Capitol Reef

So, in the middle of the day July 13, 2015, we went to Capitol Reef National Park.
From the waterfall "Calf Creek Falls", where we were, it was very close - 1.5 hours drive by HWY 12 and HWY 24.
Places and the road was familiar to us - we were here last year.

When we turned off the road 12 on HWY 24 we saw rocks ahead...

In the first trip, we traveled to these places in the darkness, and then we did not come back.
And now, we have had the opportunity to correct the error.
*We were here also in 2019*

Landscapes around the road 24 are very beautiful.

There are many lookout points, such as the Panorama Point and Goosenecks Overlook, which is worth a look.
This is the area of the park, entrance to which is located a little further, on HWY 24, near the Fremont River.
*Capitol Reef National Park*
GPS-coordinates Visitor Center: 38°17'28.7"N, 111°15'41.0"W

Capitol Reef is nearby, the rocks stretches from south to north for 160 km.

Capitol Reef National Park was founded in 1971.
The park has a lot of cliffs from a white sandstone, which are similar to the Capitol Building of United States.
Therefore, the park has the same name.
*Capitol Reef - history*

The two continental plates of North America collided 65 million years ago.
The crust of planet was broken and rocky ridge (Waterpocket Fold) was formed.

That rocky barrier consists of a pile of rocks and cliffs, as a natural barrier.
The barrier resembles an ocean reef.

The colorful canyons, ridges, cliffs and rocks produce a tremendous impression.

But the tourists come to the park not only to see the rocks.
The Orchard is located next to the Reef, near the entrance to the park...
It is a green oasis in the desert, among the rocks.

We were going to spend the night in the camping "Fruita Campground", which is located in an apple orchard.
*Fruita Campground*
GPS-coordinates: 38°16'56.1"N, 111°14'48.0"W

It works on the principle: "first-come, first-served"...

It was a Saturday and we were afraid that the seats will not be ...
But we were lucky - we found a site for tent and went for a walk in the garden.

Unfortunately, the trees did not bloom in June already, but there were no fruits.
If you will be in this area in the autumn, the garden will give you fragrant apples and other fruits.
But even without apples were a lot of interesting things in the garden.
You can walk on the grass among the trees...

You can go to the river near a rocky wall...

You can look to the roe deers and birds...

There are 15 hiking trails in Capitol Reef National Park that start near the Fruita Campground.
*Capitol Reef N.P. - trails*

The most popular of them:
-- Cohab Canyon Trail;
-- Hickman Natural Bridge Trail;
-- Cassidy Arch Trail.

If you are tired, you can drive along the panoramic road - Scenic Drive.

We got into the car and drove...

The road "Scenic drive" passes near the cliffs, whose age is more than 100 million years.

The setting sun illuminated the Reef and rocks...

And the rocks shone like a gold...

The night was beautiful in a tent under the apple trees.
We looked at the starry sky and quickly fell asleep.

In the Sunday, June 14, 2014, we were going to get to the city of Kingman, AZ.
The road was not close (seven hours drive), so we left the campground, the orchard, and Capitol Reef National Park early in the morning.

We used roads 24, 62, 89,20 to the Highway 15.

A quiet Rest Area, by the river...

The forward, again...

The Highway 15.

We were covered with dust from the rocks in Utah and we wanted to swim.
A beach "Willow Beach", next with the Colorado River, on HWY 93, close to the Hoover Dam.
GPS-coordinates: 35°52'28.8"N, 114°39'44.3"W

The water of the Colorado River has added us strength and we were an hour later in the "Motel 6", in the city of Kingman, AZ, where we had booked a room for the night.
GPS-coordinates: 35°13'16.6"N, 114°00'25.8"W
The next morning, we went to the main goal of our trip - to the waterfalls "Havasu Falls"