When we were planning our trip to the national parks in southern Utah, we had never heard of Capital Reef NP. We included it in our routing, because it was on the way from Bryce to Blanding on US 191.

What a pleasant surprise when we turned off Route 12 at the park entrance. Capital Reef got its name from a 100 mile long giant buckle in the earth's crust, known as the Waterpocket Fold. The Fremont River divides the Park into roughly 1/4 north of the river and 3/4 south of the river.

From the visitors Center there is an eight mile paved road running north and south along the west side of the Waterpocket Fold. Branching off this paved road are a number of unpaved spur roads.We explored two spur roads, Capital Gorge and Grand Wash. Another area near the park entrance and the Fremont River is a petroglyph site. The ranger said some of the writing could be at least 800 years old.