Thursday, November 13, 2014

Adventure Learning Trip Report: Capitol Reef National Park Trip





Our latest camping trip took us to Capitol Reef National Park in southern Utah. When most people think about the beautiful national parks in Utah, they usually think of the red-rock wonders of Zion, Arches and Bryce Canyon. Also a red-rock gallery, but a true oasis in the desert, Capitol Reef is home to century-old orchards and fertile soils, fed year round from the flows of the Fremont River running through the heart of the canyon. 


Capitol Reef is a geologic anomaly; an immense exposed fold in the earth’s surface called the Waterpocket Fold captures water from the high plateaus surrounding the low-lying desert giving the small canyon ample water despite the dry climate. 



Visiting Capitol Reef in October is about as good as it gets for nice weather and awesome scenery. The many Quaking Aspen and Cottonwood trees throughout the park wore their fall colors with pride, making for picturesque views from the edge of a cliff, or along the riverbed. 



Our first night was spent 30 miles into the backcountry of the park in Cathedral Valley. While the drive to the campground was slow and arduous because of the rough desert road, the campground itself was almost deserted except for two other campers. With no sizeable town or major light-source within 50 miles, the star-gazing was spectacular and offered one student his first views of a shooting star. Around 5:30 in the morning we were awakened by the yips and howls of a pack of coyotes near our campsite communicating with another pack farther off in the distance. With that pleasant awakening we began the day early and completed the circumnavigation of Cathedral Valley with stops at Gypsum Sinkhole, Temple of the Sun and Temple of the Moon. 



After setting up camp at the Fruita campground, we hiked the Hickman Bridge trail and perused the petroglyph boardwalk learning about the people and cultures who originally settled the area. Our evening hike took us on top of the bluffs overlooking the Fremont River and the Grand Wash, both basked in a warm rose light from the setting sun projected through the high cirrus clouds. 



Our stroll back to camp took us directly through a herd of Mule Deer happily eating apples at the bases of the hundreds of apple trees in the orchard. Temperatures throughout our stay never exceeded 75º nor dipped below 40º at night making for perfect camping and exploring weather. 


Mike Bodrero, Adventure Learning Coordinator

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