Mountain Biking
Capitol Reef, Waterpocket Fold, Land of the Sleeping Rainbow—all are colorful names to describe a park with many striking characteristics.
Waterpocket Fold, the main feature of the park, is the name of a 100-mile-long fold in the earth's surface. This uplift contains innumerable eroded basins or pockets that hold thousands of gallons of rainwater. These pockets of water have affected the history of humanity within the park and the flora and fauna of the region.
Entering the park from the west gives the most impressive view of the 1,000-foot-high stone barrier into which erosive forces have sculpted fascinating canyons, mesas, buttes and mazes. Once in the park, other astonishing panoramas await you.
Within a short distance of the visitor center, you will see Capitol Dome, Chimney Rock, the Goosenecks and the Egyptian Temple. Hickman Bridge, the Golden Throne and Capitol Gorge reward you after easy to moderate hikes. Prehistoric petroglyphs, the Fruita Schoolhouse, the Gifford Farmhouse and the Behunin Cabin speak of bygone eras and can be reached by car. The 20-mile round-trip Scenic Drive will take you past the Ripple Rock Nature Center and many of the park's features.
If you are seeking a remote wilderness experience, Capitol Reef has it. To the north of Route 24, dirt roads, which generally require high-clearance or 4-wheel-drive vehicles, lead into the park's north end through the heart of Cathedral Valley, an area of monolithic formations of Entrada and Curtis sandstones, some of which are 500 feet high. South of Route 24, graded roads, usually suitable for high-clearance vehicles, lead into some very fine hiking country. Besides good hiking opportunities, the southern part of the park also offers spectacular views of the folded strata of Capitol Reef and the Henry Mountains. Muley Twist Canyon is in the southern end of the park, as is Brimhall Bridge. Check with a park ranger before setting out for any of these more remote locations. Weather conditions may make the roads slick and impassable.
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Have a great time in the park and please come back and share your knowledge by answering questions of other members of our community!
Are the girls fans of the "Twilight" book series? If they are, they'll be excited to find out that Kalaloch is minutes away from Forks, the town where “Twilight” takes place. The nearby Kalaloch Lodge is surrounded by miles of peaceful beaches and beautiful forests that provide the ideal landscape for Twilighters to do some fantasy sightseeing.
Also consider booking a lake or rainforest tour or exploring these areas on your own!
If you're traveling in the fall, some great hotel deals are available at hotels in the region.
Some great tips from the Just for Kids section of our guide to Mount Rainier, Olympic and North Cascades are listed below:
Become a Junior Ranger.
Learn about the park’s plants and animals by picking up a Junior Ranger booklet ($1 donation requested) at any visitor center or ranger station. Complete the activities inside to earn your Junior Ranger badge.
Get your hands on a Discovery Pack.
Imagine how much better you could explore the park if you had nature guides, maps, a journal and binoculars! Borrow a Discovery Pack for a $5 donation at the Olympic National Park, Hurricane Ridge or Hoh Visitor Centers or the Storm King, Kalaloch or Quinault Information Stations.
Take a Hike.
Many short nature trails have self-guiding booklets and are great fun. Hike the 0.75-mile Hall of Mosses Trail in the Hoh Rain Forest or the one-mile Quinault Loop Trail at Lake Quinault in the Olympic National Forest.
See, Hear and Touch.
At the Children’s Discovery Room at the Olympic National Park Visitor Center in Port Angeles, you can hold a deer antler, feel a bit of animal fur or listen to a coyote howl. You can also dress as a ranger and visit a “mini” ranger station, solve giant puzzles, and more!
Walk with a Park Ranger.
Get the real scoop on nature during a guided walk. On a forest walk, see if you can find a banana slug, a salamander or maybe even a Roosevelt elk! On a tide pool walk, look for sea stars or watch an octopus turn colors.
During the summer season, commercial businesses offer tours originating from many area towns and cities. During the winter season, some businesses provide snowcoach tours for most park roads or bus transportation on the Mammoth Hot Springs to Cooke City road. For more information about commercial bus tours from outside the park, visit http://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/transbusn.htm.
If you plan on driving in the park, be sure to check the latest road conditions report, which includes road closures and construction updates, at http://www.nps.gov/yell/travelalert.htm. If you plan on bicycling, visit http://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/bicycling.htm for more information.
