Grand Wash Narrows from Highway 24

Dogs No Dogs

Features Geological Significance · Views

The Narrows of Grand Wash in Capitol Reef National Park make for a spectacular easy hike. The trail is pretty short and very well-traveled, with minimal elevation change. The scenery is dramatic. 500-foot tall sandstone walls tower over tiny hikers in the canyon bottom.

The Narrows can be accessed from two different starting points - the trailhead off Highway 24 (as described here) or via the Scenic Drive and Grand Wash Road. The Highway 24 trailhead seems to be less busy, doesn't require driving a bumpy gravel road to access, and doesn't require the national park entry fee.

Starting from this northwest trailhead, you'll also begin with the slight bit of elevation gain heading toward the narrows and have an all-downhill walk back to your vehicle. Note that elevation gain and loss shown with this track is not exactly right, due to imprecision between the vertical walls.

The trail begins by following the Grand Wash toward the looming canyon ahead. The first stretch of the wash is fairly wide and unexciting. But things quickly change as you hike onward. The high canyon walls begin to narrow until you reach the "narrows" section of the hike.

Those used to exploring tight slot canyons will not find the "narrows" to be all that narrow, but the towering walls above make it a truly spectacular sight. At about the 1.5 mile mark the narrows begin to open into a wider but still beautiful canyon. This is a good turnaround point, unless you desire to walk all the way to the other trailhead on Grand Wash Road. - Description by Mike Windsor, Outdoor Project