Waterfold Pocket

Capital Reef

Last time we were here, it had just rained and most of the dirt roads were closed. So today, we decided to take Notum-Bullfrog road to the Burr Trail Road to get a good look at the Waterpocket Fold. Capital Reef is a compound name, Capitol from the white stone formation that looks the U.S. Capitol and Reef from the fact that the stone ridges reminded folks of a barrier reef in the ocean, making it difficult to get across this barrier. We could really appreciate this barrier as we traveled south along the Eastern boundary of the Reef. Then we turned West on the Burr Trail road, an old cattle trail. The exciting part was the series of 5 or 6 switchbacks to climb the reef. The views were fantastic. At the top things flattened out then we started the descent. 

Climbing Burr Trail

After we left the park, we followed Long Canyon for about 20 miles with the red cliff faces above us. We finally made it to Boulder, where we visited the Anasazi State Museum. Here an Anasazi village from about 1200 AD had been excavated and the museum explained what we knew about that culture as well as displaying quite a few artifacts. Outside some of the original diggings are there as well as a recreation of what their lodging and storage would look like. Then we headed north on Utah 12 over Boulder Mountain. This has to be one of the most scenic highways we’ve ever been on. In the high country the Aspen were turning bright gold, while below we could see all the sandstone layers of Capitol Reef. As one woman told me: everywhere you turn, it’s another beautiful viewpoint!

Long Canyon