Capitol Reef is home to the Waterpocket Fold a hundred mile long warp in the earth’s crust and is just amazing.
We listened to the ranger talk about the petroglyphs created by the Freemont People, named so by archeaologists after the Freemont River which runs through the park. Anthropomorphs feature quite prominently in these petroglyphs; some are really obvious while others are barely discernible.
The historic district of Fruita has acres of orchards producing all sorts of different fruit including peaches and apples, the park service maintains the orchards and for a nominal fee you can pick your own fruit. Or better still, buy a homemade fruit pie from the Gifford House they are truly delish!
We hiked up to Hickman Bridge; it’s only a short trail quite steep in sections but only about a mile each way. It climbs up from Highway 24 crosses over a fairly level section before diving down into a wash and then climbing up to the bridge. It was a very hot morning, but despite the heat it was well worth the effort.
Late one afternoon we watched a thunderstorm as it rumbled its way across the mesa behind Chimney Rock, the lightening was spectacular.
Ripple marks left in the rock from when the area was a humid sub- tropical land of tidal mudflats, hard to imagine when you see look around now.
The scenic drive through the park was undergoing some repair work so was only open as far as Grand Wash, guess we’ll have to come back someday and see the rest.
As you enter Grand Wash a sign warns you not to enter if storms are threatening and I can see why, you literally are driving through a wash and wouldn’t have much of a chance if you were caught in a flash flood, it was pretty spectacular though.
Cassidy Arch
Have fun, we are!
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