Capitol Reef - The most delicious National Park

The road from Escalante, Scenic Byway 12, goes through Boulder and continues on to Capitol Reef National Park. There was rain. A lot of rain. Like... a ton of rain. We even had to stop a few times as the windshield wipers couldn't handle and I just couldn't see anything going around hairpin turns down a mountain. Good times.

A cow on the Open Range between Boulder and Torrey, Utah as the rain comes down. A lot of rain.

You might think Capitol Reef is an odd name for a landlocked National Park, and you'd be right!! But the Capitol part of the name refers to the white Navajo Sandstone domes that (with some imagination) look like the domes often placed on "capitol" buildings and the Reef part of the name is a local word to describe any rocky barrier to land travel, like cliffs or canyons, just as coral reefs are barriers to ships on the sea. Capitol Reef was established as a National Monument in 1937 but didn't open to the public till 1950 with roads coming in the 60s. In 1971 it was designated a National Park. It protects the area's colorful canyons, buttes, cliffs and monoliths. It's crowning jewel is the Waterpocket Fold, a weird warp in the earths crust that has been dated as old as 65 million years. This fold is the largest of it's kind in North America and shows dozens of layers of earth stacked on top of each other in the most beautiful and colorful fashion. The Waterpocket Fold runs North to South for over 100 miles and has few roads that have managed to cross it.

LOOK WHAT I FOUND!!! ALL DRESSED CHIPS!!! In Utah!!!
Seriously. So excited.
Chuck Wagon General Store, Torrey, Utah

We were excited to camp inside the park as this National Park has a very unique feature available to visitors. FRUIT!! The town of Fruita, yes Fruita, inside the park was settled by some Mormons and is named so after the large orchards they planted here. Apples, peaches, plums, pears, cherries, mulberry, almonds, walnuts, and apricots! And all of these orchards are maintained by the Parks Service for the sole purpose of visitors picking and enjoying these fruits! Apricots were the only fruit in season while we were there, but was armed ourselves with fruit pickers and headed into the orchard for some sweet, juicy, tasty treats. The season was almost at it's end so there weren't the best pickins' but it was still fun! We encountered a large group of deer munching on the fallen fruit and relaxing in the shade of the large trees along the river. Later in the evening the whole herd came traipsing through our campsite!

Geoff hunting for apricots in Fruita, Capitol Reef National Park, Utah

The hunt was successful!! Juicy apricots in Fruita, Capitol Reef National Park, Utah.

Look at these lil buggers just waiting to be picked!
Fruita, Capitol Reef National Park, Utah

The apricot orchard is nestled in a valley surrounded by massive red sandstone cliffs.
Fruita, Capitol Reef National Park, Utah

Some deer munching on the fallen apricots in Fruita, Capitol Reef National Park, Utah

The gang passing through our site in Fruita, Capitol Reef National Park, Utah

Before we lost the light, we drove down the Scenic Drive portion of the park and it was well worth it. We also drove down the Grand Wash dirt road. Along the way you'll see some barred up, unproductive Uranium mine shafts from back in the day when Uranium was touted as medicinal and used to treat arthritis, rheumatism and improve digestion. Seriously. Nothing like a glowing drink to make your jaw fall off! (that actually happened to a gentleman who drank the glowing drink, Radithor, three times a day!!)

Some abandoned farming equipment in Fruita, Capitol Reef National Park, Utah

Grand Wash, Capitol Reef National Park, Utah

Some weird rock formations in Capitol Reef National Park, Utah

Uranium Mines in Capitol Reef National Park, Utah

 The following morning we stopped in at the museum/shop Gifford House for fresh made pies and cinnamon rolls. So. Good. We went with a peach pie and mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. No words. The cinnamon bun later in the day was equally as good. Especially after warming up on the dashboard in the afternoon heat.

Check out these adorable personal pies!! Peach, Apple, Strawberry Rhubarb, Cherry and Mixed Berry!
Gifford House, Fruita, Capitol Reef National Park, Utah

Gifford House, looking out to the Fruita Orchards, Capitol Reef National Park, Utah

NOM NOM NOM!!! Giant Cinnamon Bun and Peach Pie from Gifford House at Capitol Reef National Park, Utah

SO GOOD!

