Capitol Reef National Park - Cassidy Arch

The Cassidy Arch Trail starts at the Grand Wash. Cassidy Arch is a must hike for visitors. 

During our hike we found this hollowed out rock and thought what a great place for a picture.

The trail starts from the wash and travels 3.3 miles out and back.

Here the spur trail marker. This trail was named after Butch Cassidy, who reportedly had a hide out here, the trail is custom made for a bank robber trying to avoid the law. 

You start out with your boots in the sand and then quickly make a surprise breakout onto cliff switchbacks. 

This shows the trail beginning up the switchbacks.

Some of the trail is close to the edge as seen in this photo.

You gaze down the wash and road from a vantage point shared by big horn sheep and the elusive mountain lion. We saw neither of the two during our hike. 

Finally, near the arch, the trail disappears and becomes just a rolling route over barren slick rock. 

Then the arch instantly appears in full view.

From this photo, we are still .5 miles to the arch.

We finally arrive at the arch.

Here I am,  but wait.....

Click on this photo and that's stupid me out on top of the arch.  They did say it was safe to walk across the arch.  I think!

This shows the 2.4 mile dirt road that you have to drive to get to the parking lot where the hike begins. 

O.K. use your imagination.  This looks like the face of a gorilla with the nose, eyes and mouth angled to the side.  Maybe in need more water....

Capitol Reef National Park - Rim Overlook and Navajo Knobs

Using the same trail head as the Hickman Bridge Trail, we begin our hike.

After a short walk, you will come upon the trail marker.

In 0.3 miles, the trail marker shows the Hickman Bridge Trail to the left and the Rim Overlook to the right. 

The trail distance is 4.6 to the Rim Overlook which is the halfway stop on the longer Navajo Knobs Trail. 

The trail to the Rim Overlook ascends into a series of four successive dry drainages.

You can see in this photo, cairns mark the way along the trail.  

At the end of 2.0  miles, we arrive at the sign for the Rim Overlook.  

The cliff side setting of the overlook is not for the fainthearted.

You're perched atop a sheer cliff with a 1,000 foot drop.  As if you were on a hot-air balloon, you gaze down at Fruita with its orchards, the Gifford house and barn, the Sulphur Creek and Fremont River.

The trail takes on a new character shortly after the overlook; instead of continuous climbing, you now begin to slowly descend and wrap around the walls, only to begin another ascent on the far side of the many small off canyons that the trail crosses.

We find another amazing rock for a photo. Get ready to go up, and down a lot.  We took many breaks and drank plenty of water on our way up to Navajo Knobs.  The views along the trail were amazing. 

When you are almost to the Knobs, a rock formation called The Castle comes into view below you. The Castle is composed of eroding spires and turrets perched atop a crumbling red rock base; no telling how long this castle will be towering over the desert.

Here's a view of the Castle from the main road. 

The Knob hike consists of meandering switchbacks that provide blessed flat stretches, and long uphill climbs, mostly over sheer rock. (No, you aren’t in danger of falling off a cliff.)  We just keep motoring on! 

If you’re careful in choosing your path, you might not leave a single footprint for other hikers to find.

After our final canyon is conquered we finally get a glimpse of the Knobs in the next photo. 

At an elevation of 6,980 feet, the Navajo Knobs command an impressive view of the Waterpocket Fold and its surroundings. The Navajo Knobs are not a peak or summit by any stretch, but it’s hard not to feel like you’re on top of the world here (well, the top of the Reef, anyway). Take in the impressive 360 degree view of the park and surrounding areas

We took this photo to show the Navajo Knobs from the ground. They are centered atop the mountain.  We both agree that this was the best hike in the park.  

Capitol Reef National Park - Hickman Bridge Hike

The Hickman Bridge Trail is the most popular hike in the park. 

In the off beaten path its possible you could be all alone much of the way.

In fact, Hickman Bridge is used to being alone.  It remained hidden until it was discovered it in 1940. 

The trail offers plenty of visual interests and variety.  Although the trail is 2.2 miles round-trip you travel mostly in the sun so plan ahead and take plenty of water,  

Our first look at Hickman Bridge.

Soon Hickman Bridge comes into full view.  You can see in this photo we were not alone. 

Its magnificent span measuring 125 feet in height and 125 feet in width. 

Many times during our hikes we find special designs in rocks.  I can only imagine how it got this way. 

Kathy took this photo to show I really did take this hike.

Some of the smooth rock we had to walk across during this hike.  Although the weather forecast was great it seemed to rain every afternoon after 2 p.m. 

Sign indicates a rockfall hazard area and states no stopping for the next 500 feet.  

Here's Kathy walking along the rock hazard area to the parking lot. We both enjoyed this hike. 

Zion National Park - Kolob Canyon

We decided to stop at the northern portion of Zion National Park on our way to Capitol Reef National Park.  We were planning to spend most of the day exploring Kolob Canyon.  Due to unfortunate weather conditions we only had the opportunity to hike the Timber Creek Overlook Trail.

We thought we could make this 1-mile round trip without carrying any rain gear.  Huge mistake on our part. The trail was muddy and wet most of the way.  We both were pretty wet upon our return.

Kolob Canyons is the northwest section of Zion National Park of Utah, United States. The Kolob Canyons are part of the Colorado Plateau region of the park and are noted for their colorful beauty and diverse landscape.

Here in the northwest corner of the park, narrow parallel box canyons are cut into the western edge of the Colorado Plateau, forming majestic peaks and 2,000 foot cliff walls.  

Whether you come to view the panoramic landscape from a scenic drive, hike into one of the majestic canyons, or begin a multi-day adventure into the Zion Wilderness, Kolob Canyons has something special for everyone to experience.

The Timber Creek Overlook Trail follows along a small ridge with spectacular views of the Kolob Canyons, the Kolob Terrace, and the Pine Valley Mountains. In the background lies Timber Top Mountain 8055 feet.

I found a small hole within the mountain.  

I was waiting for the clouds to clear to get a better picture of the mountain ridge.  We really enjoyed our short trip to Kolob Canyon.