Day 6: Off Explore to Capitol Reef
Scenic Drive, River Wash, Hickman Bridge
After two amazing days in Moab, we were ready to do a happy dance; if only we had the energy after all that hiking. But first, we packed up and hit the road for our just over two hour drive to Capitol Reef National Park. Leaving behind the crowds and noise, we enjoyed the changing scenery, tuned into our audiobook (which surprisingly was not about mountain goats) and just reveled in each other's company. Because honestly, sometimes the best part of adventures is the company.
By this point, we had hiked nearly 20 miles in what can only be described as mildly to insanely warm temperatures. The lesson I’ve learned is that exploring with Scott means there will always be stairs; well, not real stairs; but those chiseled-in-the-stone kind that make you feel like you are in a medieval castle. And there will be tons of “up before you come down” hikes, plus plenty of rock hopping across cliffs just to get that perfect shot. Basically, it is like a giant outdoor obstacle course (queue the cartoon sound effects).
We arrived at our next stop shortly after lunch. We found roadside parking near the Grand Wash trailhead, which was easy, and set off into the riverbed. With towering canyon walls on both sides, it felt like we had wandered onto the set of a Western movie. I mean I did grow up watching Bonanza. The shade was a welcome relief from the sun's full-on glare. We swapped out our water bottles at the trail end because hydration is key and also because we are not trying to turn into raisins. We then retraced our steps back down the same loop.
There was a parking lot at the far end of the trail, but there was no way to shuffle your car over there. So, we got a different view of how much water can carve into rocks during a flash flood. Luckily, the sky stayed clear, and there was no surprise flash flood today, thank goodness.
Next up was the Hickman Bridge. We arrived late in the afternoon and the sunlight was pouring through the canyon just right, like a natural polarizing filter. The trail was a bit tricky to follow because it was not well marked and the rocks had no footprints, probably because no one wants to leave a trail of crumbs behind.
My husband, who is an engineer, insisted that the shortest route between two points is always a straight line. Naturally, I followed him down a shale wall to the bottom. It was at that moment that I looked up and realized we had taken the scenic route straight down, not the main trail. At that point, I decided it might be time for Scott to keep his day job. But honestly, the view from the bottom of the bridge was totally worth risking my life for a shot or two.
This trail was a big loop, and it gave us a serious hiking mileage boost and a chance to feel like mountain goats ourselves. We left just before sunset and headed into the tiny town of Torrey, Utah, which is basically the only place with services near the park. Our lodge at the base of the mountains was perfect and offered a stunning sunset and sunrise from our private deck.
The local gas station and convenience store were conveniently connected by a hallway to a Mexican restaurant. You might think eating authentic Mexican food in the middle of Utah’s desert is a stretch, but surprisingly, the food and service did not disappoint. Carne Asada with corn tortillas, oh yes baby!
As we called it a night, we knew tomorrow would be a big day. We were finally heading to Zion National Park and our last park of the vacation. So with dreams of towering red cliffs and even more adventures ahead, we went to sleep, ready to explore even more of Utah's incredible wonders.
Capitol Reef = 7.13 miles hiked