GRAND STAIRCASE-ESCALANTE NATIONAL MONUMENT
We found one of the best ways to access Grand Staircase in a car was via Burr Trail Road. This 31 mile paved road runs between Highway 12 in Boulder to the Capital Reef east boundary where the road turns to gravel. Heading southwest out of Boulder, the route weaves around domes and buttes of Navajo sandstone. The road descends into the narrow confines of Long Canyon, its fractured sandstone walls shooting hundreds of feet above the road.
Picnic lunch at Calf Creek Recreation Area
Slot Canyon, also known as Singing Canyon, a short branch off of Long Canyon.
Singing Canyon
This unmarked slot canyon, 11.2 miles from Boulder, is hard to find.
Driving Burr Trail Road through Long Canyon
Towering formations as seen through our moon roof.
The pavement ends at the boundary to Capital Reef. But it was after 4:00, Capital Reef National Park will have to wait for another day.
From the high bluffs looking into Capital Reef's 100 mile long Waterpocket Fold, a giant monocline or fold in the Earth's surface or crust.
CAPITAL REEF NATIONAL PARK
On Tuesday, September 17th, we drove north from our campground to take a shorter (and faster) drive to Capital Reef rather than taking Scenic Highway 12.
The Castle across from the Visitor Center
Our first stop was at the Visitor Center. Tour buses clogged the parking lot and bathrooms.
Fruit trees grow in fields, in the town of Fruita, abandoned by Fremont Indians 700 years ago. You can pick and eat the fruit free of charge, but if you wish to take some with you, it is $1.00 a pound. The NPS maintains the orchards. The apples were in season, but there is also peach, cherry, pear, plum, apricot and almond trees.
EIGHT MILE SCENIC DRIVE
CAPITOL GORGE HIKE
The 8 mile scenic drive ends at the Capitol Gorge. You can drive the first 2.4 miles into the gorge along an interesting and very narrow gravel road.
At the end of the Gorge Road is the Capital Gorge Hike. A two mile, easy, flat hike that takes you into a narrower section of this dry wash.
Pioneer Register
Tanks Spill off
At the end of the easy trail is a vertical hike to see the Tanks, natural circular depressions in the rocks that hold precious water reserves.
We found several Tanks, but only this one contained water.
There was a nice shady shelf at the tanks for resting.
Formations along the Grand Wash where Butch Cassidy Arch can be seen via a hike.
Fruita Schoolhouse
Navajo Dome
The Capital Dome reminded early travelers of the US Capitol Building and later inspired the name of the park.
Panorama Point
The end of a wonderful day. The sun was setting and we still had a two hour drive home. That evening, we missed hitting a very large male elk as he bolted across the dark road.
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