Capitol Reef National Park

11/2/18

Yesterday we were in Capitol Reef National Park. We got in right as the sun was setting and everything was lit up so pink. After getting to the campsite we passed out pretty quickly. Capitol Reef is a lot smaller and not as popular of a National Park compared to places like Arches and Bryce Canyon in Utah. It was nice to get away from the bigger crowds. It was also great to be able to find a campsite without reservations, something we really struggled with in Moab.

We first hiked the Bridge trail to the Bridge Arch. All of the colors and details along the way were so beautiful. The rocks are a lighter pink then what we had been seeing, with lots of sandy beiges and light yellows in the landscape sprinkled with bright yellow trees.

We then drove on the scenic route through the park to the Cassidy Arch trail. By this point we were feeling really tired from all the hiking in Moab. It was a very unique hike though and unlike anything we had done there. When you first get to the trailhead there are canyon walls towering over you. You hike up along these walls and then travel along the top to reach the arch. Once you’re up there it feels like another planet. You are able to actually walk across the arch which is very, very high up since it comes out from the walls. It looks scary from far away but is pretty wide once you’re on it.

On our way out of the park we spotted a little house in the park that is actually a gift shop.  They had mini homemade pies and other hand made gifts. There was also $1 cups of vanilla, chocolate or strawberry ice cream to go along with the pie.  We had a hard time choosing which flavor but went with peach because neither of us had ever had peach pie. It was so good and such a fun surprise for the end of our full day.  Half way through sharing pie #1 I ran in before they closed to get another because it was soo yummy.