Welcome to Travel Tuesday! We’re (virtually) headed off to Capitol Reef National Park today for my first hike there on the Cassidy Arch Trail!
Cassidy Arch Trail in Capitol Reef National Park
Distance: 3.5 miles
Elevation: 670 feet
Difficulty: Moderate
Duration: ~2 hours (if you don’t accidentally get lost)
Trailhead Address: 38.255895, -111.232806
Parking: Small lot availableThere was a ginormous pothole that I didn’t want to chance driving Cordelia (my car) over, so I parked in a turnout and walked an extra 0.5-0.75 miles per way over to the trailhead, which featured a small parking lot and a bathroom.
Cassidy Arch is named for Butch Cassidy, and sits 400 feet above Scenic Drive and the Grand Wash Trail. The weather was pretty variable when I went, but the park ranger I spoke to said Cassidy Arch would be okay to climb that afternoon, so off I went!
Start on Grand Wash trail and head downstream. You’ll come across a sign leading to a branch-off on the left where the trail becomes a pretty steady climb up for some time with lots of switchbacks.
Continue following the cairns and you should be good to go! You’ll get a lot of beautiful views of the canyon as well as (of course) the arch itself.
I accidentally walked an extra 2 miles off toward a campsite…but at least I realized this before I got to the actual site? There are in fact cairns, but I got lost in the beauty of all the dramatic landscapes around me and just missed them. I managed to get back to my car before it got dark though, so that was a plus!
Cassidy Arch!
If you decide to go near the edge, please be careful! It can get slippery and it’s a longggg way down.
- Have you ever visited Capitol Reef National Park?
- How many extra unintended miles have you added to a hike?
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Capitol Reef is the only national park in Utah that I haven’t visited, but I’d love to see it one day. Your pictures are beautiful as always, and I especially love the picture of the cairns on and around the dead tree.
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Aww, thank you! I hope you get to go sometime! <3 Thanks so much! I think you’ll really like it there–it’s a beautiful park! I’d really love to go back sometime–there weren’t any fruits to pick in the orchards when I was there and I’d love to try that next time too (+ the pies!!) *-*
I was amazed that they managed to balance so many on that tree!
Oh wow that looks like a really cool place to hike. We have not been to that part of Utah. Cannot wait to travel again!
Me too! I really miss it. :[
Thank you for that wonderful tour. I’ve never been but now can’t wait to go!
I hope you get to go sometime! :]!
Wow. This is so incredibly beautiful. I love all your adventures!
Thank you! I miss them dearly but the memories are definitely nice to have (especially right now)!
Cassidy Arch is stunning! Your photos are amazing and you really seemed to capture the beauty of this area!!!
Slippery hikes scare me just a little. No edges for me lol!
Thanks so much! Definitely understandable on the edges! 😅
This place looks amazing!! Especially all that red rock. Also the path looks crazy.
hehe, it was a really fun hike! :]
I love Utah. The landscape is always so amazing. I love that deep pit, or at least it looks like a giant hole. LOL
haha, it is a hugeeee hole! I tried not to stand too close to the edge or that likely would’ve been the death of me (if I fell).
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Wow! I have never even heard of this location and it looks absolutely amazing! So many beautiful views I will definitely need to add it to my bucket list!
I think it’s definitely one of the more underrated national parks! I hope you get to go sometime–it’s worth a visit for sure! :]
Capitol Reef National Park looks amazing. I will be putting it on my list to visit this year. Such an informative post, thank you so much for sharing!
Yay! I hope you have fun when you go! :]
Utah and the landscape look unreal! I have heard soo much about this park (more for the fruit picking). It seems like national parks are going to be a solid travel option for 2020 or until its safe to travel abroad so this park is being added to our future itineraries for sure!
I was so sad that I didn’t get to do any fruit picking while I was there (but all the more reason to go back :P )! I’m glad they’re open again for visits/explorations–I hope you have fun when you go! :]
I totally need to go to Capitol Reef next time I go to Utah. It looks so beautiful and the hike sounds awesome. :)
Utah is definitely a beautiful state! <3 I hope you have fun when you go! :D
Wow! This place is on my list for so long and I really hope to visit soon. Thanks for sharing it!
Ahh, I hope you get to go soon too! This was a really fun park to explore!
I have yet to get to this National Park but it looks amazing! Thanks so much for sharing!! Saving this for when we get there!
Yay! I hope you have fun when/if you go! :]!
Farrah recently posted…Thai Milk Tea with Brown Sugar Boba
What a great hike with epic views! I love the red hues in the rocks and the natural arches. I haven’t been to this area of Utah but would love this hike!
I loved all the colors too! Utah has sooo many pretty places to visit–I’d love to go back someday to explore more!
I didn’t know about this National Park. Looks so beautiful and I want to visit next time!
I hope you get to go sometime! :]
I have not been to Capital Reef NP but it has moved higher on my list as of late. The Cassidy Arch Trail looks like the perfect trail for me.
Yay! I hope you like it there! :]
I’m almost sad we don’t have these amazing hikes in the Netherlands! Those views are absolutely gorgeous.
That’s the beauty of the world though–so many gorgeous places to explore! <3 I'd love to visit the Netherlands someday!!
This place is like magic!
Would love to do a hike on the Cassidy arch trail!
It is! :D I hope you get to go sometime!