The Capitol Reef National Park is located in south-central Utah on the Colorado Plateau, 2,000 m high. He is one of the less-frequented parks in the southwest of the UAS but offers excellent trails for hikers.
The Capitol Reef National Park is located in south-central Utah on the 2,000 m high Colorado Plateau, also called the Water Pocket Fold (water pocket fold), from its sandstone layers over millions of stone arches, towers, canyons and domes (circular eroded in the rock) in all forms in the colors have formed from red to brown to pale yellow. This runs in the north, south fold is 160 km long and 5 km wide.
Consisting of several layers of rock plateau was formed many hundreds of thousands of years of rock deposits, finally lifted the massive land mass and the rock layers have been raised to a giant fold. Over time, the fold is removed slowly and rise to new forms of rock.
The area of the park is mainly a semi-desert landscape, just along the Fremont River can boast a luxuriant vegetation. This area was inhabited already over 1000 years ago by the Anasazi and the Fremont Indians. In the 13th Century these Indian tribes disappeared. Rock paintings and engravings bear witness to the canyon walls of your existence today. Then appeared in the area of the Colorado Plateau, the Ute and Paiute Indians.
Landmarks in Capitol Reef National Park
* The Valley Cathedral
* The Strike Valley
* The Circle Cliffs (District cliffs)
* The Boulder Mountain (Rock Hill)
* The Water Pocket Fold
* The Temple of Solomon
* The Hickman Bridge, a 40 m long sandstone bridge
The above attractions can be on roads (some unpaved) and trails by car (a lot of ground clearance), explored by bicycle, on foot or on certain routes with the horse.
For owners with off-road vehicle, the 100 km long dirt-road tour of the Cathedral Valley is worthwhile.
Despite the arid climate, there are many animals and plants in the park, this is the harsh realities have changed: are especially noteworthy in the animals, the lizards, snakes, bighorn sheep, bobcats, rabbits and mule deer. The vegetation is dominated by stone pines, junipers, yuccas and cacti, and especially in the spring of blossoming wild flowers.
Activities in Capitol Reef National Park
The best way to explore the park by hiking. Were specially set up for trails like the dirt “Scenic Drive and State Route 24, short hiking trails that lead to the canyons, sandstone formations and lookouts in the park. The northern and southern part of the park is particularly well suited for hiking. There are special paths or roads for Friends of the Off-Road “. Such as the distance from Thousand Lake Mountain over to the Cathedral Valley.
Those wishing to explore the park by car should take the “Scenic Bayway Utha 24″, with opportunities for short hikes into the interior of the park. Between May and September in the amphitheater of the camp each evening held slide shows about nature and the history of the park. Rancher accompany and inform groups of visitors in the exploration of the park.
The park is open year round. Due to the summer heat are spring and autumn the best times. Accommodation in and around the Capitol Reef National Park. The Fruita Campground with 71 spaces. (Special feature: picking fruit for himself). The Cedar Mesa Campground, with only four units and
The Cathedral Valley campground, all seats are open all year round, a site fee must be paid. Tents in the back country is allowed to free any approval.
Accommodations outside the park:
Torrey, west of the park and have the easternmost town of Hanksville Motels.
Address:
Capitol Reef National Park
HC 70 Box 15
Torrey, UT 84 775
Tel 435-425-3791
Internet: http://www.nps.gov/care/
E-mail: email: care@nps.gov