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Capitol Gorge Trail is a trail at Capitol Reef National Park. The trailhead is located at the end of Capitol Gorge Road, which starts at the end of the Capitol Reef Scenic Drive.

 

The Trail

The one-way trail is one mile long and is easy. At the end, there’s a spur trail that leads up to the Tanks (see below). Another more difficult trail leading up to the Golden Throne starts at the Capitol Gorge trailhead.

The beginning of the trail on the Capitol Gorge Trail at Capitol Reef National Park in Utah
The beginning of the trail
The beginning of the trail on the Capitol Gorge Trail at Capitol Reef National Park in Utah
The beginning of the trail

The Capitol Gorge Trail starts by winding along a dried up stream bed through the bottom of a canyon. The canyon begins to narrow quickly.

As the trail starts to narrow on the Capitol Gorge Trail at Capitol Reef National Park in Utah
As the trail starts to narrow
The narrow part of the trail on the Capitol Gorge Trail at Capitol Reef National Park in Utah
The narrow part of the trail
The narrow part of the trail on the Capitol Gorge Trail at Capitol Reef National Park in Utah
The narrow part of the trail

 

Pioneer Register

About a halfway into the trail in the narrow section of the canyon is the Pioneer Register. Look closely and you can see the names of several pioneers who etched their names into the rock as they passed through the area.

Pioneer Register on the Capitol Gorge Trail at Capitol Reef National Park in Utah
Pioneer Register
Pioneer Register on the Capitol Gorge Trail at Capitol Reef National Park in Utah
Names carved into the rock at Pioneer Register
Pioneer Register on the Capitol Gorge Trail at Capitol Reef National Park in Utah
Names carved into the rock at Pioneer Register
Pioneer Register on the Capitol Gorge Trail at Capitol Reef National Park in Utah
Pioneer Register

The trail begins to open up shortly after Pioneer Register. At one point, if you turn around and look back, you can see the Golden Throne.

As the trail starts to open up again on the Capitol Gorge Trail at Capitol Reef National Park in Utah
As the trail starts to open up again
Near the end of the trail on the Capitol Gorge Trail at Capitol Reef National Park in Utah
Near the end of the trail
Near the end of the trail on the Capitol Gorge Trail at Capitol Reef National Park in Utah
Near the end of the trail
Looking back towards the Golden Throne on the Capitol Gorge Trail at Capitol Reef National Park in Utah
Looking back towards the Golden Throne

 

The Tanks

Finally, at the end of the trail there’s a sign that points to the Tanks. You have to climb up a short but steep path to access a series of potholes filled with water. It was along this trail where I saw a huge wasp attack a locust and drag it to a hole.

Trail leading up to the Tanks on the Capitol Gorge Trail at Capitol Reef National Park in Utah
Trail leading up to the Tanks
A wasp attacking a locust on the Capitol Gorge Trail at Capitol Reef National Park in Utah
A wasp attacking a locust
The trail up to the Tanks on the Capitol Gorge Trail at Capitol Reef National Park in Utah
On the trail up to the Tanks

The Tanks were filled with water and are used by local wildlife for survival. It’s forbidden to touch the water because oils from human skin can contaminate the water for animals.

The Tanks on the Capitol Gorge Trail at Capitol Reef National Park in Utah
The Tanks
The Tanks on the Capitol Gorge Trail at Capitol Reef National Park in Utah
The Tanks
The Tanks on the Capitol Gorge Trail at Capitol Reef National Park in Utah
A small pool at the Tanks
The Tanks on the Capitol Gorge Trail at Capitol Reef National Park in Utah
The Tanks

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Owner of Paisadventure. World traveler. Chicago sports lover. Living in Colombia.

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