Tag: Cohab Canyon Trail

Cohab Canyon Trail

Capitol Reef National Park

This is the first time Greg and I have hiked a trail where I have found myself saying, “Nancy, you are an absolute idiot for doing this.”

It wasn’t because the trail was particularly difficult. It wasn’t.

I was simply feeling tired and shaky. The beginning of the hike involved climbing 440 feet up a mountain, and there were times when I paused on the trail and tried not to let dizziness overcome me.

Partway up the mountain

That said, once the hard part was over, we had a great time wandering through the canyon.

Through the canyon and heading toward the last 300-ft climb to the overlooks
View from North Overlook
View from South Overlook
Greg, enjoying the view
The  view from the other direction
Heading back down the mountain

After we finished the hike, we stopped by the Gifford House and purchased one of their famous pies (we bought cherry).

Scenic Drive

Next, we hopped in the car and drove the 8-mile scenic drive.

Capitol Gorge Road

At the end of the Scenic Drive is a gravel road called Capitol Gorge Road. Thankfully, it is only about a mile long because it is narrow with blind corners and rock walls — not Greg’s cup of tea.

Capitol Gorge Trail

At the end of Capitol Gorge Road is Capitol Gorge Trail. This is an easy and fun hike through a slot canyon.

Along the trail, Native Americans carved petroglyphs into the canyon walls.

And pioneers carved their names into the canyon walls as they passed through.

The Pioneer Registry
There is a list of names about halfway up the rock wall. Who knows how they managed it!
It’s hard to get a sense of how tall those rock walls are without people in the photo to add perspective.

I took a few more photos of the scenery on the way back to the campground.