Capitol Reef Hiking Trails

Capitol Reef is a remote park, dominated by barely accessible backcountry. Hiking opportunities in those areas are nearly limitless. We concentrate here on those hikes that can be easily reached by vehicle, in the small developed area of the park east of Torrey. The best hiking season in Capitol Reef is spring or fall, as summer can make the mostly shadeless hikes uncomfortably hot. Hiking distances given below are total, roundtrip distances unless otherwise stated. Difficulties are only a general guideline, for an adult in good condition, and do not take into account trail length.

Capitol Reef National Park Trails Locator Map
(click map to open very large locator map of the hikes below)


Capitol Gorge in Capitol Reef National Park

Capitol Gorge to the Tanks

Length
2.0 miles
Difficulty
Moderately Easy
Trailhead
#1 - End of Capitol Gorge Road
Rating
This hike begins from the parking lot at the end of the 2.2 mile long, unpaved Capitol Gorge Road, which begins where the Capitol Reef Scenic Drive ends. The hike is mostly flat until the end, where a side trail climbs up for a view of the "tanks", holes in the rock which often hold rare and life-saving water.
Chimney Rock in Capitol Reef National Park

Chimney Rock Loop

Length
3.5 miles
Difficulty
Difficult
Trailhead
#2 - Chimney Rock parking area
Rating
This hike begins from the small parking lot along Utah Highway 24, 3 miles from the western entrance. The hike climbs switchbacks steeply at the beginning before easing a bit. Other than this first half mile, the rest of the trail is a loop. This route provides nearly constant vistas, but has virtually no shade, and can be brutally hot in the summer months.
Goosenecks Point in Capitol Reef National Park

Goosenecks Point

Length
0.3 miles
Difficulty
Easy
Trailhead
#3 - End of Goosenecks side road
Rating
This hike begins from the end of the unpaved Goosenecks side road, located off of Utah Highway 24, 3.6 miles from the western entrance. This is a very short trail that climbs briefly before crossing the rocks to a formal fenced overlook at one of the best vista points in the park. Note that while the actual overlook is fenced, the rock can be climbed on anywhere, and there are no such barriers anywhere else, so use extreme caution.
Grand Wash in Capitol Reef National Park

Grand Wash

Length
2.2 miles one-way
Difficulty
Moderately Easy
Trailhead
#4 - End of Grand Wash Road or UT-24
Rating
This hike begins from either the small parking area along Utah Highway 24, 10.6 miles from the western entrance, or at the end of the unpaved Grand Wash Road, off of the Capitol Reef Scenic Drive 3.5 miles from the beginning. This is a relatively easy walk along a (usually) dry wash, hemmed in on both sides by rock wall, getting as narrow as 16 feet at one point. This hike is most often done as a "shuttle" hike, by leaving a vehicle at one end and getting a ride to or driving a second vehicle to the other end.
Hickman Bridge in Capitol Reef National Park

Hickman Bridge

Length
2.0 miles
Difficulty
Moderate
Trailhead
#5 - Hickman Bridge parking area
Rating
This hike begins from the Hickman Bridge parking area, located on Utah Highway 24, 7.9 miles from the western entrance. The trail briefly follows along the Fremont River before climbing steadily up above it. The trail eventually levels out and crosses over an area of rock, before splitting into a small loop that goes around and under the bridge.




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