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Capitol Gorge Trail

RECOMMENDED ROUTE
Easy/Intermediate Easy/Intermediate
 4.2 (20)
  1. Areas
  2. UT
  3. …Southeastern Utah
  4. …Capitol Reef National Park
  5. Fruita / Front Country
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“A popular canyon route to the Pioneer Register and an optional detour to stone tanks. ”

Eric Ashley
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Map Key

4.7

Miles

7.5

KM

Out and Back

5,445' 1,660 m

High

5,247' 1,599 m

Low

222' 68 m

Up

222' 68 m

Down

2%

Avg Grade (1°)

7%

Max Grade (4°)

Dogs No Dogs

Features Geological Significance · Historical Significance · Views · Wildflowers

Please remember that adding your own name to the Pioneer register, or to any of the other canyon walls along the way, is strictly prohibited and could result in a steep fine.

Please be respectful of private land owners by not continuing past the end of this trail at the park boundary.

Overview

This route is a very popular trail leading down the flat canyon floor past faded petroglyphs and pioneer signatures. There's also an optional scramble up to a series of "tanks" (water filled potholes). Beyond the trail to the tanks, the canyon is more open and much less crowded. At the park boundary, the canyon abruptly ends at a wide wash and a unique relic of park history.

Need to Know

During periods of high visitation, the parking area may be completely full from mid-morning to late afternoon. Check the weather forecast prior to heading out. Flash floods in a narrow canyon can be deadly.

Description

The journey into Capitol Gorge begins by passing directly through the picnic ramada. For about .3 miles, there is a trail on the left side of the canyon. A short ways after the ramada, the trail leads to a small petroglyph panel marked by a post on the left. The images have weathered considerably over time, but at least seven anthropomorphs can be discerned. Please do not touch the images, as natural oils from your hands can damage the site.

Less than 100 yards farther on, look across the canyon high on the south wall to find the carefully carved names of six surveyors who worked here in 1911. As the bench-like feature you've been hiking on begins to narrow, a short section of old pavement remains. Where the trail ends and the route leads down the wash, frequent floods prevented any further paving.

The canyon quickly constricts, and the next half mile is quite scenic. The lower walls are close and sheer, with steep Navajo slopes rising another thousand feet above. For most people, a short and comfortable bit of hiking will get them to the Pioneer Register, which is preceded by a sign on the right. The two primary panels of the register are on the left, just beyond the sign. Most of the names are inscribed in the rock, but some are painted in black.

Up ahead, the optional Capitol Gorge Spur Trail to Tanks is marked by a sign on the left side of the canyon. The climb up to the wide ledge above is steep and rough, with a couple of places where it may be necessary to pause and look around to determine the correct route. Once on top, the trail turns back to the west and there is a good view down into Capitol Gorge and, a little farther on, down to the tank that almost always contains water. The term "tank" is used to describe a large depression that retains water after periodic rainstorms. The tanks above Capitol Gorge are examples of large and deep potholes, carved during periods of high waterflow in the drainage.

East of the spur trail, Capitol Gorge remains scenic all the way to the park boundary, but only a scant few hikers continue on through this section. Inscriptions are fairly common on both sides of the canyon, and searching for them makes for an interesting trip. The area along the wash remains scattered with wildflowers and plants even into late September.

About a mile past the spur trail, an old section of road climbs along the south side of Capitol Gorge, bypassing an impassible section of wash. The old road bed re-enters the wash, and just downstream is a check dam that has filled in with gravel. At the dam, stay to the left until the route naturally leads back into the wash, and then continue on the south side to the park boundary. The canyon walls begin to lower as the wash widens.

At the park's boundary, visitors will find the hulk of an old car, now filled with rocks. Still visible on its side, however, is an early tourist marker that reads, "Scenic Attraction entering Capitol Reef National Monument." This relic is a reminder of the park's storied and more recent history. The trail ends where a wire fence denotes the park boundary.

This content was contributed by author Rick Stinchfield, author of The Complete Hiking and Touring Guide for Capitol Reef National Park.

Flora & Fauna

Even late in September, flowers such as Wyoming paintbrush, scarlet gilia, paperflower, rubber rabbitbrush, wire lettuce, and asters may be in bloom. Scattered along the wash banks are numerous colonies of skunkbush or skunkbush sumac (Rhus aromatica).

The sandy wash found at the top of the optional tanks spur trail displays manzanita, virgins bower, mountain mahogany, and rough mules ears. And when full, the tanks themselves become home to larvae and adults of many amphibian and insect species.

History & Background

The worn petroglyphs observed early along this trail were carved into the canyon walls with stone tools by the prehistoric people of Fremont Culture. The area was a rich floodplain capable of supporting crops of beans and squash until around 1300 CE.

In 1884 Mormon pioneers took eight days to clear the first road through the Gorge. Any successive flash flood required the pioneers to clear debris to make the passage clear again. These early travelers frequently recorded their names at the Pioneer Register.

Contacts

Local Club: Capitol Reef Natural History Association

Land Manager: NPS - Capitol Reef National Park

Shared By:

Eric Ashley with improvements by KT S and 1 other
Full Details

Trail Ratings

  4.2 from 20 votes

#7

in Fruita / Front Country

#1107

Overall
  4.2 from 20 votes
5 Star
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50%
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1 Star
5%
Recommended Route Rankings

#7

in Fruita / Front Country

#84

in Utah

#1,107

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2,501 Since Aug 16, 2016
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Photos

Hiker's enjoying the Capitol Gorge Trail. Photo credit: NPS/Jacob Frank.
Sep 6, 2016 near Loa, UT
Walk along the gorge to truly experience the towering sandstone walls.
Apr 18, 2017 near Loa, UT
From the trail to the tanks we go.
Apr 18, 2017 near Loa, UT
Hiking Capitol Gorge
Jul 4, 2022 near Loa, UT
Petroglyphs in Capitol Gorge
Jul 4, 2022 near Loa, UT
Believe it or not, this is a horse on the pioneer register.
Apr 18, 2017 near Loa, UT

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Add Your Check-In

Check-Ins

Apr 14, 2024
Lonny Stern
May 18, 2023
Chris Laird
Mar 28, 2023
Julie Kolner
Nov 21, 2022
Jami Rekar
Nov 20, 2022
Michael Calabrese
Did the first mile or so. Was cool
Nov 6, 2022
Tom Herr
Very fun hike mostly in a wash. I enjoyed the trail finding getting out of the wash at times. Many domed walls lined the way. Petroglyphs early. 4.7mi
Nov 5, 2022
Kristina T
Did not go the entire route. Very pretty, loved touching the sand! 2.7mi — 1h 25m
May 21, 2022
Maura McLay

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