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| | | Capitol Reef National Park, UT | | | |
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Capitol Reef National Park, UT
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| Hiking | 9.29 Miles |
2,486 AEG |
| | Hiking | 9.29 Miles | | | |
| 2,486 ft AEG | | | | |
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| Partners |
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none
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| no partners | | picked out a few trails in the park that looked like fun
a loop around a plateau, an arch and a natural bridge
first stop was chimney rock trail
got going around 0900
good warmup heading up to the top of mummy cliff
nice view of chimney rock, even though the hike doesn't really go anywhere near it
circled the top counterclockwise, hitting a high point with nice views of fruita
dropped toward chimney rock canyon and the intersection with spring canyon trail, through an area with huge boulders that have fallen from the canyon walls
an easy ascent west to close the loop along the base of another canyon wall
beautiful blue skies contrasting above it
saw only a few people on the loop, but more as we heading back to the trailhead
a good choice
stopped at the visitor center for a few minutes, then drove down to grand wash
very different terrain in this area, and the hike to cassidy arch was my favorite of the day and maybe the trip
quarter mile down the wash, then the actual cassidy arch trail ascends steeply up a break in the canyon wall and onto a bench
it gains a couple of benches and follows three drainages before splitting off to the south toward the arch
we didn't see the arch at first, gaining a high point with nice views before wandering around a bit
good footing after the initial ascent, much of it on slickrock
the opening to the arch is huge, and you can circle around it, getting on top of the arch
it's very wide - safety first 
took some pics, had a snack and headed back down
another short one at just over three and a half miles, but very scenic and interesting
drove down the scenic drive a bit, then had a cup of coffee at gifford house
pie selection by that point was not my favorite
headed to the hickman bridge trailhead
only two miles on sand and slickrock and another fun one
trail loops under the bridge
we checked out another viewpoint before heading back
different terrain here, too, after starting out along the fremont river
made a stop at the petroglyph site, then headed back to torrey for dinner at capitol reef inn & café
stayed at torrey trading post cabins again
nice to have the whole day in the park without driving anywhere
think this was my favorite day of hiking and there is so much more to do in the park
unfinished business
posting more photos than usual as capitol reef seems a little underrepresented on haz |
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