Capitol Reef National Park – Grand Wash Hike

on October 29, 2024

Introduction:

What? :

The Grand Wash Trail Hike in the Capitol Reef National Park takes you along a deep canyon dry riverbed with tall rock walls on both sides. The narrows section of this canyon is about half a mile long, but it is very beautiful and the rest of the wider canyon sections before and after.

This riverbed cuts its way through the Capitol Reef Fold through the high mountains and connect to the park main river, Fremont River, and highway 24 cutting the park west to east.

It is 4.7-mile flat (341 ft elevation gain) out-and-back, easy trail and it takes about 2 hours to complete.

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Where? :

There are two potential trailheads to this hike, on the west and east side of the canyon.

I started my hike from the main Grand Wash Trailhead located on highway 24, located 4.5 miles east from the park visitor center, 32.4 miles west from the city of Hanksville, Utah.

The parking lot is not big and fill up so people are parking their cars along the main road, on the shoulder. When I visit here mid-day there were hundreds of cars parking on both sides of the official trailhead. Make sure your car is completely of road and does not danger the passing traffic.

When I visit the park (Oct. 2024) the Scenic Dr heading from Fruita Campground to Cassidy Arch was closed to traffic from flood damage.

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When? :

The park is open year-round.

Spring and Late Fall tend to be the best times to hike here, it is not too hot or too cold. Although this is the less visited of Utah National parks it is relatively busy in spring through fall, it can be difficult to find parking at popular trailheads.

Plan for all types of weather.

The summer hot is intense and mid-day is easily more than 100f.

The summer can also bring monsoon rains and dangerous flash floods.

It is very dangerous to hike in the narrows during thunderstorms. If rain is in the forecast, avoid hiking the narrows at that time.

Winter are cold and you can have rainstorms and even snow is possible.

Due note 1:

This is a National Park, there is entrance fee of $20 per car or you can by a yearly pass for all America National Parks for $80. There is no entrance gate, you need to pay at the park visitor center.

Capitol Reef is open all day long, every day.

The visitor center is located at the intersection of UT-24 and the Scenic Drive is open daily, except for some major holidays.

Due note 2:

The visitor center has limited public WiFi.

There is very little to no cellular reception in the park. The closest towns with reception and internet are Torrey (11 miles west of the visitor center) and Hanksville (37 miles east of the visitor center).

Due note 3:

Parking at many trailheads fills by 9 am and remains crowded until after 4 pm. If you have the time, plan to hike early or late in the day.

This is very popular hike, and you will see many people along the trail.

Due note 4:

Bring a map on the trail and stay on established trails.

Always carry enough water with you.

Due note 5:

Pets are not permitted on hiking trails or in the backcountry.

Due note 6:

The wash is usually dry during much of the year, however, after heavy rain it can be very muddy.

Due note 7:

You can extend the trail with connections to visit Cassidy Arch or to Frying Pan Trail and Cohab Canyon.

Due note 8:

The canyon distance is 2.2 miles one-way, but because this is out and back hike you can walk as far as you’d like.

Due note 9:

This hike is perfect for families with small kids because it is fun, simple, easy, and safe (no height) and you choose how far you want to hike.

Due note 10:

There are no restrooms at the parking lot, No water, No cellular service.

You can find restrooms at the west side of the canyon parking lot, at the end of the scenic road.

The Hike:

In the beginning of the hike, you’ll see the wash crossing below the road near the parking area.

You’ll be following this wide riverbed of the wash for the entire hike.

After walking for about 0.8 miles in the wash you will reach a point where the canyon walls get closer and much higher, this is the narrow section of canyon.

This is not a slot canyon, but rather 20 ft or more wide with tall, impressive cliffs on both sides.

This is not that long section, less than half a mile, but it is very beautiful.

After the slot canyon the canyon open-up again although you can still find tall red-rock cliff sections and mountain peaks views as you continue hiking through the rest of the wash.

The second section of the wash is open and provide no shade in the middle of the day.

After hiking 2.2 miles from the trailhead, you will see a trail to your right.

This trail climb up the cliffs and leading to Cassidy Arch at the ridgeline.

That trail is another 3 miles (out and back) up the cliff on the right side of the canyon to the arch.

A very short walk after the Cassidy Arch trail fork and you will reach the end of the trail and the parking lot of the gravel road. This will be 2.3 miles from your hike start.

This is the place you need to turn around and hike back all the way to the hike starting point.

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