Cathedral Valley 2.0

A great trail through majestic Cathedral Valley with hoodoos, buttes and other interesting geologic formations.

This trail starts from Highway 24, loops through the northern part of Capitol Reef National Park then returns to Highway 24 in a different location. 

The eastern leg is suitable for almost any vehicle, although it may have washboarding.  This leg is the actual Cathedral Valley.  The western leg is somewhat rocky and bumpier and also requires fording Fremont River.  It is a nice trip if you simply drive the eastern leg to where the road climbs out of the valley then return the same way, thus avoiding the bumps and the ford.

There is a GPS - gpx track file at the bottom of the page.

North end of Cathedral Valley

This is a wide valley with hoodoos along canyon walls almost the entire way.  We think they are beautiful.

Entering Cathedral Valley

Hoodoos along canyon walls

Hoodoos along the edge are not the only attractions.  There are things to see inside the canyon walls.

Wall next to the road

Temple of the Sun (larger) and Temple of the Moon

Glass Mountain is a real oddity.

Glass Mountain

Glass Mountain crystals

These buttes are near the north end of the valley.  All of the sandstone in the area consists of horizontal sedimentary layers.  It appears to us (non-geologists) that lava intruded upward through the sandstone layers and now shows up as vertical layers.  What do you think?

Buttes and lava intrusion

Two layers of lava intrusions (front and back)

Gypsum Sinkhole is unusual for this area.

The road turns and climbs out of the valley at the north end.  This is the place to turn around if you do not want to do the western leg.

Gypsum Sinkhole

Approaching north end

The western leg is considerably bumpier and slower.  You will have the chance of a couple overlooks and will pass through the Bentonite Hills.  Ford the Fremont River just before reaching Highway 24.

Bentonite Hills

Fording Fremont River

Page updated 2017.

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cathedral_valley_2.0.gpx
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