Capitol Reef Wow! 10.17.2015

We arrived at Capitol Reef National Park and secured one of the last campsites in Fruita, a former fruit producing homestead. The campground has spacious level paved sites but felt crowded and too civilized after spending last night alone.

The campground is nestled in the fruit orchards and there is an honor system to pick and pay for fruit. We sampled some fallen fruit and watched tame deer enjoying the apples.

It was still raining off and on so we checked on conditions at the Visitor Center. The rangers were warning of possible flash floods but people were still hiking and driving the scenic road. With the rainy weather and only a one night stay, we drove the scenic road down the fold and took a short hike. We need to return and explore the back roads and trails.

Capitol Reef is in a wrinkle in the earth’s crust called a monocline or water pocket fold.  The cliffs are amazing with more exposed rock layers than the Grand Canyon. The sun broke out between the clouds in the late afternoon exposing freshly washed bright colors.