Travel continues in Utah National Park, Colorado and Nebraska

Capit0l Reef National Park, UT

We found this park again to be altogether different from the others. We did a couple of hikes and drove the scenic drives, one inside the park that went about 10 miles and the other State Highway Route 24. We hiked to Hickman's Natural Bridge and arch about 1 mile in. On our way out we got to see a Big Horn Sheep that was on the next ridge and were able to take a picture.

In the park are several original structures of the community. The Clifford House and farm which today serves as a museum and gift shop where you can buy old fashion ice cream and homemade root beer. Another structure the Blacksmith shop, and a one room school house.

The school house was used up to 1931 and then became part of the National Park. At one time the enrollment of the school was around 25 which covered all grades. Very tight quarters with a large wood stove in the center of the class.

We stopped at a park near the museum to have a picnic lunch and observed the deer just grazing around the picnic area not bothering with the people there. They know they are safe and will be getting droppings.

We drove to Capitol Gorge and walked the trail out to the Pioneer Register which is where the early settlers scratched their names and dates of travel on the canyon wall, some go back to the 1880's. Along this trail are Petroglyphs that are possibly several hundred years old. We stayed a couple of days exploring this park and enjoyed it very much. Our campground was about 10 miles from the entrance to the park in Torrey, UT.

Sue and I decided after visiting Capitol Reef that we should continue onto Moab and complete the National Parks of Utah by visiting Arches and Canyonland and visiting the town of Moab.