Hiking in Capitol Reef, Utah

Capitol Reef, UT
Sand Creek Park

The drive south in Utah towards Capitol Reef started to change and the colorful bluffs began to rise up.  Entering the town of Torrey, you'd better be careful and watch the speed trap!

 

Actually it's a dummy in a permanently parked in a police car.  It sure got our attention though.  Not that we were speeding, but you always feel like you are.

I think they put the pretty ponies there to distract you on purpose!

Change of scenery.

 

We pulled into Sand Creek RV Park.  It's a very nice park.  We took a small back-in spot at the end of the park with W&E for $25.  What a nice view out the back windows!

 

When we checked into the park on RVillage, we saw that Dave & Diane of Dave & Diane - Throwing Caution to the Wind

Diane & Dave

 

I have been following their blog for some time and I was excited to be able to meet them.  They have been on the road fulltime since 2012 and have a beautiful Class A and pull a Jeep.  They invited us over for a campfire, chips and salsa.  The salsa was made local and it was so good we bought some ourselves the next day.  We had a great tome swapping RV stories of course and we really enjoyed their company.  We'll be criss-crossing each other at some of the other National Parks through Utah.  If we don't run into each other then, we'll probably see each other in Arizona over the winter where many of fulltimers will be boondocking.

As you drive in the park from the west side you quickly come upon one of the well known formations, the Castle.

 

 

As you drive around you see many orchards.  The Fremont River Valley was first settled by the Fremont Indians.  They grew corn, squash and beans in the irrigated fields.  Later the Mormon settlers planted fruit trees that still fill the valley.  You are encouraged to pick as much fruit as you like.  If you eat it while you're there it is free.  If you'd like to pick extra to take with you, there is a small charge/donation.

 

 

The deer, for good reason, love this area.  What's not to love?  Lots of grass, fruit, water and protection.

Peek-a-Boo

They even had ladders out you could use.  There were apples and pears ready to eat.  Below Steve is picking us some pears.

Just down the road are some petroglyphs by the Hopi and Zuni tribes. 

 

Backside of the Castle with the sun beginning to set.

 

I had a lot of fun capturing the setting sun.  Which do you like better, black & white or color?

 

Twin Rocks

We took a drive to the Grand Wash area.  You'll be hiking through some narrows with amazing colors on the walls that just go up, up, up.

 

Entering the wash.

These walls just go straight up!

Steve in one of the narrow sections.

This gives you an idea of how massive these walls are in the narrows.

I don't like to see "graffiti" even if it is natural, but these child hand prints on one section of the canyon wall looked kind of neat made with the river mud.

 

Some pretty neat plants.

 

The dry mud looked like cracked clay pots.  Still a few colorful wildflowers.

Looking straight up!

The minerals make streaks of color on the walls.

 

We drove around some of the dirt roads and admired the different layers of rock and color.

I got lucky with this shot.

 

We took the Fremont River Trail hike which follows the river and then climbs steeply to the lookout.

Steve standing along one of the lookouts. (there is a shelf below him).

 

When we got to the top there was another couple up there that were new to fulltiming from New Hampshire.  Very nice couple and we had a great time talking.

Hiking back down and ending along the river.  These turkeys decided sitting in front of the river was just the ticket.  The couple sitting in their chairs reading, thought so too.

 

The old school house of Fruita held classes from 1896 - 1964.

Lastly during our time here we did the Hickman Bridge Trail.

Steve walking under a smaller bridge before you get to Hickman.

 

More colors!

Hickman Bridge is 133 ft. Natural Bridge.

 

 

On to Cedar Breaks next and some fall weather and color!