Capitol Gorge Trail
Capitol Gorge Trail
4.5
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4.5
200 reviews
Excellent
127
Very good
60
Average
10
Poor
3
Terrible
0
TravelBoss79
Salt Lake City, UT140 contributions
Sept 2020
Fun trail, not too tough. Amazing views. Very scenic. The short (0.2 miles) side trek to "The Tanks" is uphill and has a few switchbacks and slippery spots, but worth the time and effort. Don't expect to see water all the time in those "tanks", ha ha. We encountered a few hikers that were disappointed not finding water in the tanks. Only when it has been raining pretty much.
Written 16 September 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jeremiah Z
Roseville, MN3,056 contributions
Apr 2023 • Friends
We did most of the dayhikes in the Fruita area of Capitol Reef NP. We agreed this hike is probably the least scenic and interesting of any we did. Definitely skip the spur trail to the Tanks. About the most uninteresting point of interest in the park.
Written 6 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bill K
Mantorville, MN6,307 contributions
Aug 2020
This was one of my favorite parts of Capitol Ref National Park. This trail is at the far end of the scenic drive. I saw a number of cars turning around and heading back. They missed out on a terrific experience. The drive through the gorge is amazing with sheer cliffs and beautiful rock formations. You will definitely want to hike up to the Tanks from the trailhead. It is a fairly steep hike, but well worth your time.
Written 30 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TravelerCentralFLA
Clermont, FL1,777 contributions
May 2022
Capitol Gorge is a great slot canyon hike along the wash. The wash can be quite sandy and even though there is not a significant elevation change that makes the hiking more work at times. There are some really great things to see in the slot canyon including petroglyphs, the pioneer register, and the side hike up to the tanks. The views of the canyon are beautiful as well. It is a pretty straightforward hike and accessible for most people. Do be aware that the drive to the parking area is along an unpaved narrow road. It does not require 4 wheel drive; we saw people driving in in sedans. I felt better to have a vehicle with higher ground clearance.
We did take the side hike up to the tanks. The tanks are bowls worn into the rock that hold water. Only the upper tank had water in it when we were there. The hike up to the tanks has some elevation change and at times you have to really look around to find the cairns and stay on the trail. However, the views of the tanks as well as down into the canyon are worth the extra effort.
I highly recommend a hike on the Capitol Gorge Trail.
We did take the side hike up to the tanks. The tanks are bowls worn into the rock that hold water. Only the upper tank had water in it when we were there. The hike up to the tanks has some elevation change and at times you have to really look around to find the cairns and stay on the trail. However, the views of the tanks as well as down into the canyon are worth the extra effort.
I highly recommend a hike on the Capitol Gorge Trail.
Written 25 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Melaney68
Chesapeake Beach, MD11,327 contributions
Apr 2023 • Couples
You drive on a dirt road to a parking lot and then walk through the slot canyons where you will see petroglyphs and writing on the walls. We hiked to the emerald pools but found them to be anticlimactic. We should have saved all of our energy for Cassidy Arch. Now that was a hike!
Written 29 May 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
superiorshores
Minneapolis, MN25 contributions
Aug 2017 • Couples
Some preliminary notes: 1. No fee to enter the Park, 2. You have to take the scenic road to access the gorge.
3. The scenic road starts about 2 miles into the park past the ghost town of Fruita.
4. There is $10 cash fee to travel the scenic road. Its a lock box.
5. Travel the scenic road about 10 miles to the Capitol Gorge road .
6. Drive 2.5 miles down the Capitol Gorge road, its a little rough but all types of vehicles made it.
7. Parking lot with restroom at trail head.
This is Great trail through a canyon. It is a flat dry trail. Canyon walls are straight up 300' There are some petroglyphs and a pioneer register on the rocks that you can see. Hike to the Tanks sign and turn around. (about 1.3 miles one way) It is not worth the .1/2 mile one way uphill the the tanks, they are just potholes in the rocks and the hike all uphill.
3. The scenic road starts about 2 miles into the park past the ghost town of Fruita.
4. There is $10 cash fee to travel the scenic road. Its a lock box.
5. Travel the scenic road about 10 miles to the Capitol Gorge road .
6. Drive 2.5 miles down the Capitol Gorge road, its a little rough but all types of vehicles made it.
7. Parking lot with restroom at trail head.
This is Great trail through a canyon. It is a flat dry trail. Canyon walls are straight up 300' There are some petroglyphs and a pioneer register on the rocks that you can see. Hike to the Tanks sign and turn around. (about 1.3 miles one way) It is not worth the .1/2 mile one way uphill the the tanks, they are just potholes in the rocks and the hike all uphill.
Written 4 September 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
belleretraite
Montreal, Canada7,762 contributions
Apr 2015 • Friends
This section of the Park is the one we enjoyed the most ! It starts with the Scenic Drive on a paved road , then there is a 2 miles drive on a sand road which is extremely scenic and then there is an easy and impressive hike at the bottom of the Gorge for a bit less than 2 hours . After that we took a picnic at the parking area under a roofed shelter . Surprisingly these facilities are not shown on the official map of the Park but they are there and they are very convenient with also the presence of bathrooms facilities ! Even bactracking toward the Visitor center was very interesting !
Written 7 June 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gr8Accountant
239 contributions
A lot of reviewers are getting this trail mixed up with the Grand Wash trail. Some even mention driving through Grand Wash. Both this wash and Grand Wash are trails that you hike. The trailhead for this wash, Capitol Gorge Wash, is at the end of a long, narrow dirt road accessed at the end of the Scenic Drive. There is a parking area before you embark on the dirt road with a picnic area and restrooms. This wash is most interesting for the fact that it was the main road across the area, when passable, and many of the early settlers used it. Many of them left their names and dates in the sandstone cliffs. Very interesting to see. For scenic grandeur, this wash trail is not as spectacular as the Grand Wash trail but is definitely worth visiting. I did not hike it to the end as I did Grand Wash. At some point I felt like I'd seen the best of it and turned around.
Written 2 May 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Steph G
Herts UK182 contributions
Oct 2014 • Couples
My husband and I walked this trail and walked up to the tanks. We also followed the wash for a mile or so past the tanks. It was very quiet and beautiful and the gorge is wonderful to walk through. The tanks are also worth the extra hike. It is a pretty easy walk, although the trail up to the tanks is on sandstone (slick rock) and so walking boots are recommended. There are restrooms at the start of the trail.
Written 8 November 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mikez428
North Kingstown, RI537 contributions
Jul 2018 • Family
My wife read something about the Pioneer Register and wanted to go see.it. We spoke to the Rangers and headed out for Capitol Gorge Trail. What an amazing adventure. You start out by driving to the trail head, about 2 miles on dirt "road" between very high rock walls on both sides. It was kind of like driving thru the Narrows in Zion. It was so cool just to drive this section. As long as you have a car or vehicle with high clearance you should be fine. Then we hike in about a mile. There are Petroglyphs and the Pioneer Register but the drive and the hike are very cool as well. Definitely a must see.
Written 5 August 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I would like to see the milky way while at this park. Where would be the easiest scenic drive or hike to see it without all the light pollution? What peak hours would be best? Thanks in advance!
Written 9 January 2015
I would like to see the milky way while at this park. Where would be the easiest scenic drive or hike to see it without all the light pollution? What peak hours would be best? Thanks in advance!
Written 9 January 2015
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