Migration is Underway - Stopping at Capitol Reef National Park

September 18, 2018

I was blown away at the red hills rising up near Highway 24 as I neared Torrey, Utah. I was approaching Capitol Reef National Park where I planed to stay until the following Saturday. Then I reached Torrey and found even more colorful stone mountains. 

It was the hottest I had ever experienced this summer and it was already afternoon, by the time I arrived, so I just wanted to set up camp and collapse into my hammock until it cooled off. But my site had been watered so long, it was a muddy mess, so I just set up my hammock and collapsed into it until the temperature started to cool down and the light started to soften. Then I figured it was time to do something that didn’t involve much activity. Driving the ten mile scenic road within the park, which my campsite was on, seemed doable.  

I ended up driving home after dark.  This road gives a great taste of what is available which is mountains, cliffs, valleys with washes, any another description of mostly bare rock in various colors. 

So come along and enjoy as the sun gradually left the grandeur in shadows.  And the half moon appeared before the sun set. 

I'm writing this in the Wayne County Visitor Center at the junction of Highways 24 and 12 on September 12. Possibilities for adventure exist in all directions.  My feet are extremely sore from walking 8 miles yesterday and three miles today.  In my defense, I did a lot of climbing, including many tall steps this morning on the Cassidy Arch Trail.  I'm hoping to recover enough to do another short trail this evening.

Devil's Garden Hike in Arches National Park

I had a great time in Arches National Park, starting at dawn.  Want to share more of that wonderful experience, but that requires more time, energy and technological know-how than I have tonight. (Just back from a long weekend at Caddo Lake State Park where I enjoyed paddling and partying with several friends before following Natalie home to Galveston, Texas.)

The second thing I did while in Arches was to hike some of the Devil's Garden Trail. The last time I was in Arches, I got there about 4:00 P. M. on a summer evening and bought a twenty-five cent map of Devil's Garden.  I determined I would hike to Landscape Arch.  Then I hiked to several other places on the way to the back of the park, where Devil's Garden is located.  When I finally started my hike, it was after sunset.  I rushed to climb to Landscape Arch, scrambling up steps that were at the end of the trail leading to the arch.  I got there just in time to see the last of the light through the arch. Then I had to carefully work my way down those stairs - they did have a handrail  - in the dark.  But I was rewarded with stars forming a complete bowl over and around me - and since I was the only fool still out, I felt like I owned the place.

Big changes have occurred since then. In September 1, 1991, hikers near the arch thought they had heard thunder, then small rocks started tumbling down the hill. Then a 60 foot slab of rock fell out from the top of the arch, leaving a very thin arch. The park has closed the trail so you can not even get close to the arch.

At the trailhead

Formations near the start of the trail 

Flowers on a shrub - can't remember its name

Landscape Arch

More formations

Halloween figure?

Partition Arch

Closer view of Partition Arch

I didn't walk far - just a little over a mile, before I got to a huge slickrock hill.  I was afraid to come back down it and didn't want to walk over 7 miles to complete the trail. So I saved the back of the garden for another visit.

End of the trail for this hiker

I enjoyed the Visitor Center, then went back to enjoy the end of the day in the park. I hadn't had time to come here the last time I was in Utah, although I did get to visit Bryce NP (and this blog also), Zion NP,  and The Petrified Forest. The best advice I can give you about visiting Utah is to try and have a lot of time  to spend there, because it is SOO hard to leave. I think the state has the most numerous scenic places of any of the lower fifty. I will have to spend an entire summer there one day.