On our first full day in Capitol Reef we hiked the Najavo Knobs trail, the longest maintained trail in the park. The park lists this hike as 9.4 miles round trip (out and back) and 1,620 feet elevation gain, although if you account for the elevation gain/loss along the hike and not just the starting elevation (5,325 feet) and summit (7,000 feet), it’s closer to 2500 feet elevation gain. The gain is fairly gradual with the grade following the Kayenta sandstone strata and there is a short scramble at the end up to the knobs in the Navajo sandstone. There is fantastic sandstone and views the whole hike and along the way the trail passes a view of Hickman Bridge and Rim Overlook (about half way up - this is often a turn around point for hikers and a destination in its own right). Rim Overlook is 1000 feet above the valley floor with great views of Fruita and Highway 24 and the views just keep getting better as the trail continues. Navajo Knobs provides outstanding 360° views of the park and is one of the best viewpoints in Capitol Reef. We took an extended lunch at the knobs to take it all in before retracing our steps back to the trailhead. This was a terrific hike!