Capital Reef National Park, Utah

We arrived in the little town of Torrey, just outside the park, set up, and headed out for the  Visitor Center.  Just a short drive away from our campsite and the local gas station, we rounded a bend and encountered the most amazing shift in scenery, it was actually a bit startling!  Suddenly there were red rock formations  and steep cliffs climbing to the sky on both sides of the road....and nothing else!  And we had not yet entered the park!

The entrance to Wonderland RV Park, Torrey, Utah

With a fraction of the name recognition of the other parks, it is a 100 mile long rust red wrinkle in the earth's crust, known as the Waterpocket Fold, created about 65 million years ago.   The Freemont River flows through the park, and the prehistoric Freemont Indian culture farmed and lived there until mysteriously leaving.  Years later, Mormon's discovered the irrigated land, and 10 families set up a self sustaining settlement and planted orchards, still in existence, now called Fruita. They remained on the land until WWII began.  So isolated, Clem wondered aloud why they would settle here.         

Not even in the park yet!

Twin Rocks

walking back from outlook point, you get some perspective

different colors of the rock strata, and Capital Dome visible in the distance

We took a 10 mile scenic drive, plus a side tour into the Grand Wash, which warned us not to enter if a storm were approaching!  We could  only imagine! But the drive into the narrow canyon was amazing.

Grand Wash

Near Fruita and the Mormon homestead, at the edge of a primitive campground (no hookups), we came across this herd of mule deer!  Well, you can imagine my glee, and haste in trying to get some photos.  Not quite sure what the woman behind them is taking a photo of, after jumping out of her car!