Cathedral Valley

Cathedral Valley is one of the most remote parts of Capitol Reef National Park. Accessed by fording the Fremont River, a 60-mile dirt road loops round features such as the Bentonite Hills and the Temples of the Sun and the Moon. A storm was brewing, as you can see in some of the pictures, and switchbacks and mud-slicks meant I spent a lot of the journey clinging on with my eyes closed. Don’t worry, I was the passenger.

Bentonite Hills

Temples of the Sun and Moon from above

Temples of the Sun and Moon

Glass Mountain

Cathedral Valley panorama

Chimney Rock

The Chimney Rock trail took us high above – well, a rock that looked like a chimney. Once again, a storm was brewing and, as we didn’t want to be caught up there, we raced round in record time.

Chimney Rock Trail

Chimney Rock Trail

Chimney Rock Trail

Chimney Rock Trail

Waterpocket Fold

We left Capitol Reef via the Notom-Bullfrog and Burr Trail Roads which took us along the Waterpocket Fold, the wrinkle in the Earth’s crust that I mentioned in my last post. It’s amazing to see the land laid out in waves and helps you understand why the cliffs might be thought of as reefs.

Burr Valley Overlook

Burr Trail

Strike Valley Overlook

Strike Valley Overlook

Strike Valley Overlook

Next stop – Escalante!