Capitol Gorge
At the south end of Scenic Drive, and at the further end of the unpaved 2.4-mile Capitol Gorge Road, is Capitol Gorge, a small, deep canyon carved out of the Waterpocket Fold.
Plan Around Capitol Gorge
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Use this detail page to confirm that the stop is worth it, then carry that decision into a trip draft while the park context is still fresh.
Capitol Gorge Details
At the south end of Scenic Drive, and at the further end of the unpaved 2.4-mile Capitol Gorge Road, is Capitol Gorge, a small, deep canyon carved out of the Waterpocket Fold. It took Mormon pioneers eight days in 1884 to clear the first road through the gorge, which extended to Caineville and Hanksville. Called the Blue Dugway, the road connected these tiny settlements until after World War II. Visitors to the gorge today can access the road via most vehicles (no RVs) or hike in on the one-mile (one-way) Capitol Gorge Trail, which passes petroglyphs, the Pioneer Register and the Tanks.
Difficulty
Low
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Nearby Parks Around Capitol Gorge
Compare nearby parks around Capitol Gorge when deciding whether to expand the route after this stop.
Nearby Points of Interest Around Capitol Gorge
Use nearby POIs to quickly expand your options beyond Capitol Gorge while the map context is still fresh.
0.0 mi away
Pleasant Creek Road
Pleasant Creek Road begins at the southern terminus of Scenic Drive, and is recommended only for high-clearance or 4WD vehicles.
0.0 mi away
Capitol Gorge Parking Area
The Capitol Gorge Parking Area sits near the end of the paved Scenic Drive and the beginning of the snaking dirt road to Capitol Gorge itself.
0.5 mi away
Navajo Sandstone
Stop here for a look at Capitol Reef's Najavo Sandstone.
0.7 mi away
The Egyptian Temple
The rock formation known as the Egyptian Temple is composed of soft Moenkopi Sandstone protected harder Shinarump Sandstone.
1.2 mi away
Hoodoos
The mysterious, sometimes human-like rock formations called "hoodoos" found in Capitol Reef National Park (and, more famously, in Bryce Canyon) are the result of differential erosion.
