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CAPITOL REEF NATIONAL PARK — If you love looking at arches, the Cassidy Arch Trail offers the chance to get even closer — by walking on top of one.
To get to the Cassidy Arch trailhead, hikers should head to the parking lot for Capitol Reef National Park’s Grand Wash. After a short walk down the main path in the canyon, the Cassidy Arch Trail splits off on the left. It is marked by a sign, so it is easy to find.
Park officials rate the hike’s difficulty level as strenuous, mainly due to the fact that hikers need to gain nearly 1,000 feet of elevation to reach the arch. The first half of the trail basically heads straight up, with large rocks acting as stepping stones.
A sign at the start of the trail says “carry water” — a recommendation that should be taken seriously. I finished off my 2-liter Camelback by the time we finished the hike and my friends, who each carried two large water bottles, had to ration their water on the return trip. There is little shade on the trail, so starting the hike early in the day or later in the evening will make for a more enjoyable experience.
As hikers gain elevation, they’ll be greeted with stunning views of the canyon and national park. From across the canyon, visitors will even get to see the Capitol Dome — a Navajo sandstone formation that early settlers thought looked like the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C. The national park actually credits the dome for its name.
For the second half of the trail, hikers wind along the edge of the canyon top until they reach the distant arch. At that point, there are multiple ways to walk over Cassidy Arch itself. Those who are afraid of heights should be comforted in knowing the arch is actually wider than it looks. In fact, it feels more comfortable than some of the other parts of the trail that lead up to it.
Adventurous people can take the hike to the next level by rappelling off the arch, descending into slot canyons. Most hikers elect to return to their cars by taking the same trail they used to hike up to the arch. The descent is considerably easier and the views are just as captivating the second time.
Difficulty: Strenuous
Distance: 3.4 miles roundtrip
Time: About three hours
Contact the author at ncrofts@ksl.com or find her on Twitter.
