Capitol Reef is probably the least popular and well-known of the Mighty 5. One reason may be that it's quite remote and there is not much else around it. This is reflected in the admission fee: $5 per car versus $25 for Zion and Bryce.
I drove the Capitol Reef Scenic Drive or Highway 12 from Bryce to Capitol Reef. It's about a 3-hour drive through a very scenic area. There are several small towns on the way. This area is better known for its historical significance as an early Mormon settlement. I stopped in Tropic for a nice brunch. My plan was to spend only a couple of hours at Capitol Reef and drive on to Moab where I will spend the night. I have not showered for 3 days so I am a little anxious to get to a proper hotel and wash up. Fortunately, I was traveling alone.
They called Capitol Reef the home of the Waterpocket Fold. This is a nearly 100-mile-long warp in the earth's crust, and according to the National Park's literature, "the fold is a classic monocline: a regional fold with one very steep side in an area of otherwise nearly horizontal rock layers."
It was drizzling when I arrived at Capitol Reef. I stopped at the Visitor's Center and was advised to drive the 16.6 mile Scenic Drive where I saw many massive cliffs. If you want to see more you can walk/hike trails off this Scenic Drive. Since it was raining, I did not stay out of the car long. I was able to stop and took many beautiful pictures, a sample of them are shown below.
I drove the Capitol Reef Scenic Drive or Highway 12 from Bryce to Capitol Reef. It's about a 3-hour drive through a very scenic area. There are several small towns on the way. This area is better known for its historical significance as an early Mormon settlement. I stopped in Tropic for a nice brunch. My plan was to spend only a couple of hours at Capitol Reef and drive on to Moab where I will spend the night. I have not showered for 3 days so I am a little anxious to get to a proper hotel and wash up. Fortunately, I was traveling alone.
They called Capitol Reef the home of the Waterpocket Fold. This is a nearly 100-mile-long warp in the earth's crust, and according to the National Park's literature, "the fold is a classic monocline: a regional fold with one very steep side in an area of otherwise nearly horizontal rock layers."
It was drizzling when I arrived at Capitol Reef. I stopped at the Visitor's Center and was advised to drive the 16.6 mile Scenic Drive where I saw many massive cliffs. If you want to see more you can walk/hike trails off this Scenic Drive. Since it was raining, I did not stay out of the car long. I was able to stop and took many beautiful pictures, a sample of them are shown below.
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