Capitol Reef Backpacking

• Shuttle to Capitol Reef: 5 hours
• Hiking Mileage: 4 miles
• Elevation Loss: 400 feet

On this amazing Utah backpacking tour, our early-morning drive to Capitol Reef begins with an ascent into the high desert country of the Colorado Plateau, in the heart of which lies the tremendous topography of the Waterpocket Fold – our semi-private playground for the next six days. After passing by popular Bryce National Park and through the pioneer towns of Escalante and Boulder, UT, we’ll turn onto a scenic Utah road that takes us into Capitol Reef. The views of the surrounding canyon country, their incredible isolation and Lake Powell beyond are our reward for our long morning’s drive. With walls that never cease to impress, we’ll descend into Lower Muley Canyon until the trailhead disappears quickly from the wash. Lower Muley Canyon is a labyrinth of rock piles, sheer canyon walls, and overhanging amphitheaters. Because the streambed meanders dizzyingly between steep walls, the canyon earned its name for having enough turns to “twist a mule.” As Lower Muley has no reliable water sources at any time of year, we will carry enough water from our starting point until we reach our campsite.

• Hiking Mileage: 8 miles
• Elevation Loss: 700 feet

As we descend further into the canyon, notable sites include Cowboy Cave with inscriptions from early settlers and cattle rustlers of the 19th century and impressive alcoves that cut overhangs above the canyon walls. Before making camp for the night, we’ll take a visit to Hamburger Rocks, one of the more notable geological sites in Capitol Reef National Park. This iron-infused crop of red rock mushroom plumes carries delightful contrast to the white slickrock below. We’ll wander among and photograph these tranquil geologic wonders before continuing the short distance to our camp and water source near Muley Tanks – tired from the day’s hike, but peaked with anticipation for tomorrow’s route through Grand Gulch, beneath the cliffs of the Waterpocket Fold.

• Hiking Mileage: 10 miles
• Elevation Loss: 500 feet

Here we’ll begin our hike south, retracing a historic wagon route further down Grand Gulch, beyond Halls Creek Overlook. While today’s hike is long, the forgiving terrain will make it easy to take in the scenery. We will enjoy the serene vistas and unique geology as we hike down the serpentine Grand Gulch.

• Hiking Mileage: 4-6 miles
• Elevation Loss: 400 feet

Today’s hike takes us to the southernmost boundary of Capitol Reef National Park. We’ll follow the remnants of the old wagon trail supply route pioneered in 1881 by Mormon settler Charles Hall. Early in the day we’ll pass the impressive, 500-foot Red Slide while following the faint wagon tracks along Halls Creek. We’ll also take time to explore one of the numerous side canyons that branch off from Grand Gulch. At the end of the day, we’ll camp near Halls Divide in preparation for the next morning’s adventure in the Narrows!

• Hiking Mileage: 5.5 miles
• Elevation Gain: 200 feet
• Elevation Loss: 200 feet

Comparable in size and similarity to the famed Virgin River Narrows in Zion National Park, Capitol Reef’s remote Halls Creek Narrows receives less than 1% of the visitation of its famous cousin. Odds are we’ll have the place pretty-well to ourselves. Today is largely a day hike, at the end of which we’ll return to our previous night’s camp to either bed down or pack up and move up-drainage to get a jump on the next morning’s miles. By traversing the Narrows in light daypacks, we’ll be better able to explore and enjoy the incredible scenery around us. Wildland will provide the use of Neoprene socks for warmth while hiking through water – a seasonal necessity in the chilly Narrows. Depending on the time of year, the water in the Narrows can be deep enough to swim. For this reason, there is no guarantee today’s hike will be completed as a full loop. If the guide deems conditions unsafe we will turn around, and return to camp.

• Hiking Mileage: 5 miles
• Elevation Gain: 800 feet
• Shuttle to St. George: 7 hours

After all the hiking completed by this point, our last day’s hike will be a breeze. We will pack up camp and enroute explore up a serene slot canyon to find one of the most impressive (yet seldom visited) geologic features in the American Southwest. A stunning natural bridge, which is a spectacular, 120-foot-wide double arch – one arch perched atop another – and one of just a hand full of such rock formations in the world. Afterward, ascending 800 feet from the Grand Gulch drainage, a remote trailhead surrounded by stunning canyon country is our end point. A mile of hiking brings us to the top of Halls Creek Overlook and we are back at the road we started on and our waiting vehicle. Here we will make the drive back to Saint George over the rolling slick rock domes and canyons.