Torrey, Utah - Capitol Reef National Park

Visited April 29 - May 2, 2021

By Marty

We had a short trip from Escalante to Torrey Utah, only 64 miles, all on Scenic Byway Utah Route 12. The 124 mile long Route 12 consistently ranks in the top 5-10 on lists of most scenic drives in the USA.

Here is what the internet says about Route 12: 

"Designated an 'All-American Road' and placed on the National Scenic Byway register by the Department of Transportation in 1973, Utah’s Route-12 is a drive that should be on everyone’s bucket list. Offering some of the most spectacular views in the entire West, the byway also serves as a gateway to several scenic backway drives, like the Burr Trail and the Cottonwood Canyon Road, and a number of renowned state and national parks and preserves including Bryce Canyon National Park, Kodachrome Basin State Park, Escalante Petrified Forest State Park, and the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument."

Notice Route 12 snaking through the center of the photo

Live action snippet from the Hogsback section of Highway 12

As we explore possible adventures to follow the current one I was intrigued by this option. I think the name is definitely a winner!

This is now...

That was then...

Many of you followed my 2019 bike ride across the USA. Our drive from Escalante to Torrey, Utah is the exact same route I pedaled on May 9, 2019 under somewhat different circumstances.  If you care to see how the that day unfolded here is the link to my journal page:

2019 Bike trip journal page - Escalante to Torrey

Another view from Route 12. The red/brown slanted rock formations in mid picture is Capitol Reef NP.

 

 

Capitol Reef NP is the least visited of the big five Utah National Parks.  Though far from deserted it is much less crowded than the others (Zion, Bryce, Arches, Canyonlands).

 

We went on two hikes in Capitol Reef NP.  The first was a combination of the Grand Wash trail and the Cassidy Arch trail.

The Grand Wash is described as "The Narrows" (as in Zion NP) without the water. For scale perspective notice the people in the shadow beyond the bushes.

Janell has been working on her magic tricks.  Keep practicing dear...

 Here is where I tell you about Capitol Reef:  

Capitol Reef NP is a portion of the 100 mile long Waterpocket Fold.  The "Fold" part is illustrated by the upward slope of the rock formations in the foreground and center of the photo above. 50-70 million years ago tectonic activity pushed up the rock layers to the west of here over 7,000 feet higher than those to the east. Rather than cracking, the rock layers that you see here folded over the fault line. Continued uplift occurred again some 20 million years ago. I'll explain the "waterpocket" in a photo further down the page.

The Waterpocket Fold territory was the last to be charted in the contiguous 48 states.  Uncharted territory as they say. The name Capitol Reef was applied by early pioneers because the jagged and imposing mountains created the impression of a "reef". One of the prominent peaks is named Capitol Dome (I'll point it out to you in a photo below). Thus "capitol" + "reef" = Capitol Reef. Genius!

Cassidy Arch is in the center of the photo, just below the blue sky. It looks like a cave from here, but you'll see in a moment that this is simply not the case.

Cassidy Arch. So named because it's an arch and because Butch Cassidy and his Hole in the Wall Gang used to hide out in these here parts.

(This is where I remind Marty & Minda to watch Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.  If you guys like it then watch The Sting. Both are great movies!  Newman and Redford had great chemistry. It's a shame they only made the two movies together.)

We got up early for the hike and didn't have time for our motorhome yoga routine. We found that Cassidy Arch is a nice platform for the Tree Pose.

Bombs away!

Our first time ever to see this particular sign. Didn't see any of the little furry dudes though.

Check out the web full of caterpillars hanging from a tree. These are Western Tent Caterpillars. There are a few on the outside of the "tent" and dozens on the inside. Fascinating yet creepy!

The Fremont River flows from west to east through the park, later joining the Muddy River to become the Dirty Devil River which then flows into the Colorado River.

Our second hike was the Rim Overlook trail

We thought the two rock formations just to the left of center looked like sock puppets. Are we wrong?

About those waterpockets...  These are examples of small water pockets. They come in all shapes and sizes and hold water after a rain. They provide a vital water source for wildlife.

From the Rim Overlook looking south along the western face of Capitol Reef. The road below is Scenic Drive.

Also from Rim Overlook, looking to the east.  Hwy 24 bisects the park.  You get another look at the upward slanted rock formations framed against the "unslanted" mountains behind.

This video is a 180 degree view from Rim Overlook starting with Scenic Drive to the south and ending with Highway 24 to the north. Again, the slanted rock formations are evident.

The large white formation in the center background is the aforementioned "Capitol Dome". The stacked rocks in the foreground form a "cairn". Because much of the trail surface consists of rock the trails are often not apparent. When that is the case you look for a cairn.  You just walk from one cairn toward the next.

The aptly named Claret cup cactus. 

Abstract rock art

Adios Amigos!