Capitol Reef : Day 1, Part 1

I love Capitol Reef State Park because so much of it is undeveloped, it has lots of cool geology, and is fun to explore. This visit we headed towards the Cathedral Valley area of the park. Unfortunately it rained heavily Friday before our visit, so washes that would have otherwise been dry this time of year were muddy. We still made the attempt and got halfway after several butt clenching stream and mud wash crossings. We were able to see lots of Bentonite hills, the Temple of the Sun and Moon, and Glass Mountain (made of huge, foot long gypsum crystals, way cool!). We will have to go back next time to see Cathedral Valley.

Colorful Bentonite ( a volcanic clay) hills :

Temple of the Sun and Moon (sandstone rock fins) :


Glass Mountain (from the NPS web site : Glass Mountain is a large, exposed mound of selenite crystals. Selenite is a variety of gypsum (CaSO4•2H2O) in the form of glassy crystals. Gypsum is a common mineral found in the sedimentary rocks of this area. The crystals of glass mountain are somewhat unusual in size and in the massiveness of the deposit.)

Glass Mtn & Sara and I foreground, Temple of the Sun background :

The crystals, it was so hard not to take souvenirs but we left all of it behind.

On the bumpy drive back, somehow she slept :

After a stop at the fruit orchards in the park for some cherry pie, we headed up to hike to Cassidy Arch.

The Overlook from the trail, we started the hike where that road is down there :

Cassidy Arch from afar:

Us standing on top of Cassidy Arch, it's huge!


To be continued...