Trail Run Project Logo

A moderate climb along a mesa top leads to some of the best views on the western side of the park.


Your Rating: Rating Rating Rating Rating Rating      Clear Rating
Your Difficulty:
Your Favorites: Add To-Do · Your List
Zoom in to see details
Map Key

4.4

Miles

7.1

KM

80%

Runnable

6,446' 1,965 m

High

5,444' 1,659 m

Low

1,003' 306 m

Up

1,003' 306 m

Down

9%

Avg Grade (5°)

33%

Max Grade (18°)

Dogs No Dogs

Features Fall Colors · Geological Significance · River/Creek · Views · Wildlife

Overview

This is a moderately difficult out-and-back leading to a broad panorama, located in the Fruita area of the national park where no fees are required. Hiking to Fremont Gorge Overlook can be feel quite strenuous, but the reward is incredible views over the Waterpocket Fold and the Henry Mountains. This trail has no shade and can get very hot, so be sure to bring plenty of water.

Description

The parking for the Fremont Gorge Overlook Trail exists in a joint parking area with the blacksmith shop, located 0.8 miles from the Capitol Reef National Park Visitor Center along the Scenic Drive (Utah State Route 24).

From the parking area, the trail follows a service road about halfway up Johnson Mesa to a point where the Gifford House and campground enter the view. At this point, the trail follows singletrack to the right, ascending steeply through a rough section of trail to the gently sloping mesa top. For more than a mile, the path passes through open grassland, with a few juniper, yucca, and roundleaf buffaloberry sprinkled in. The remainder of the trail is a moderately steep climb up a slope of the Moenkopi Formation, ending at a viewpoint into the Fremont River Gorge to the west.

The view to the west into the Fremont Gorge is best in the morning. Far below, the river winds sharply through the stepped canyon, leaving pillars and turrets in its wake. Fremont cottonwoods and some Douglas firs add a touch of green to the brown, red, and gray rock walls. At the very bottom is the White Rim Sandstone, the oldest rock in Capitol Reef. The canyon also hosts the narrows of Sulphur Creek just to the north.

While the gorge is best viewed early in the morning, the expansive vista back to the east is best seen in the afternoon. From the Navajo Knobs to the north, the panorama includes the domes and fins above the Fruita Cliffs and the Sulphur Creek valley, Johnson Mesa and the Fremont River beyond, the campground and V-shaped cut that leads into Cohab Canyon, the Henry Mountains over Ferns Nipple and other prominent highpoints in the Navajo, and the Wingate cliffs striking off to the south parallel to the Scenic Drive. Because this view encompasses much of the variety of the Fruita area and the Waterpocket Fold, it is among the best on the west side of the park.

After taking in the expansive views atop the mesa, simply return to the parking area the way you came.

This content was contributed by author Rick Stinchfield. For a comprehensive running guide to Capitol Reef National Park and to see more by Rick, click here.

Flora & Fauna

Fremont cottonwoods and Douglas fir abound along the canyon floor.

Contacts

Shared By:

Hunter R

Trail Ratings

  4.0 from 4 votes

#3876

Overall
  4.0 from 4 votes
5 Star
25%
4 Star
50%
3 Star
25%
2 Star
0%
1 Star
0%
Recommended Route Rankings

#226

in Utah

#3,876

Overall
7 Views Last Month
432 Since Aug 30, 2016
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult

0%
0%
40%
20%
40%
0%

Photos

Orchards and Mountain
Feb 19, 2016 near Loa, UT
Gifford Homestead, where pies and ice cream are abundant.
Jun 28, 2017 near Loa, UT

0 Comments

Weather


Current Trail Conditions

Unknown
Add Your Check-In

Check-Ins

none
Welcome

Join the Community! It's FREE

Already have an account? Login to close this notice.