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Jerry Pillarelli | profile | all galleries >> Travel and Nature; Sites by State >> US Travel; by Trip, by State >> Utah >> Capitol Reef National Park – Utah >> Capitol Reef National Park – Strike Valley – Utah (2019) tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Capitol Reef National Park – Strike Valley – Utah (2019)

Images of Capitol Reef National Park, Strike Valley – Central Utah, taken in July 2019.

The 100 mile long Waterpocket Fold in Capitol Reef National Park is a wrinkle in the earth’s crust which formed over millions of years. The east side of this fold is primarily made up of limestone which creates a white ridge from north to south along the west side of the Strike Valley.

Traveling along the Notom-Bullfrog dirt road for 33 miles the views of the fold are amazing. A white range stretches along the west side of the road for as far as the eye can see. A long smooth ridge yields to areas that are rugged, twisted formations and pose a formidable barrier to the west. A gap appears in this seemingly impenetrable wall and a side road leads to the Burr Trail Switchbacks which takes you up and over the fold into the Muley Twist Canyon. But to a person who enjoys driving it is the switchbacks that are a pleasant surprise. Back and forth the road winds with a 180 degree curve at the end of each straight. Slowly you weave your way upward to the top of the fold and over into the canyon on the other side. Not quite as formidable as the Moki Dugway switchbacks I drove in southern Utah several years ago but thrilling nonetheless.
The Waterpocket Fold and the Golden Throne (middle left) from the east in Capitol Reef National Park
The Waterpocket Fold and the Golden Throne (middle left) from the east in Capitol Reef National Park 		Part of the 100 mile long limestone fold in the earth on the east side of Capitol Reef National Park
Part of the 100 mile long limestone fold in the earth on the east side of Capitol Reef National Park		 Sandstone and limestone formations on the east side of Capitol Reef National Park
Sandstone and limestone formations on the east side of Capitol Reef National Park		 Limestone uplift formation from the east side of Capitol Reef National Park
Limestone uplift formation from the east side of Capitol Reef National Park		 A portion of the 100 mile long Waterpocket Fold from the east side of Capitol Reef National Park
A portion of the 100 mile long Waterpocket Fold from the east side of Capitol Reef National Park
Eroded cliffs along the Strike Valley on the east side of Capitol Reef National Park
Eroded cliffs along the Strike Valley on the east side of Capitol Reef National Park		 Limestone and sandstone formations along the east side of Capitol Reef National Park
Limestone and sandstone formations along the east side of Capitol Reef National Park		 Large Sagebrush growing in the Strike Valley on the east side of Capitol Reef National Park
Large Sagebrush growing in the Strike Valley on the east side of Capitol Reef National Park		 View of the east side of the Waterpocket Fold in Capitol Reef National Park
View of the east side of the Waterpocket Fold in Capitol Reef National Park		 Limestone range as seen from the Strike Valley on the east side of Capitol Reef National Park
Limestone range as seen from the Strike Valley on the east side of Capitol Reef National Park
Rugged portion of the Waterpocket Fold on the east side of Capitol Reef National Park
Rugged portion of the Waterpocket Fold on the east side of Capitol Reef National Park		 Flower blooming in the Strike Valley on the east side of Capitol Reef National Park
Flower blooming in the Strike Valley on the east side of Capitol Reef National Park		 Worn sandstone formations in the Strike Valley on the east side of Capitol Reef National Park
Worn sandstone formations in the Strike Valley on the east side of Capitol Reef National Park		 Flower blooming in the Strike Valley on the east side of in Capitol Reef National Park
Flower blooming in the Strike Valley on the east side of in Capitol Reef National Park		 Remains of a tree in the Strike Valley on the east side of Capitol Reef National Park
Remains of a tree in the Strike Valley on the east side of Capitol Reef National Park
Abandoned cattle pen in the Strike Valley on the east side of in Capitol Reef National Park
Abandoned cattle pen in the Strike Valley on the east side of in Capitol Reef National Park		 View of the Burr Trail Switchbacks through the Waterpocket Fold in Capitol Reef National Park
View of the Burr Trail Switchbacks through the Waterpocket Fold in Capitol Reef National Park		 Looking east into the Strike Valley and the Burr Trail Switchbacks in Capitol Reef National Park
Looking east into the Strike Valley and the Burr Trail Switchbacks in Capitol Reef National Park		 Dirt road making up part of the Burr Trail Switchbacks in Capitol Reef National Park
Dirt road making up part of the Burr Trail Switchbacks in Capitol Reef National Park		 Sandstone formation in the Strike Valley on the east side of Capitol Reef National Park
Sandstone formation in the Strike Valley on the east side of Capitol Reef National Park
Formations seen upon entering the Burr Trail Switchbacks in Capitol Reef National Park
Formations seen upon entering the Burr Trail Switchbacks in Capitol Reef National Park		 View of Muley Twist Canyon to the west of the Burr Trail Switchbacks in Capitol Reef National Park
View of Muley Twist Canyon to the west of the Burr Trail Switchbacks in Capitol Reef National Park		 Ridge in the Muley Twist Canyon in Capitol Reef National Park
Ridge in the Muley Twist Canyon in Capitol Reef National Park		 The Muley Twist Canyon in Capitol Reef National Park
The Muley Twist Canyon in Capitol Reef National Park		 Arch forming over time in the Muley Twist Canyon in Capitol Reef National Park
Arch forming over time in the Muley Twist Canyon in Capitol Reef National Park
Sandstone formation at the Muley Twist Canyon entrance to the Burr Switchbacks in Capitol Reef National Park
Sandstone formation at the Muley Twist Canyon entrance to the Burr Switchbacks in Capitol Reef National Park		 Limestone and sandstone formations in the Muley Twist Canyon in Capitol Reef National Park
Limestone and sandstone formations in the Muley Twist Canyon in Capitol Reef National Park		 Formations above the Muley Twist Canyon in Capitol Reef National Park
Formations above the Muley Twist Canyon in Capitol Reef National Park		 Brush on the side of the road in the Strike Valley of Capitol Reef National Park
Brush on the side of the road in the Strike Valley of Capitol Reef National Park		 Scored sandstone formation in the Strike Valley of Capitol Reef National Park
Scored sandstone formation in the Strike Valley of Capitol Reef National Park

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