Cathedral Valley Scenic Drive Capitol Reef National Park

The cathedral valley district of capitol reef national park is a remote rugged region.

Cathedral valley scenic drive capitol reef national park.

Capitol reef national park a long skinny unit comprising 378 square miles in the heart of utah s canyon country can be divided conceptually into three separate districts each with a unique flavor. One of utah s great scenic vistas can be seen here in capitol reef country. It is a remote stark desert characterized by amazingly beautiful sandstone monoliths that some say resemble cathedrals. Guide to the scenic drive.

Drive the dusty backcountry cathedral valley loop through capitol reef national park for the most impressive views in the park. Capitol reef is one of the mighty 5 national parks located in southern utah known for their iconic red rock arches and hoodoos. Many of the valleys structures have interesting highly descriptive names. Geologists have classified the rock layers into various formations.

Temple of the sun temple of the moon the walls of jericho among others. Capitol reef national park is the least visited of these five. Although this tour is free there is a 5 entrance fee when you come to the park to drive the scenic drive. Cathedral valley loop capitol reef national park.

On our recent visit to capitol reef we did an all day tour of cathedral valley with freemont river guides. Cathedral valley is a scenic backcountry area in capitol reef national park. Address cathedral valley loop reviews. Cathedral valley in the northern area of capitol reef national park has some of the most stunning views around.

It is a bit difficult to get to which makes it one of the lesser visited areas of the park. Most rock at capitol reef is sedimentary meaning it was formed in layers from loose materials sediments like mud and sand. We chose to use a guide as we did not want to take our rental car out in this remote area which was all dirt roads. From hogan pass you can literally see for hundreds of miles.

However road conditions can vary greatly depending on recent weather conditions. Take the scenic route. The hogan pass overlook sits at 9 200 feet above sea level and looks out over capitol reef national park s cathedral valley towards the henry mountains which are over 40 miles away. Vehicles with high ground clearance even those without four wheel drive can usually negotiate the roads without difficulty.