Arriving at the Park
So, getting to Capitol Reef National Park in Utah was on our agenda today. It was overcast and rainy, but we were determined to visit because, well, it was our first time, and we were feeling adventurous (or perhaps just slightly masochistic). Located not far from Torrey, Utah, this beautiful park is lesser-known to the public, which translates to: fewer crowds but also fewer people to rescue you if you get lost. The visitor center was about 8 miles from the hotel. We were told to do some hikes, and the first one we chose was the Cohab Canyon Trail. Since the scenic drive of 6 miles was closed, we opted for this moderate to strenuous hike spanning about 2 miles out and back. Yay for extra cardio!
Hardest Climb
The climb to the top was not easy, but the stairs were made with big boulders, gravel, and dirt—nature’s own StairMaster. You climb about 400 ft in elevation until you reach majestic rocks that make you feel like a hobbit. Seriously, all I needed was a ring and a wizard to complete the picture. As we walked along the rock formations, the path widened and led us down towards the heart of the hike. About 30 minutes in, we arrived at an overlook. The rock formations looked otherworldly—erosion at its finest. It was like Mother Nature took up abstract art. The big rocks were eroded to create crevices on all the walls, giving the whole area a “Hills Have Eyes” vibe. Just waiting for a creepy hillbilly to pop out. Some people were rock climbing, adding to the spooky atmosphere. Because nothing says “fun” like dangling from a cliff in the middle of nowhere.
The path turned dusty and soft, almost like quicksand. We had to keep moving because this reddish, powdery sand was hard to hike in. We followed the trail towards the other end, navigating rough paths and finding our way towards the other side of the road. Along the way, we found boulders, caves, and small arches that made our day.
We kept trudging along until we finally reached the parking lot, having conquered about 2 miles. At this point, our legs felt like jelly, but we were just getting started. Next on our list was the Herman Bridge, another mile uphill with an elevation gain of 500 ft because apparently, we enjoy torturing ourselves.
The climb wasn’t exactly Mount Everest, but it felt like it with all the people on the path and the slippery rocks. It was like playing an intense game of “The Floor is Lava,” except the lava was our exhaustion and the occasional death glare from fellow hikers. There was zero shade, and the rock formations began to look more and more like something out of a sci-fi movie. I half-expected to stumble upon a secret alien base.
Despite the grueling trek, we were so thankful we did the hike to visit the bridge. The entire path was numbered, with little explanations of what we were encountering, kind of like a scavenger hunt for geology nerds. Once we arrived at the bridge, it was totally worth it. It was one of the most magnificent bridges I’ve ever seen—truly Instagram-worthy. Even though we couldn’t climb it (thank goodness), we walked under it and sat down to relax. It was mesmerizing, the perfect backdrop for our sweat-drenched selfies. We sat there for 20 minutes, basking in our accomplishment and pretending we weren’t utterly exhausted, before reluctantly heading back.
Heading back, the temperature was about 95 degrees—hot and sweaty. Then, it started to rain slowly at first, but it quickly turned into a downpour. We ran down to the parking lot, but our car was on the other side of the hike. We waited for the rain to calm down before climbing back up the trail. Even though it rained a bit, we had to keep going. As we moved, we noticed the path was completely gone, washed away by the rain. Footprints were nowhere to be seen. It was hard to find the way up, but we managed. Along the path, this one guy from Indianapolis was hopelessly lost. He got anxious, and we had to show him the way repeatedly. We had a good laugh but felt for the guy—lost and drenched in the rain.
It’s Raining Hard
We were getting closer to the parking lot when it started to rain again, this time with heavy lightning and thunder. The water was pouring down the rocks and the path, turning everything into a muddy mess. The dirt turned red and pink, running down the trail. Lightning was striking close by, and the thunder was deafening. We got scared but had no choice but to hurry down. We could see the car, but the fear of being struck by lightning kept us moving. Thank goodness when we got to the car, we were completely soaked, covered in red and pink mud. We jumped into the car, painting it with mud. I couldn’t even get mad at anyone for making the car dirty again. We were just happy to be safe and not hit by lightning.
No Pies
We wanted to grab a piece of pie at Dawson House, but so many people had parked there to escape the rain that we couldn’t get any. We decided to drive out of the park as it was raining hard and there was a flash flood warning. Despite the rain and mud, we enjoyed the hike and our time in the park. We left, knowing we would return for camping and rediscover it again. It was a beautiful day, nevertheless.
