Capitol Reef, Canyonlands, Arches - National Parks

This event is limited to five people.  You will be placed immediately on the waitlist and then added to the event per the registration requirements below.  

The trip leaders (Ralph and Ann) have completed some of these hikes and been to Arches and Canyonlands.  We have not been to Capitol Reef.  We feel confident in completing this itinerary.

Saturday, Day 1:  Arrive in Salt Lake City.  No meals or lodging provided.

Sunday, Day 2:  Get supplies, pickup group and drive 3:45 minutes from Salt Lake City to Goblin Valley State Park.  We will stretch our legs either on the way to GVSP or at GVSP.  Then we will settle in.

Meal:  You pay for breakfast and lunch.  Dinner provided.

Monday, Day 3:  Hike Little Wild Horse Canyon, eight mile loop trail http://www.americansouthwest.net/slot_canyons/little_wild_horse_canyon/

Afternoon – explore GVSP

Meal:  Breakfast, lunch, dinner provided.

Tuesday, Day 4:  Hiking in Capitol Reef

ABOUT THE PARK / WHERE IT IS: 
Capitol Reef National Park lies in Utah’s south-central desert, an oasis of colorful sandstone cliffs, impressive domes, and soaring monoliths. Once called “Wayne Wonderland,” the park got its name in part from the great white rock formations which resemble the U.S. Capitol building, and from the sheer cliffs that presented a barrier to early travelers. Early inhabitants referred to the area as the “land of the sleeping rainbow” because of its beautiful contrasts: multi-colored sandstone surrounded by verdant riverbanks and arid desert vegetation, all nestled beneath deep blue skies. The area was designated as a national monument in 1937 and reclassified as a national park in 1971. The park is open year-round. Click on the link to view a Capitol Reef Map. 


WHAT TO SEE AND DO: The most distinguishing geologic feature within the park is the 100-mile long Waterpocket Fold, a protuberance in the earth’s crust that has eroded into a maze of winding canyons, towering monoliths, and massive domes. 

Capitol Dome is a majestic white sandstone formation that resembles the U.S. Capitol building. The park was partly named for this landmark. 

Chimney Rock is a towering 400-foot-tall sandstone pillar, located three miles west of the visitor center off Highway 24 and accessible via a short hiking trail. 

Hickman Bridge is a huge natural arch spanning 133 feet wide and 125 feet tall. The arch is named after Joseph Hickman, an early advocate for Capitol Reef’s preservation. 

The Fremont Petroglyphs were etched in sandstone by the Fremont people who inhabited the area nearly 1,000 years ago and can be seen from the Hickman Bridge Trail.

Early Mormon pioneers also left their mark in Capitol Reef, carving their names in sandstone at Pioneer Register to acknowledge their travels. 

In 1882 Elijah Behunin built Behunin Cabin out of red sandstone to blend in with the surrounding landscape. The cabin remains can be seen just off of Highway 24 on the east side of the park. 
The historic Gifford Farmhouse, built in 1908, can be reached via a short path about a mile south of the visitor center. 

The small town of Fruita inside the park has more than 2,500 fruit trees, some of which were originally planted by Mormon pioneers. Today the town is federally owned, and visitors can stroll through the orchards and eat fruit fresh off the trees.

Cathedral Valley is a remote area in the northern end of the park where enormous monoliths soar hundreds of feet high. 

THREE EXCELLENT HIKES

The Hickman Bridge Trail leads to Hickman Bridge, a massive natural arch. The trail is two miles roundtrip, with a 300-foot incline. The trailhead is two miles east of the visitor center on Highway 24. 

Chimney Rock Loop Trail is a 3.5-mile loop with a fairly steep elevation gain at the beginning. The loop offers panoramic views of Chimney Rock and the Waterpocket Fold. The trailhead is located three miles east of the visitor center. 

The Cassidy Arch Trail is a 3.5-mile roundtrip trail that climbs 1000 feet to an overlook above Cassidy Arch. It’s named for the outlaw Butch Cassidy, who used the area as a hideout. 

Meal:  Breakfast, lunch, dinner provided.

Wednesday, Day 4:  Drive 2 hours to Canyonlands, stop for groceries, and settle in.  http://stateparks.utah.gov/parks/dead-horse/

Afternoon hiking at Dead Horse State Park, rim trails.

Sunset:  at Dead Horse State Park, From the prominence of Dead Horse Point, 2,000 feet above a gooseneck in the Colorado River, an ever changing landscape unfurls. Immense vertical cliffs meet with canyons carved by ice, water and wind creating a visual masterpiece. Plants and animals surviving on the edge of existence face many challenges of extreme conditions within this high desert environment. Stories of ancient hunters, resting along the cliff tops while knapping chert in preparation for the next hunt, and cowboys of the late 1800’s, chasing wild mustangs onto Dead Horse Point, using the narrow neck to block off the natural corral.

