From Moab we traveled a few hours west to Capitol Reef National Park, Utah. It was below freezing at night and it snowed.
Capitol Reef National Park, Utah
Our elevation was about 6800 feet. The name “Capitol Reef” is derived from two sources. The white domes of Navajo Sandstone apparently resemble the dome of the Capitol building in Washington, DC. The reef refers to the Waterpocket Fold, a ridge that acted as a barrier to transportation.
Fruita
Mormon settlers established cattle ranching and short season farming in the Capital Reef area in the late 1800s. The Fremont River was essential in establishing the area because of irrigation for farming.
Apple and pear orchards were planted. In 1902, the name of the small settlement was called “Fruita”. The fruits and vegetables were either sold or bartered to other nearby communities.
In 1937 Capital Reef National Park, Utah was established. By the late 1960s, the Park Service purchased all the Fruita property.
Most of the structures are gone, but some remain. The orchards, about 3000 trees, are maintained by the Park Service. As fruit comes into season, its available to the public to pick for free. We bought an apple pie in the National Park, yum!
Everyday we saw deer in the area. Jake likes deer.
Goosenecks
Nearly 800 feet below is Sulphur Creek. It is a tributary of the Colorado River.
Hickman Bridge
A mile hike to Hickman Bridge was rewarding.
Along the way we came across a smaller bridge.
Rock Art
More petroglyphs. These were created by Fremont Culture Indians. They are about 1,000 years old. The Fremont were hunter-gatherers who supplemented their diet by growing corn and squash.
Capitol Gorge
A beautiful location.
It was an easy, but cold hike on a sandy trail. In some areas, the gorge walls were narrow and almost vertical.
Thousand Lakes RV Park
Our site had nice views towards the west. 50 amp service, 50 psi water pressure, sewer, and good internet. They had a BBQ restaurant open each night. Very good ribs, brisket, chicken, and salmon. The park is located in Torrey, just outside Capitol Reef National Park, Utah
Cathedral Valley
The road is for high clearance and condition dependent four wheel drive vehicles only. Although it was a lengthy drive through BLM land back into Capitol Reef, the views were worth it. And no crowds!
The Temple of the Sun and Moon are composed of Estrada Sandstone deposited 160 million years ago.
There were bentonite hills and painted desert that appear as softly-contoured, banded hills in varying hues of brown, red, purple, gray and green.
Glass Mountain is a large exposed mound of selenite crystals. Selenite is a variety of gypsum. Water that eroded though the Estrada Sandstone carried gypsum which deposited and crystalized into a large mass.
The Castle and Sulphur Creek.
