📍- Cathedral Valley Road, Utah
The wild and rugged road of Capitol Reef National Park’s Cathedral Valley is more than an opportunity for adventure. It represents a moment in time when you can walk away from civilization, stand in the center of untamed desert terrain of unimaginable beauty, and hear nothing but the sound of the wind as it tears along the sharp edges of the towering sandstone monuments that encompass you.
In today’s day and age, it can seem like there are no places of natural beauty that remain a secret. Wait times to enter National Parks can keep guests outside the gate for hours, and an area’s most popular hiking trail can feel more like waiting in line at an amusement park than a chance to immerse yourself in nature. Cathedral Valley, though, remains unspoiled. Not so much of a secret, this lesser-traveled section of Capitol Reef National Park is just remote enough to make exploring it feel as though you have a slice of feral desert terrain all to yourself.
Exploring Cathedral Valley means stepping off the well-worn path and driving on a road less traveled. Across 70 miles, you’ll pass impressive sandstone monoliths, expansive overlooks, glistening crystal mountains, and ominous sinkholes that threaten to swallow you up along the way. Through it all, you’ll have a chance to see a corner of Capitol Reef National Park that many have overlooked before you. So, if I’ve said enough to pique your interest, continue reading to learn everything you need to know about driving the scenic Cathedral Valley Loop in Capitol Reef National Park.
