After breakfast, we drive east towards
Capitol Reef National Park. This park is a well known for being a prime example of a
Waterpocket Fold, which holds water supporting a diverse ecosystem in an otherwise arid environment. This area formed over millions of years as
successive layers of sediment formed on top each other much as a multi-layered cake. After being uplifted and tilted by tectonic forces, erosion has cut through these layers much like a knife, leaving visible colored layers (formed on land) alternating with white and/or grey layers (formed under water).
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| The road towards Capitol Reef |
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| Turn off to Orientation Point |
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We take the turn off to Panorama Point and are rewarding with wide vistas of the surrounding landscape with views as far as snow topped mountains close to the Colorado border.
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| View from Panorama Point |
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Just before we turn into the park, we pass the rock formation named "The Castle." Just around the corner is the Visitor Center. Parked in front is another large all terrain vehicle. This one is based on the
Iveco truck and was shipped from France (ouch - that must have cost a pretty penny).
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| The Castle |
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| Iveco all terrain vehicle |
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| Visitor Center |
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Inside the Visitor Center is a theater with a magnificent view of the surrounding cliffs when when not screening presentations.
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| View from Visitor Center Theater |
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The first peoples to inhabit Capitol Reef were Native Americans from the
Fremont Culture. In the 1800's groups of Mormon pioneers settled in what is now the Fruita Rural Historic District in the vicinity of the Visitor Center. Across the road is part of the orchards these pioneers established. We chuckle after seeing a small herd of deer making themselves comfortable in the fruit trees as we are constantly trying to keep deer out of our own fruit trees. We also smile and shake our heads at a visitor taking photos of the deer just a few feet away with an enormous telephoto lens. Maybe he's taking close-ups of deer eyes?
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| Historic District fruit orchards |
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| Fruita Barn |
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| How that's some lens for close-by subjects |
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After strolling around the Visitor Center and Historic District, we pile back into the van to check out the
Scenic Drive through the park. Along the way it's easy to see the many different rock strata layered down over the eons. It's also clear to see which strata are made from harder rock and which are of softer rock. This scenic road often follows gullies. We later learn gullies and washes were used as early roads through the region by wagon trains and stagecoaches. Considering the primitive shock absorption during those times, it must have been a very bumpy and uncomfortable ride (as we cruise along in comfort in our modern vehicle).
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| Layered rock strata visible in cliffs |
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| This light layer is much harder than the red layer beneath |
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| Road through former gully |
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The soaring cliffs are stunning against the bright blue skies.
On the way back up the Scenic Drive, we turn up the Grand Wash.
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| Entrance to Grand Wash |
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| Road into Grand Wash |
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| Grand Wash |
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The canyon narrows as we venture further into the wash.
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| Into the Grand Wash |
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The parking lot at the end of the road is surrounded by steep cliffs of red rocks.
After wandering around Grand Wash, we continue back out the park and then turn east on Hwy 24 to explore the park's boundaries. There we found the
Behunin Cabin that was occupied by a Mormon family for just a year before moving to Fruita in 1884.
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| Scenic Drive |
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| Hwy 24 |
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| Behunin Cabin |
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On our way back to Torrey, we see our best view of Navajo Dome in the late afternoon sun.
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| Navajo Dome |
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Upon returning to Torrey, we decide to try the
Capitol Reek Cafe, which was recommended by one of the managers at the
Thousand Lakes RV Park. The owner is a rock hound and has build an amazing patio area using sandstone slabs for the floor (which were once seabeds), petrified wood for walls and a wishing well, and large clusters of crystals for decoration. Yes - the food is good here - but the patio is amazing.
Later as we watch the sun dip behind the buttes, the temperature plummets and we're very glad to have a heater to keep us warm for another two-dog night.
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| Sunset in Torrey UT - elevation 6,830' |
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