Fall 2018, Day 21 - Capitol Reef National Park, Beaver Canyon Scenic Hwy

Friday, Sept. 14, 2018 - Explore Capitol Reef National Park and drive Beaver Canyon Scenic Hwy = 208 miles driving!:


It was a beautiful morning in the middle of nowhere:


We had stayed only 19 miles from Capitol Reef National Park, so we were there at 8:18 AM:

"Capitol Reef" is a lovely "little" National Park, one that I had not heard of before planning this trip, but if you are doing "the big ones" (Arches, Canyonlands, Bryce Canyon), it is worthwhile carving out time to explore this less-crowded Park.

We drove alongside the Fremont River and some nice rock formations, and I kept looking for the right shot-with-the-lighting. I think I got it:


We decided to walk the "Grand Wash". A wash is a seasonal riverbed - full of water runoff after rains or maybe when snow melts, but very dry the rest of the year (Be "Weather Aware" and do not do this type of hike if storms are forecast!). We wound up "hiking" (it was really very flat, with an elevation change of only 400 feet over 3+ miles [one way]) 6.12 miles in 2 hours 16 minutes:

It was so cool - we started inside the Park, and hiked "down" to where the Wash joined the Fremont River, and Utah State Route 24.


The Parking Area itself was a joy to be in:



Because we started relatively early in the day, much of the canyon floor was in cool darkness:



The hike is beautiful:



At the end of the hike was the Fremont River:


Going back up the Wash, the sun was higher in the sky:




With over 6 miles under our belts, that was enough hiking for today. We drove down to see the Capitol Gorge area:


We headed back up out of the Park:

and after peanut butter sandwiches, Wendy let me hike to Hickman Bridge (a little over 2 miles round-trip):


You zig-zag up a cliff face, then have a nice (slightly uphill) hike:

It is great seeing Hickman Bridge

but it is hard getting a "picture with blue sky":



It was nice heading back down:

And saying goodbye to the Fremont River:


We then made our way west, through Torrey, Utah:

Bicknell, Utah:

and Loa, Utah:

before climbing Utah State Route 153 through Fishlake National Forest, over the Tushar Mountains:

looking back east while going UP:

The areas "up top":



Puffer Lake:

And checked in to the Super 8 in Beaver, Utah at 6:40


What a Great Day!. Thank you God!

Driving Music:

Given the dry desert, I wanted to listen to some Jackson Browne:

The Naked Ride Home, 2002


For Everyman, 1973


Hold Out, 1980


William Gibson - Neuromancer (Chapters 11 and 12), 1984 (his first book)


Sting - Bring On The Night, 1986 double live album