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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.
In November, the temperature on the South Rim varies from an estimated average high of 52ºF to an average low of 27ºF. During the same timeframe, temperatures on the canyon floor (i.e. by the river) average between 68ºF to 45ºF. Expect approximately 3º to 6º colder weather on the North Rim in November.
I hope you have a great trip to the Grand Canyon. Be sure to pack some warm clothes and check back with OhRanger.com to share your experience with our community of park-lovers! Have fun and be safe...
Yes, contact DNC Parks & Resorts at Yosemite's Lost & Found Department at (209) 372-4357, write DNC Lost & Found, P.O. Box 578, Yosemite National Park, CA 95389; or email yoselost@dncinc.com.
You should provide DNC with your name, address & phone number, a description of the item you lost. Please be sure to tell them where and when you lost the item if possible: Yosemite Valley vs. Tuolumne Meadows, Yosemite Lodge vs. The Ahwahnee, The Mountain Room vs. Yosemite Lodge in general. The more information you give them, the better chance they have of reconnecting you with your lost item.
This is actually not an easy question to answer as there are a lot of wonderful things to do. It really depends on how much time you have. The first thing you should do is just take a look. The canyon is magnificent and all the pictures you have seen don't do it justice. Take a walk around the canyon. I assume you will be visiting the south rim and around the rim there is a nice easy trail you can walk on to get different views of the canyon. If you are up for a more rigorous hike, go down into the canyon. Either the Bright Angel Trail or the South Kaibab Trail will provide you different perspectives of the canyon and you can hike as little or as much as you want. Get up early to watch the sunrise or find a spot to watch the sunset. At the beginning and the end of the day you can watch the colors of the canyon change and get the most dramatic views. And stop at one of the visitor centers and talk to the park rangers. There is a daily schedule of ranger led talks and walks where you can learn about Grand Canyon history, geology, animal and plant life, etc.
We were just there in May and had a wonderful time. I hope you do too.
Yes! The drive is about 140 miles and takes about three hours. Some travelers take US-89, which offers spectacular scenery but is very curvy and lacks guardrails. If time is an issue, we recommend Route 464, which is still scenic, but is an easier drive. Directions are available here. Either way, make a quick stop in East Glacier Park to visit the historic lodge and get a glimpse of the beautiful Two Medicine region of the park. Then, pick up US-2, which skirts the southern edge of Glacier National Park. The road follows the path of the Amtrak train line and offers nice scenery. Be sure to leave a little extra time to stop at the Goat Lick overlook, where you can watch mountain goats on the salt licks across the ravine. You can download a brochure about the goat lick here. And don't forget your binoculars!
