Welcome to Capitol Reef National Park! It is 7am and we are headed down the Park’s Scenic Drive to Grand Wash Trail. The hike takes us through the Waterpocket Fold which actually defines Capitol Reef. We will walk at the base of 600-foot canyon walls and through 15-foot wide narrows. The temperature is already close to 80 degrees, but hoping the shade in the canyon will keep us cool for a while. This will be fun!
From the Visitor Center we head down Scenic Drive about 3.5 miles to a dirt road which takes us to Grand Wash Trailhead. Grand Wash is about 2.2 miles long with a trailhead at each end. It can be accessed on UT-24 by the Fremont River, but we are starting from the interior trailhead.
Wash is the name given to an area where water flows intermittently (seasonally). Streams that result from snow melt, overflow conditions of area rivers, and/or storms. Washes are subject to flash floods. You never do a canyon walk when the storm clouds are forming anywhere in the area. Flash floods can begin miles away so caution is called for. Our skies today are clear and are for about 30 miles in every direction. Safe to go!
From the parking area, near the beginning of the Grand Wash, it is a 200-foot drop to the Wash’s end at the Fremont River. All water that flows down the wash ends up in the Fremont River, except water the plants “steal” to survive.
The shade is nice and we still have the cool of the morning. It did get into the 40s last night which I love. Have an issue with heat. Onward . . .
This is a Roundleaf Buffaloberry (Shepherdia rotundifolia). It has small yellow flowers in the spring. This evergreen shrub can grow to 6-foot wide and 12-foot tall.
The only place in the world this plant grows is on the Colorado Plateau. I’ve shared a lot of adventures with you on the Plateau with more to come.
This hollowed-out rock is interesting. There will be some things I have nothing to tell you–mostly because I don’t know the why or what. Just enjoy the view my friend and wonder!
Erosion patterns are interesting and how rock disappears as a result depends on a few things. First how soft the rock is then how protected it is or isn’t from precipitation, wind, and blowing sand. The formations are often fascinating.
The white cliffs we’re seeing are Navajo Sandstone. On this walk most other rock is a type of sandstone. Coming from the East Coast, sandstone was a rock you picked up and it crumbled in your hands. That is seriously not the case here!
We’ve seen very few flowers, well none except these asters. I think we can legitimately call this a rock garden?
Looks like we’ll be walking in the sun soon. Glad we brought hats.
A right turn up ahead. We must be close to the narrows.
Have you noticed all the trees and shrubs along our walk so far? We have junipers, boxelders, and singleleaf ash here in the canyon. The Park Service shares information about trees found across the park. Shrubs include rabbitbrush, apache plume, green ephedra (also called Mormon Tea), cliffroses, and more.
The flowering season is past for trees and shrubs, but this Singleleaf Ash (Fraxinus anomala) is still holding onto its seed pods. Ultimately the wind will blow them to their new homes.
Here we go into the narrows.
Notice the round holes in the rock ahead? It is called Tafoni (Tafone = singular), also called honeycomb weathering or “swiss-cheese rock”. Keep an eye out for this formation. There’s some up ahead on the left wall and I’m sure much more further along the trail.
Now that’s interesting . . .
Looks like a rock suffering from acne. Never mind, let’s keep going.
More Tafoni . . .
We are out of the narrows, about half a mile from the end of the trail at UT-24. It is starting to get hot so let’s head back.
The parking area is right about the corner, but check out that rock. Tafoni galore. Erosion makes the landscape so interesting.
We had so much great shade on this 3-mile walk. Even though it is 91 degrees, it didn’t feel like it in the canyon. Can’t say the same for this parking lot with the cars cooking in sun.
What a sweet morning walk! Until next time my friend . . . find and explore special areas near you.
Nothing comes close to the images and writing of your blog posts to entice travelers to visit our country’s parks and wilderness. Thank you!!
Totally my pleasure and so glad you come along!