|
 ROADS
MAPS
These maps are quite large. You may want to assess whether you
wish to spend the time downloading these files.
DRIVING TOURS
The park's main driving tours include the paved Scenic
Drive and two long, mainly unpaved, loop tours through the
park's Cathedral and Waterpocket Districts.
The Hartnet and Cainville
Wash Roads that make up the Cathedral District loop are
described on this page, as are the Notom-Bullfrog
and Burr Trail Roads that make up the Waterpocket
District loop. You may also take a more detailed tour of either
district by following the links below. Please note that
these pages contain several large images and may be slow to
load.
ROAD DESCRIPTIONS
The Scenic Drive starts at the park Visitor Center and provides
access to Grand Wash, Capitol Gorge, Pleasant Creek, and the South
Draw Road. The Scenic Drive is a 10 mile paved road with dirt
spur roads into Grand Wash and Capitol Gorge that, weather permitting,
are accessible to ordinary passenger vehicles. The Scenic Drive
is not a loop, so you must return on the same road. Entrance
fees of $5 per vehicle are charged for the Scenic Drive. The entrance
station is located just south of the campground on the Scenic
Drive. There is no entrance fee for holders of Golden Eagle, Golden
Age, or Golden Access passes. A free Guide to the Scenic Drive
brochure is available at the entrance station. Follow this link
for a virtual tour of the Scenic Drive.
The South Draw Road is a high clearance 4-wheel-drive road that
extends from Pleasant Creek to the park boundary near Tantalus
Flats. The South Draw Road is rough and rocky, includes several
creek crossings, and, in inclement weather, becomes impassable
to even 4-wheel-drive vehicles. The South Draw Road is reached
by following the Pleasant Creek Road from the end of the Scenic
Drive to the crossing at Pleasant Creek. The South Draw Road climbs
upward from Pleasant Creek, exits the park, and eventually meets
Utah Hwy 12 at 8,500 feet on Boulder Mountain. The access to the
South Draw Road from Boulder Mountain is closed in winter, and
access from Pleasant Creek is not possible, except during the
mildest winters, due to snow.
The Notom-Bullfrog road intersects Utah Hwy 24 9.3 miles east
of the Capitol Reef Visitor Center and extends south to Bullfrog
Marina and Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. This dirt road
runs along the eastern side of the Waterpocket
Fold and offers excellent scenery as well as marvelous hiking
opportunities. Access to many of the park's backcountry
trails, such as Lower Muley Twist and Halls Creek Narrows
can be found off this road. While portions of the road outside
the park are paved, the majority of the Notom-Bullfrog road is
dirt and subject to changes in weather conditions. Visitors are
advised to check with the Visitor Center before setting out.
The Burr Trail road, originally a cattle trail blazed by stockman
John Atlantic Burr, extends from the town of Boulder on Utah Hwy
12 to the Notom-Bullfrog Road. Much of the 36.5 mile road lies
outside the boundary of Capitol Reef and traverses the Circle
Cliffs, as well as spectacular canyon areas such as Long Canyon
and The Gulch. The 5.3 mile stretch of road inside Capitol Reef
includes a breathtaking set of switchbacks rising some 800 feet
in only one- half mile. These switchbacks are not considered suitable
for RVs or vehicles towing trailers. From Boulder to the west
boundary of Capitol Reef, the Burr Trail road is surfaced. Inside
the park it remains a graded dirt road and is subject to change
due to weather conditions. Visitors should inquire about road
and weather conditions before traveling.
The Harnet road, or western half of the Cathedral Valley Loop,
begins 11.7 miles east of the Visitor Center off Utah Hwy 24.
In order to take this route to Cathedral Valley, visitors must
ford the Fremont River soon after leaving the highway, which may
require a 4WD vehicle. The remaining 24 miles to the top of the
loop afford expansive view of the Blue Flats and the South Desert.
The northern end of the loop nears Thousand Lake Mountain, and
the geology and topography change greatly
with the subsequent gain in elevation. Conditions on the Hartnet
road vary widely based on recent weather. At best, high clearance
vehicles are recommended and visitors should check with the Visitor
Center for the most current road information.
The Caineville Wash road, or eastern side of the Cathedral Valley
Loop, begins 18.6 miles east of the Visitor Center. By taking
this route into Cathedral Valley, visitors avoid the Fremont River
Ford on the Hartnet side of the loop; however, those planning
on driving the entire loop are encouraged to begin at the River
Ford to be certain they are able to make the crossing. 16.5 miles
up the road, in Lower Cathedral Valley, are the Temple of the
Sun and Moon, massive monoliths rising from the desert floor.
Further north in Upper Cathedral Valley, columns of spire-like
formations dominate the landscape. Conditions on the Caineville
Wash road vary widely based on recent weather. Check with the
Visitor Center for current road information. |
