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About Capitol Reef National Park
Letter from the Superintendent:
Experience Capitol Reef National Park - a rugged, beautiful country
where ancient, multi-colored rock layers are exposed by a massive
fold in the Earth's crust. Deep narrow canyons, great expanses
of slickrock, and spectacular vistas are all part of the experience
offered here.
We ask you to tread lightly on these special resources. More and
more people visit the park every year, and the impacts of more
use are becoming increasingly evident. This is your park; please
treat it with kindness and respect.
My staff and I hope you have a safe, fun and educational visit
to Capitol Reef. We are here to help. Please contact any of our
staff with your questions or needs.
Charles V. Lundy
Superintendent
Erosion Carves the Scenery at Capitol Reef
The dramatic scenery of Capitol Reef is the result of erosion
during recent geologic time. River erosion, flash floods, rock
falls, and other erosional events have shaped this landscape into
cliffs and slopes, arches and bridges, spires and monoliths, and
castles.
Round black volcanic boulders were carried here by stream outwash
and landslides from Ice Age glaciers on Boulder and Thousand Lake
Mountains.
The tanks in Capitol Gorge formed partly as solution water pockets
in soft sandstone and partly from the plunging and pooling effects
of running water. Water pockets found in drainages may also be
called tinajas. Some are deep and large enough to be permanent
water sources, crucial to wildlife.
Grand Wash, like all canyons, was carved by running water. The
canyon walls, only 16 feet apart in the narrows, rise 600 feet.
During severe flash floods, raging waters fill the normally dry
narrows to a depth of 13 feet or more.
Hickman Bridge has a 133 foot span and stands 125 feet above the
canyon floor. Natural arches and bridges both owe their origins
to the erosive action of water and rock falls, but bridges span
natural watercourses.
For More Information
- Contact
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- Capitol Reef National Park
HC 70 Box 15
- Torrey, Utah 84775
Phone: 435-425-3791
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Park Profile
