Capitol Reef Canyon with Stream

Streams flowing off Boulder Mountain have cut impressive gorges across the tilted rock layers of Waterpocket Fold in Capitol Reef. Leaving the Earth Tours SUV at the lower end of the gorge, we will use your vehicle as a shuttle and enjoy a scenic drive through Capitol Reef NP heading ro the other trailhead. We will follow the stream crossing it in places, so you will want to bring “river shoes”. The nature of the canyon changes dramatically as the stream cuts its way across the rocks layers narrowing between orange cliffs of the Wingate, then widening with red ledges of the Kayenta, and finally narrowing as we traverse an expanse of Navajo Sandstone. Of course, the sandstone domes and slot canyons are Keith’s favorite part of the hike In places, the creek bottom is slickrock sandstone carved into magical fluted channelways and pouring over small waterfalls. In the Spring and Summer, the cottonwoods and other riparian vegetation are verdant and in October, golden. With cactus and other desert vegetation just a stone’s throw away, the wonders never cease. Rock walls have rock art carvings, petroglyphs, left by ancient peoples who probably loved this place as do we. Enormous black boulders carried off Boulder Mountain by prehistoric floods add to the wonderment. Where the canyon finally emerges from the reef and the country opens up, we climb up to our vehicle and enjoy another scenic drive in the afternoon light that highlights the western ramparts.