Thursday, September 15, 2011

Day 31, September 15, Touring Capitol Reef National Park

We drove east into the park to take the Scenic Drive. The first stop was at Panorama Point. The plaque explains that the best visibility in the lower 48 is here on the Colorado Plateau. However, air pollution could change that.
The next stop was at the "Gooseneck", (above, right) which is where the Sulphur Creek was trapped in its channel, forming a gooseneck shaped channel carved 600 feet into the canyon.

We took a 1/3 mile (each way) trail to Sunset Point. Although we were way early for sunset, it was still an awesome viewpoint!  
After a stop at the Visitor centre where we watched a video about the park, we went on to the Historic Gifford Homestead, which dates back to 1908. It lies in the heart of the Fruita Valley, a desert oasis opulent with orchards of cherry, peach and apple trees.
Continuing along the Scenic Drive, we took a left onto Grand Wash Road, which is a dirt road (red dirt, that is). The next stop along there was at the Oyler Uranium Mine. The mine is now closed for health & safety reasons.
Next along the road is the Cassidy Arch, named for Butch Casidy, who is said to have used the area to hide from lawmen. Didn't get close enough for a good pic, as it is high on a cliff.
Capitol Gorge Road is another unpaved 3.5km winding road in to a fascinating area. After parking, we went on a 1 1/4 mile hike through narrow, deep and twisting water-carved, sheer-walled canyons.
We saw some Petroglyphs on the canyon walls. There was also a Pioneer Register, where pioneers etched their name in the rock as they passed along this road. Until 1964, this was the only road through the area.
Retracing the Scenic Route, we stopped at one of the orchards in Fruita and picked some apples.
 Lastly, we did the Hickman Bridge Trail, which they say is 1 mile, but I think they are a little short on the mileage! However, we made it to the Bridge and it was worth the effort! That was the end of today's adventures!

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