NATURAL BRIDGES NATIONAL MONUMENT AND CAPITOL REEF NATIONAL PARK

Natural Bridges is one of the 'deepest', oldest canyon sites you can visit. Its very beautiful landscape out in the vast open canyon lands of Utah bring you up close with nature. Three majestic natural bridges invited us to ponder the power of water in a landscape usually defined by its absence. These bridges are named "Kachina," "Owachomo" and "Sipapu" in honor of the Native Americans that once made this area their home. Driving a nine mile scenic loop one can view them from an overlook, or hit the trails and 

experience their grandeur from below. Driving west our new RV passed through Glen Canyon in the Colorado Plateau toward Capitol Reef NP the road was narrow on SR 95 climbing to the 7100 ft elevation. It became a challenge driving against the bright afternoon sun lowering in the sky.

JR did a remarkable job that day getting us from Monument Valley 280 miles to Fruita Campground at Capitol Reef National Park by 6:30pm. The site was a lovely oasis nestled in a hamlet of magnificent yellow leaf cottonwood trees at the base of the red rock canyon walls.  A herd of mule deer were grazing freely in the nearby apple orchard to welcome us. The electric levelers on the motor home locked up when extended and became a dire situation to resolve. 

 

In south-central Utah in the heart of red rock country, Capitol Reef National Park is a hidden treasure filled with cliffs, canyons, domes and bridges in the Waterpocket Fold, a geologic monocline (a wrinkle on the earth) extending almost 100 miles. 

At the end of a scenic drive through this remote park, the Jeep turned onto a dirt road through the mostamazing narrow sandstone canyon walls. 

When that road ended JR and I got out and hiked the Grand Wash Trail to the Water Tanks trailhead. We found ourselves on mostly level ground walking in a dry narrow wash bottom amongst sheer canyon walls. 

There was a Pioneer Register with names and dates etched into the rock wall. Petroglyphs and painted pictographs remain as sacred remnants of the ancient Indians' saga also on those rock walls. After a mile or so hiking we came to a rocky 80 foot climb to reach the water pockets or “tanks” , but opted to turn back on the trail to the Jeep. 

What a great day of exploring in this remote gem of a national park on the roads less traveled by. Oh and by the way, JR managed a temporary fix to manually raise each leveler on the motor home in order to get us safely out of the park.