Capitol Reef National Park - April Part I of II

Departed Phoenix on April 24 heading north through Flagstaff, Page (stayed at Walmart) and next night stayed in Panguitch, UT. The overnight temperatures dropped to the high teens and leaving the 90's in Phoenix.  The next day we arrived at our campground in Torrey, UT just outside Capitol Reef NP.  Going to see a "lot" of rocks over the first part of our venture.

Became a National Park 1971, after serving as a National Monument since 1937.  Petroglyphs date the area back to 600 - 1300 BC.  Mormon settlers lived in the area late 1800 to 1941.

On our drive to the park we witnessed frozen water from the farming sprinkling system

Fluted Wall

Goose Neck - Sulphur Creek

Hike to Hickman Bridge (Hickman was early settler). 133 ft natural bridge

Crack extending through bridge structure, how long will this bridge stand?

Wind, rain, etc. eat away at the sandstone

Cactus in bloom!

Fremont River runs through the park.

Ancient Petroglyphs

Capitol Gorge Trail landscape

Pioneer Register along Capitol Gorge trail 

Gorge walls

The Tanks trails

Dry "Tanks" - water runoff is collected in these tanks during snow melt and rainy season

The black is created by water combining with the magnesium causing an acidic solution.

Egyptian Temple 

Rock that has eroded away and just balancing on a few legs!

Twin Rocks