Capital Reef Sunrise

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CAPITAL REEF NATIONAL PARK

 

Leaving Natural Bridges National Monument, we drove through the Glen Canyon National Recreational Area, then into Capital Reef National Park. Vast warping of rock created 65 million years ago by the uplifting of the Colorado Plateau is called the Waterpocket Fold. The park preserves the Fold and its eroded jumble of colorful cliffs, massive domes and twisted canyons. In addition to the geologic formations, there is archeological evidence of the ancient Fremont Culture and vestiges of a historic Mormon settlement. The area became a national park in 1971.

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Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
The Colorado River flows through the area
Walkway to Petroglyphs
Petroglyphs from Fremont Culture. They lived in the Fremont River valley from 700 until sometime after 1250.
Road into the park
With soaring white Navajo sandstone domes and nearly impassable ridges, sometimes called reefs, this scenic area gives the park its name.
The Castle
Capital Gorge drive
Capital Gorge Trail
We set off on the trail between deep canyon walls.
Pioneer Register - High on the cliffs is a list of names carved by the early canyon travelers(see next photo)
Mormon Pioneers carved their names on the rock face
More names
Capital Gorge Trail
As we drove out of the park, the sun was setting.
   
     


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