic road just past the Fruita Campground to the first dirt road on the left. The dirt road meanders through cool rock formations (great for night photography) and eventually dramatic cliffs that you will be climbing up. The parking area is obvious and there are primitive restrooms. Follow the well-marked trail into the canyon until you reach the Cassidy trailhead on your left. On...

Navajo Knobs is one of Capital Reef’s most spectacular hikes. It brings you, moderately, to one of Capital Reef’s most spectacular viewpoints of the main park’s viewpoints. (Tip: Upon arriving at the park the Ranger recommended this as her favorite hike, and it lived up to the hype! If you’re looking to experience all of the park in one hike, this is it!) To start, park at the TH for the Hick...

Starting at 5350' in elevation, the hike to Hickman natural bridge is one of the best hikes in Capitol Reef National Park for families with small children. The hike is just under two miles round trip and doesn't include any steep or exposed sections. You'll begin your hike next to the Fremont River, surrounded by towering sandstone cliffs. The path is well defined and cairns make it easy to fo...