Golden Throne Trail
The 2-mile one-way Golden Throne Trail offers great views of the trail's namesake, a 7,042-foot sandstone dome that shines yellow when hit by the sun
Plan Around Golden Throne Trail
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Golden Throne Trail Details
The 2-mile one-way Golden Throne Trail offers great views of the trail's namesake, a 7,042-foot sandstone dome that shines yellow when hit by the sun, although hikers cannot summit the dome nor touch it, as the hike ends at a rock outcropping a good distance away from the throne. As compensation, the hike offers great views of Capitol Gorge and some interesting side canyons to explore. The trailhead for the hike is at the parking lot at the end of Capitol Gorge Road, a little over 10 miles away from the visitor center along Scenic Drive and then along unpaved Capitol Gorge Road. The route begins its ascent immediately although gradually, and as the elevation rises, hikers will get views to the south of white-capped domes and occasionally the Capitol Gorge Road. The hike's third wash offers the first view of the Golden Throne itself, made primarily of Navajo sandstone. The final bit of the trail skirts sandstone walls, and is marked with an "end of trail" sign.
Difficulty
High
Distance
2 miles
Estimated time
Region
N/A
Nearby Parks Around Golden Throne Trail
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Nearby Points of Interest Around Golden Throne Trail
Use nearby POIs to quickly expand your options beyond Golden Throne Trail while the map context is still fresh.
0.0 mi away
Capitol Gorge Trail
Although only a 1-mile route (one-way) the easy Capitol Gorge Trail passes plenty of history in its short distance.
0.1 mi away
Capitol Gorge Trailhead
The Capitol Gorge trailhead lies at the end of a twisting dirt road (Capitol Gorge Road) connecting to the end of the Capitol Reef Scenic Drive.
0.5 mi away
Pioneer Register
About a half mile into the Capitol Gorge hike, visitors will come upon the Pioneer Register, a spot on the sandstone wall where early Mormon pioneers carved their names.
0.6 mi away
The Tanks
At the end of the Capitol Gorge Trail, hikers will come to the Tanks, a series of large potholes in the sandstone where erosion has carved pockets into the rock, which sometimes hold rainwater.
0.9 mi away
Navajo Sandstone
Stop here for a look at Capitol Reef's Najavo Sandstone.
