On to Capitol Reef

We took Utah Rte 12 from Bryce Canyon over to Capitol Reef, actually Torrey, Utah where the campground is located.  The drive was magnificent!  It is labeled a Scenic Byway for good reason.  We took it many years ago with 4 motorhomes and a rental car and remembered it was great, but wow!  It's about 100 miles of winding, narrow road that transitions constantly from deserty, wooded, miles of slick rock, incredible mesas and buttes, canyons cut through solid rock, to meadows in the most unlikely places, then climbing up through Aspen forests that are absolutely gleaming with their fall colors of yellow and orange, sometimes so bright it almost blinds you, with vistas that take your breath away.

Climbing through the rock

From high above looking down on our road

Nancy and CT making their way down the hill
surrounded by slickrock

Climbing, climbing, and narrow!

Around the other side

Looking down from the road

Vistas as we crest a mountain

Up through the Aspen with storm clouds
in the background

This was just what we saw on the drive!  Amazing scenery.  We got settled into the campground and planned our next day.   We went separate directions, Nancy and CT to do the Burr Trail, but ended up on a 4WD trail that almost ate their lunch, but they successfully got through it.  We went on a hike to Cassidy Arch, named after Butch Cassidy who had a hideout back in the canyon.

Entering the canyon

View of the wash from the path

The intrepid hiker:-)

We all met and had dinner together after an enjoyable day for both with a bit of relief for CT and Nancy after conquering their goat path of a road.  Now that they are experienced off-roaders, we'll have to see if we can get them on some of Moab's trails.