Pleasant Creek East (Capitol Reef National Park) - 9/27/23

Pleasant Creek

Pleasant Creek and surrounding Sandstone

Fall Colors at Pleasant Creek

Following Trail out to Petroglyphs

The third day we were in Capitol Reef NP, we drove down the Scenic Drive for 8 miles and turned right onto the Pleasant Creek Road. This dirt road went for 2.8 miles then ended at the Pleasant Creek Trailhead. (On the way, there was a road that turned off to the left for a park Field Office.) We parked and started down the trail across the road to reach the creek. It wasn't long before the scenery became a beautiful autumn portrait. The creek runs year long and today, it seemed to be at a very comfortable level ... not dry nor overflowing. As we hiked, we saw evidence of recent flooding but that didn't ruin the scene. We followed a trail over to the walls on the north side of the creek and came to an old fence.

Old Fencing

Side Slot

Petroglyph Panel

One of many creek Crossings

This area used to be used for free range cattle. Along the wall, we found an interesting side slot. Then we hiked on up the hill along the trail and came to a wall of old (and new) petroglyphs. It was difficult to really decipher which was which sometimes. After this, we continued following the trail as it neared the creek. Terri W. counted the creek crossings. It was around 30 for the entire out and back hike. A few hikers tried very hard not to get wet! That didn't last very long. Most of us finally realized that it's just easier to step in the water and get your feet wet. Unfortunately, a few hikers in the group of nine only had one pair of shoes. The night after this hike, they had to do a lot of work to get the shoes dry enough to be able to wear them the next day!

Pleasant Creek

Pleasant Creek

Timid at First - Then, not timid at all.

Creek and Sandstone

The trail followed the creek for four miles heading east toward the park boundary. At four miles out, we still had not reached the fence. We thought that maybe the fence had been washed away and we turned around. When I got home, I saw that we were still a half mile inside the boundary. Maybe the park has better equipment than an old Garmin GPS but every trail we hiked this week was longer than advertised. (Not a big deal. Just sayin'.) We turned around and started back after taking a leisurely break. David H. decided he wanted to explore a large alcove on the south side of the creek. Everyone else but one passed on that and continued back to the cars. David reported that he was very impressed with the size of the slot and alcove beyond.

Shady Bend

One Waterfall

Looking for the park boundary Fence

Colorful Boulders

On the way back, the larger group took as short a route as they could find but it was still necessary to follow the creek. We stayed on the south side of the creek and beelined back to the trailhead. It was a long and tiring day but beautiful. The water felt soooo good!

P.S. The park service asks that you not follow side trails. However, that is an impossible task! There are no cairns, signs or indicators on which trails are the ones that they recommend!

Stats: 8 miles; 650' gain; 5.5 hours

Creek and Sandstone

On the way Back

Creek Crossing

Capitol Reef Trail Overview

Cohab Canyon / Cassidy Arch / Grand Wash (Pt. to Pt.) - Capitol Reef National Park - 9/26/23

The Frying Pan Trail

Cassidy Arch

Trail Signs

Climbing the first Staircase

With David Hardy in the lead, our first hike of the week was a great one! It ended up being our longest hike and my favorite. After presetting the cars, we started from the Fruita Campground, crossed the scenic drive and started up the trail to Cohab Canyon. This was a steep zigzagging, stair-stepping climb up the side of the hill until we made our way to the top of a narrow, beautiful canyon. The trail dropped into the canyon and we found ourselves between very tall walls with the breadth of about 20 to 50 feet. In Cohab Canyon, there are several side slots to explore. The slots each had some sort of dry fall in them which made them unique. Reaching a wide area, a trail sign prompted us to continue toward the Grand Wash while it also showed the way to Hickman Bridge Trailhead at the bottom of the canyon. We were happy that we didn't get shuttled onto the Hickman Trail.

