Exploring the Burr Trail-It's about time!

mph

Expedition Leader
Have you ever been to a place before and just drove through? Have you wondered, where does that road go? Wonder what lies in that canyon? Where does that hiking trail go? My family and I have been on the Burr Trail numerous times before but never really stop to explore and enjoy. We were always passing through...We decided that we should not just pass through this time but explore by vehicle and foot. What we found didn't necessarily surprise us but made us smile and we found ourselves saying, "wow, that's awesome!" It was a grand time!

We met our good friend Shane and his son, Austin in the town of Torrey, Utah. Torrey lies as the gateway to Capital Reef National Park and the Boulder Mountain area. Highway 24 follows the Fremont River and cuts through the Waterpocket Fold that makes the reef of Capital Reef. Our course was set...My daughter, Lilly, was on navigation duty.

My daughter scanned the map...We were off!

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Unfortunately, its a dead end...

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Shane leading us back out of the canyon...

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We found the entrance to the park. Didn't see a Visitor's Center. Didn't see a ranger. Didn't see any gift shops. It was nice...

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The next day was pretty open...Shane stopped and spotted future spots to photograph. The lighting wasn't right and his son Austin wanted his attention, so we moved on. The vehicles pulled over many times as we spotted the "green" of the desert. The flowers were bloomin!

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The road headed south...

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What to do next? A meeting of the minds...

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Soon enough, we spotted the sign that lead us up...The Burr Trail is an old cattle trail used to move cattle to different ranges depending on the season. Now, it's a gravel road that leads one to the top of the Waterpocket Fold. Game on...

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Once on top, the desert sunset was grand!

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More to come...
 

mph

Expedition Leader
The following day was consisted of seeing an outstanding view, exploring some slots, and finding a storage granary 800 years old. It was quite the day...The weather was fantastic and so too was the company.

A nice dirt track lead us up canyon...Arches were all around us. We just had to spot them.

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The kids seem to like..."find the next cairn game" It lead us to the top and this view!

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The canyon caught our eyes on every corner. I drove right past two arches. Shane spotted them.

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The light was fantastic...Shane leading us on the way out. Me following...

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We found this slot...I spent a lot time shooting...The tree caught my eye. Thank god for digital. 50 pictures later...these are a few of my favorites. Lilly was having a blast!

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It was about time that I found this ruin. I couldn't find it on an earlier trip. It was unusual for the door of the granary to be on top. Photo courtesy: Shane Knight

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More to come...
 

Martinjmpr

Wiffleball Batter
I think Capitol Reef is one of those parks that tends to get "lost in the shuffle" between the more grandiose parks like Canyonlands, Arches, Bryce and Zion. But it's got some awesome hiking trails and some great back country areas.
 

mph

Expedition Leader
The final days were spent hiking, exploring, photographing, and planning our next trip down to the area. A gorgeous area with many more places to explore!

We were left with driving and exploring a canyon that caught our eye. It was a pleasure to drive and explore by foot. We even found a nice slot canyon.

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The canyon was green...well kind of...water was flowing from the natural spring within the sandstone walls.

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The kids and I enjoyed the peace and quiet.

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Shane lead the way up the slot. If you are ever in Flagstaff, look up the Shane Knight Gallery. Shameless plug...But, I think you would enjoy his work!

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The picture haunts me...A week to early...next week, all of them would be bloomin!

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We couldn't believe the large petrified wood in the area.

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More sandstone canyons...more wandering...more enjoyment!

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Arches everywhere...

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Looking for more petrified wood...it was all over!

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Lilly loved biking the last evening...The light was magical. Perfect temps, no wind...An outstanding desert evening.

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Until next time...
 

mph

Expedition Leader
Yes, it does! Great country...


I think Capitol Reef is one of those parks that tends to get "lost in the shuffle" between the more grandiose parks like Canyonlands, Arches, Bryce and Zion. But it's got some awesome hiking trails and some great back country areas.
 

Scott Brady

Founder
Awesome photo
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Thanks for the report. Such a stunning area in the world.
 

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