Our stop at the Visitors Center and a talk with the Park Ranger only sort of discouraged us from our plans for the day. Once again thunderstorms forecast in the area and would make the roads we planned to travel impassable. We had planned to do the whole Cathedral Valley Loop but the Ranger STRONGLY advised against that can said if we were quick we might be able to get out to the Temple of the Sun and Temple of the Moon and back before the rains started.

Firstly, we missed the turn onto the road and secondly, Caineville, is not a real town. Just FYI. We were expecting a gas station there... nope. There's literally nothing. So we continued on to get gas in Hanksville before turning around to find the missing road in the non-existent town.

I found this sign on the gas station door in Hanksville hilarious.
On this site in 1897 NOTHING HAPPENED!!
Hanksville, Utah

These dirt roads are rough! The Ranger wasn't kidding! Luckily all the washes and rivers were dry as we traversed them on our way in and we were praying they remained that way for a few hours. It took us about 2 hours to go 13 miles up the dirt road. So, slow going. But getting there was worth it. An adventure; and that's what it's all about! The skies were turning dark with impressive clouds as we arrived at the giant monoliths. We wandered around and enjoyed some ice cream before hightailing it back to the safety of the paved road. Thunder and lightning teased us as we sped along the bumpy roads, hoping the van would hold together. And what do you know? Just as the tires hit the pavement, drops appeared on the windshield. Damn, we got lucky again!

The drive out to the Temple of the Sun and Moon. What planet are we on??
Capitol Reef National Park, Utah

Dry ground near Temple of the Moon, Capitol Reef National Park, Utah

Temple of the Moon, Geoff, our sweet ride. I love all of this.
Capitol Reef National Reef, Utah

Temple of the Moon with some intense weather moving in.
Capitol Reef National Park, Utah

Temple of the Sun, Capitol Reef National Park, Utah

It's coming!!! DRIVE DRIVE DRIVE!!!
-Words I said
Cathedral Valley, Capitol Reef National Park, UT

Temple of the Sun and Temple of the Moon, Cathedral Valley, Capitol Reef National Park, Utah

On the way out of town we stopped in at Hollow Mountain gas station and gift shop. Cheesy doesn't even begin. It was amazing. A gift shop carved into the Sandstone. I got popcorn. It was great! The rain continued to tease us but for the most part, held off as we made our way towards Lake Powell. We originally weren't planning on going this way but our love of a good boat ride changed our minds and it only added about 20 miles to our route.

Hollow Mountain!! So cheesy!!!
Hanksville, Utah

I GOT POPCORN! Pop Pop!! Hollow Mountain, Hanksville, Utah

Lake Powell is manmade, as many of the lakes are here in the Southwestern US. Lake Powell resides in the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. It's currently actually larger, by volume, than Lake Mead, taking it's place as largest manmade lake in North America. It's full of crazy houseboats and tons of speedboats and covers over 254 sq miles. It also has a ferry! The only way to cross the lake without driving around. It was fun to take a little boat ride. There were only 4 bikers on the boat with us. They were from the Carolinas and were also on a road trip! We cracked a cold beer and enjoyed the 30 minute ride to the other side.

Lake Powell. Those tiny dots are giant houseboats!

Our sweet ride! Ferry across Lake Powell, Utah

We're on a Boat!!
Lake Powell, Utah

Cold bevvie on the Ferry!
Lake Powell, Utah

Our ride on our ride! Lake Powell, Utah

I'm on a boat!! Lake Powell, Utah

Land Ho!!! Lake Powell, Utah

The sun was almost set as we arrived at our campsite at Natural Bridges National Monument. Coyotes howled in the distance as darkness crept into the juniper forest surrounding us. This part of the world has some of the darkest nights found in the US. Far away from the light pollution of major cities and industry, the heavens are lit by millions and millions of stars not visible to most of us during our every day lives. It's a nice reminder of just how small and insignificant we are and how miraculous it is that we're here at all. Enjoy it while you can. I know we are.

Our little campfire in the vastness of everything. Shhhh the coyotes can hear you!
Natural Bridge National Monument, Utah

Till next time - Fair winds my friends!

Marsha and Geoff