Capitol Reef National Park - Capitol Gorge & Narrows

The Capitol Gorge Trailhead is at the southern end of Scenic Drive.  You drive 10 miles down the road to reach the turn off. 

After driving another 2-1/4 miles down a dirt road you reach the parking lot and the beginning of the trail. 

A stroll down the wash takes you through what once was a wagon road and subsequently a route used by motor vehicles before the construction of UT-24 in 1962.  Creating and maintaining the old road was a demanding effort for the early settlers of the area. 

You can see how high the cliffs are on each side of the wash.

The Gorge gets smaller at one portion of the hike. 

We finally arrive at the Trail Marker.  

From the sign, the trails ascends through a jumble of boulders with unexpected twists and turns marked by cairns.

After making a quick climb, the trail levels out. 

The spur hike to The Tanks is 0.2 miles. 

Some of the water pockets are filled with water only in the spring or after a heavy rainstorm. 

Some of the larger tanks always have water, 

This area leads to a couple of smaller tanks.  All these potholes are essential sources of water for wildlife in the area. 

Here's a photo of an interesting cairn showing the way.

While driving back out on the Scenic Drive, we took some of the best pictures of the park.

Here's another great photo of the park.

The Narrows

This hike can be tackled in several ways, as a round trip from either the Grand Wash Trailhed or the UT24 trailhead, or an in and out.  We decided to make it a shorter hike and the fastest way to access the narrows. 

From the elevated Grand Wash parking area, the trail stays above the wash for 0.1 miles and then drops into the wash. 

This is Capitol Reef rendition of the "Chia pet."

We find another good opportunity for a photo.

After passing a rocky section the route enters Navajo Sandstone.  

You can see how the height of the canyon walls. 

The narrow begins as the walls are separated by a spread of only 16feet.

We decided that after reaching the Trailhead for the Cassidy Arch, we would return to the parking lot. 

Hey buddy, Don't step back.

Grand Wash was created by water flowing through this fissure in the Waterpocket Fold, and the scouring of the canyon walls is clearly evident and quite impressive. 

A rock with a hole in the center.