Fremont Gorge Overlook Trail
The 4.6-mile one-way Fremont Gorge Overlook hike begins just under a mile down Scenic Drive from the visitor center.
Plan Around Fremont Gorge Overlook Trail
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Fremont Gorge Overlook Trail Details
The 4.6-mile one-way Fremont Gorge Overlook hike begins just under a mile down Scenic Drive from the visitor center, with the trailhead and parking area is at the Merin Smith Implement Shed (blacksmith shop). The strenuous hike climbs a little over 1,000 feet in 2.3 miles, but the view of the gorge from the is worth it - and it's downhill all the way back. The ascent is broken up by a flat hike of over a mile across Johnson Mesa, which is studded with junipers, Mormon tea and black, volcanic boulders, which ended up here during the last Ice Age. The gorge itself is marked by a giant rock cairn. For the best view, start the hike early in the morning before shadows cover the gorge.
Difficulty
Moderate
Distance
4.6 miles
Estimated time
Region
N/A
Nearby Parks Around Fremont Gorge Overlook Trail
Compare nearby parks around Fremont Gorge Overlook Trail when deciding whether to expand the route after this stop.
Nearby Points of Interest Around Fremont Gorge Overlook Trail
Use nearby POIs to quickly expand your options beyond Fremont Gorge Overlook Trail while the map context is still fresh.
0.0 mi away
Merin Smith Implement Shed (Blacksmith Shop)
The Merin Smith Implement Shed (Blacksmith Shop), constructed in 1925, is in the Fruita Historic District.
0.0 mi away
Ripple Rock Nature Center
The Ripple Rock Nature Center, typically open from Memorial Day to Labor Day, offers families lots of hands-on activities to learn about the history and geology of Capitol Reef National Park.
0.1 mi away
Amasa Pierce Orchard
The many orchards, including Amasa Pierce, that lie within a mile or two of the visitor center are remnants of the pioneer community of Fruita, which was settled in 1880.
0.1 mi away
Historic Fruita School
The historic, one-room Fruita School was built in 1896 when local settler Elijah Cutler Behunin donated land for its construction; the town was still known as Junction.
0.1 mi away
Chinese Wisteria
First planted by settlers in the early 1900s, the famed Chinese Wisteria vine is now in a "rehab" of sorts.