Capitol Reef Escarpment with Fruit Orchard Below

Friends in Cohab Canyon

Exiting Cohab Canyon

Rock Formation

Next, we followed the trail through desert terrain up and over a low ridge. The trail was very readable. Rock formations were everywhere before we dropped all the way down into a main wash. Another sign told us where the trail went next ... the Frying Pan! We weren't very hot to start but, by the time we finally got up the very long ascent ramp to the next summit, we were warm. I can imagine that this trail would be sweltering in the summer time. (DON'T DO IT!) Our temps were in the mid-70's but we still got warm during the ramp climb and sought out the shade 2 or 3 times. Younger folks would climb by us like they were on a mission. They must have stopped later because we saw most of them at Cassidy Arch later on!

JT and Terri on the Frying Pan Trail

Frying Pan Scenery

Hoodoo

Cliffs in Unison

The scenery from the Frying Pan Trail was amazing. It was like we were plopped right into the middle of acres and acres of red and white sandstone with layers and knobs all around. For the park's simple explanation of the surrounding geology go to the link below:

https://www.nps.gov/care/learn/nature/geology.htm

After all, southern Utah is all about geology, rock layers, the Colorado Plateau and ... well, you get the drift. The geology is all right there in front of your eyes. Our minds were swimming with wonder. As far as wildlife goes, we saw a lot of lizards and ground squirrels. ... I read that the park service is trying to reintroduce bighorns to the park but we didn't see any.

Starting to get Warm

A little Shade Break

Looking back to the wash we Crossed

Navajo Knobs

We slowly climbed the ramp with a conic hill in front of us. (See below.) The trail wound around this hill on the right then continued up some more. Finally, we summited thinking maybe some shade would give us a nice break area. There was no shade so we continued down the other side. It was clear we were very high up when we got a view of the park's scenic drive wayyy below us. The trail descended a little but wound around the side of the ridge just as much. Soon, we could see hikers on a ridge to our west. Hmm. A little further and we came to the Cassidy Arch trail junction sign. Aha! Those hikers were on the arch trail and we all quickly made the decision to make the right turn and follow a stream of hikers that were coming up from the Grand Wash.

Trail leads around to the right of this.

The Scenic Drive Below

Descending from the Frying Pan

Desert Scenery

The arch trail was mostly slab sandstone marked by rock cairns. It was easy to follow but much of it was an ascent. Our legs thought ascending was done for the day! Nope. Arriving at the arch, I was a little taken aback. No one told me that it was a sunken arch!! Don't look up! Look down! An audience of hikers were sitting on the side of a very large hole and gazing down at the arch that was made by one side of the hole being open. There was a rock climber rappelling down into the hole next to the arch so there was that also to watch. Our group all decided to take their break here then head back to the main trail. We took a good shade break before we continued our descent.

Carved steps on way to Cassidy Arch

Cassidy Arch

Cassidy Arch "Audience"

Rita on Arch Trail

The descent to the Grand Wash started slowly then picked up the elevation loss very quickly as we dropped down the staircase. We connected with the wide flat wash turning left and started a 2.5 mile walk out. Using the trails over the curvy turns helped out a bit but those two miles seemed never ending. Except, ... for the narrows section. The tall walls came close together and had us curving left, right and left. We passed several hikers who had come from the Grand Wash trailhead where we had left our cars. We just hiked the two miles! Finally, we saw the cars and finished out the Grand Wash by crossing a drainage and climbing up the opposite bank. One by one, we finished the hike and got into our cars.

Found some Shade

Ripple Rock

Passing the Arch Overlook

Grand Wash Below

It had been a long day but totally worth the effort. 

Alternatives to this hike would be to hike Cohab Canyon from the campground to Hickman Bridge Trailhead, Grand Wash (west) to Cassidy Arch and back, or, a point to point from the campground to Grand Wash (west). Perhaps the last choice would be better in the other direction ... but there is that staircase climb from the Grand Wash to Cassidy Arch. Whatever you choose to do, do it safely with lots of water!

Stats: 9 miles; +1600' gain; -1700' loss; 5.75 hours

The Staircase Down

Hiking Grand Wash

Grand Wash Narrows

Capitol Reef Trail Overview