Beyond Capitol Reef

by Rick Stinchfield, Lynne Stinchfield

Overview

The hiking and touring guide to the diverse and spectacular scenic highlights surrounding Capitol Reef National Park. From desert rambles to alpine adventures, the wonders of south-central Utah are compiled in one wide-ranging volume. Inside you will find: • Short, easy hikes to long, difficult day or overnight treks • Scenic drives on paved highways • Backcountry drives for standard SUVs up to rugged 4WD vehicles • Slot canyons to explore • Important rock art sites • Human history • Rock and fossil locations • Natural history of the region with an emphasis on geology Whether you are a first-time visitor or an old hand, this guidebook will broaden your Capitol Reef experience.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781934553572
Publisher:	Bower House
Publication date:	05/15/2019
Edition description:	2nd Edition
Pages:	352
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 1.10(d)

About the Author

Rick Stinchfield, and his wife, Lynne, have spent three months in each of the last six years volunteering and living in Capitol Reef National Park. He is the author or co-author of several articles on mineral collecting, as well as publications on recycling and non-motorized commuting. Rick and Lynne life in Pagosa Springs, Colorado. 

Table of Contents

Introduction 1

How to Use this Guide 3

Please Come Back and Visit Again 6

The Colorado Plateau 12

Flora and Fauna 17

Map of the Area 23

The San Rafael Swell 25

Northern San Rafael Swell 27

Route 72 27

Cleveland Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry 29

Cedar Mountain Road Trip 32

Buckhorn Draw and Wedge Overlook Loop Road Trip 36

Rochester Panel Rock Art Site Hike 46

Eastern San Rafael Reef 49

Red Jasper Rock Collecting Site 50

Three Fingers Canyon Petroglyph Site 51

Uneva Canyon Hike 54

Black Dragon Pictograph Site 55

Heart of the San Rafael Swell 57

Head of Sinbad Pictographs 57

Dutchmans Arch 59

Swasey's Cabin 60

Baptist Draw and Upper Chute Canyon Hike 61

Driving the Southwest San Rafael Swell 66

Hidden Splendor Mine 67

Reds Canyon Loop Tour 68

Rods Valley 69

Copper Globe Mine 70

Goblin Valley and Nearby San Rafael Reef Slot Canyons 73

Goblin Valley State Park 74

North Temple Wash Drive 76

Little Wild Horse and Bell Canyons Hike 78

Crack Canyon Hike 83

Ding and Dang Canyons Hike 87

Wild Horse Canyon Hike 94

Below the Henry Mountains 99

The Northwestern Region Below the Henry Mountains 100

Last Chance Desert Loop Road Trip 100

Side Trip to East Cedar Mountain 103

Cedar Mountain Hike 105

Mussentuchit Dunes and the Rest of the Last Chance Loop 106

Last Chance Desert Access from Highway 24 108

Highway 24 from Capitol Reef to Hanksville Road Trip 112

Dry Wash Canyon Hike 118

Red Desert Rim Hike 122

Bloody Hands Gap Hike 126

Factory Butte Road to Goblin Valley Road Trip 131

The Eastern Region Below the Henry Mountains 135

Horseshoe Canyon Hike 135

Hite to Hans Flat 4WD Road Trip 142

Happy Canyon 4WD Road Trip and Hike 146

Hog Canyon Hike 151

Burr Point Road Trip 154

The Southern Region Below the Henry Mountains 156

Swett Canyon Hike 156

Clay Point Circuit Road Trip and Hike 163

Big Thompson Mesa Track Loop 164

Clay Point Road and Starr Springs 166

Notom-Bullfrog Road from Highway 276 to Clay Point Road 168

Pedestal Alley Trail Hike 169

Notom-Bullfrog Road-Continued 171

Henry Mountains 173

Geology 177

Sandy Ranch to Little Egypt Road Trip 178

Sandy Ranch to Trachyte Creek Road Trip 184

Hanksville to Starr Springs Road Trip 189

Side Trip: Circle Route around South Mount Ellen 193

Little Egypt Geological Area 197

Mount Ellen Hike 198

Circle Cliffs and Slickrock 203

Burr Trail Road Trip 204

Side Trip to the Lampstand and Upper Trailhead for the Gulch 209

Wolverine Loop Road and Little Death Hollow Road Trip 213

Hiking Little Death Hollow and Wolverine Creek 215

Deer Creek Loop Hike 220

Boulder Mail Trail Hike 225

Lower Falls of Calf Creek Hike 233

Upper Falls of Calf Creek Hike 236

Hells Backbone Road Trip 238

Posey Lake Road Side Trip 240

Escalante Petrified Forest State Park 243

The Plateaus 249

Highway 12 (Scenic Byway 12) 251

Torrey to Escalante 252

Boulder Mountain 257

Terrace Trail Loop Hike 258

Blind Lake Loop Hike 264

Donkey Reservoir Road Trip 270

Boulder Mountain Summit Plateau Road Trip 272

Donkey Point Hike 276

Side Trip to Spectacle Lake and 4WD Road Trip 279

4WD Side Trip to Trail Point Hike 281

Fish Lake 288

Fish Lake and Fish Lake Hightop 289

Fish Lake Loop Road Trip 290

Fish Lake Hightop Aspen Tour Road Trip 295

Mytoge Mountain Road Trip 297

Lakeshore Trail Hike 299

Circumnavigating Fish Lake Hike and Bike 301

Pelican Canyon Hike 306

Doctor Creek Hike 310

Thousand Lake Mountain and Torrey Area 312

Thousand Lake Mountain Road Trip 313

Baker Ranch Access Road Trip 316

Flat Top Trail Hike 318

Hells Hole and Torrey Petrified Wood Site 321

Hells Hole Hike 322

Torrey Petrified Wood Site 326

Cooks and Meeks Mesas Loop Hike 328

Resources 334

Region Cross-Indexed by Activity 336