mom's hiking list: July 5, 2021 Capitol Reef

We picked a few hikes to do at Capitol Reef National Park and we probably would have done more, or ones that we haven't done before, if it hadn't been so hot during the day. A lot of the hikes lack shade, but we found some good hikes and some good shade too, not always combined. The first hike after we got there was the Hickman Bridge. Ethan, Mark, and I were on this trip and the three of us were the hikers!

Hickman Bridge

According to the information we picked up at the visitor's center this hike is rated as moderate, is .9 miles one way, of course that means it is nearly 2 miles since you aren't just going to go to the natural bridge and stay, you've got to go back!, and has an elevation gain of 400 feet. That is why it is in the moderate category.

This is a hike that we did when we here here a couple of years ago in November, but it is convenient and pretty and was worth repeating. This is where you start. It is a well traveled trail, lots of hikers here.

Here is a map of a large area and you can see the trail to the Hickman bridge is a short one! It is on the top right quadrant of the map.

There are stairs you climb. And switchbacks that give you that elevation gain.

There are interesting rocks, that make you puzzle over the geology of this area.

A survey marker.

It was completely dry while we were there but there had been rain in the previous weeks and we saw this little puddle.

Here is the natural bridge!

And here we are while a nice person took a picture of us. I don't know why it looks like we are leaning and about to tip over. optical illusion! We were just standing there.