Meal:  Breakfast, lunch, dinner provided.

Thursday, Day 5:

Morning/Hike in Canyonlands:  http://www.nps.gov/cany/planyourvisit/iskytrails.htm

Syncline Loop

8.3 mi/13.3 km

1,300 ft / 396 m

Strenuous primitive route around Upheaval Dome crater. Spur trail to crater center (3 mi/4.8 km).

Syncline Trail Loop • Hike this one when you have time and energy. Even then, be sure to start the hike going uphill from the trailhead to get the hard part out of your way. The hike is 8.3 miles long and 1,452 feet in elevation gain. The trail goes over Upheaval Dome Mesa and around a canyon rim. In the right time of year, you'll see a waterfall. (We probably won’t be there at the right time.)

Meal:  Breakfast, lunch, dinner provided.

Friday, Day 6:  Morning sunrise:  Mesa Arch

0.5 mi/0.8 km

30 minutes

Short walk to arch on cliff edge. Popular sunrise photograph.

Drive to Arches:  Hour drive to beginning of hike.  Delicate Arch

Let's just get this one out of the way. If there's a must-do hike in Utah, this would be it. Delicate Arch has become the state symbol. What's less appreciated is that the hike is a pretty good one, too. It's a 4-mile round trip up and down the slickrock with views of the park and the desert floor. Most of the 528-foot elevation gain comes on a half-mile stretch in the hike's second mile. The modest distance and elevation gain makes this a great hike for families. There's even petroglyphs at the trailhead. This hike is the most popular trail in the park. Some spots are crowded for a reason: they're great.

Drive through the park.

Meal:  Breakfast, lunch, dinner provided.

Saturday, Day 7:  Drive to Arches.  Devils Garden

This is the arch mother load. The 7-mile loop will take you past arches in the distance and up close and you'll see all manner of fins and slickrock in between. If you don't have time or inclination for the entire loop, you can just hike to Landscape Arch and back. It's the longest arch in the park and can be reached in a 1.6-mile round trip. This trail can be crowded, too, but is worth the company. Hike the whole loop, and you're officially immune from being one of Abbey's "motorized tourists."

Drive back to SLC. 

Meal:  Breakfast, lunch provided.  You pay for dinner and lodging.

Sunday, Day 9:  fly out. 

Registration Requirements

Given the daily elevation gains achieved during this hike, along with the challenge of multiple back to back hikes, only intermediate and advanced hikers with significant D4 and D5 experience should register.  All registrants shall initially be placed on the wait list so that the TLs can evaluate the registrant’s fitness and experience level.

Any registrant who does not have a recent resume of D4 and D5 hikes in the AOC likely will not be placed on the event list unless the registrant can demonstrate to the TLs an appropriate fitness and experience level gained outside the Club.  The TLs also reserve the right to consider any registrant’s social history within the AOC and to make the final determination as to whether the registrant is an appropriate candidate for this event.  

Notes:

The housing in the yurts are in close quarters, if you are concerned about snoring or other sounds and/or you are not willing to share a bed with another person (male or female), then this is not the event for you.

We are booking the minivan to one week, for the lowest price, therefore, your hotel selection must be limited to those that provide a shuttle to/from and is in close proximity to the airport.

Since food is being provided by your trip leaders and space will be at a premium – we will not be able to provide for specific meal needs.  You will need to purchase your own adult beverages.  Also, as space in the minivan is at a premium please bring your daypack and a small duffle bag.  No suitcases please.

ATTENTION:  Do not book your airfare or hotel until you have received confirmation that we have obtained housing in the parks!  We will let you know when it is okay to book!

See itinerary for details.

Trip cost:  $415.00.  You must pay the trip leaders directly.  When you are added we will advise you how to pay for your participation.  All monies collected will be held by the trip leaders and will be returned if housing is not available.  Housing is available for booking four months prior to the event.  To demonstrate your sincere participation, monies must be received by April 15th.  The cost is based on five people, if fewer than five attend the cost will increase accordingly.  There is no partial payment for partial attendance.  There will be a refund for any monies due to lower costs.

Trip cost includes:

1. Lodging at Goblin Valley State Park and Dead Horse State Park.
2. Vehicle rental, minivan or the like.
3. Gas.
4. Meals at Dead Horse State Park, Goblin Valley State Park, while hiking in the parks (refer to itinerary).  Hot breakfast.  Box lunch (sandwiches, etc.).  Hot dinners prepared by Ann and Ralph.  
5. A non-refundable $25.00 donation per person to AOC for the website hosting of this event.

Trip cost does not include:

1. Airfare.
2. Meals at Salt Lake City or enroute to/from Salt Lake City.
3. Hotel for two nights in Salt Lake City.

There will be no refunds for cancellations after May 1st, unless someone (approved by the trip leaders) replaces you from the wait list and pays in full. If you are replaced, you will receive a full refund less the nonrefundable fee of $25.00 for the AOC.