Souvenirs From The Road: Capitol Reef and Historic Fruita

The light seems to flow or shine out of the rock rather than to be reflected from it.....Clarence Dutton, geologist wrote back in the 1880s. All of our National Parks have something beautiful and special about them, but this place is just awesome. We arrive on July 10 to start our new volunteer position. After a day of training, we had 4 days to do whatever we wanted to do. So, we got settled. Here are some pictures of what our view is when we walk outside of our RV.

Yep, this is our view!

Lots of deer. Love their babies!

Home sweet home!

John and Trish Kern, our neighbors and fellow camp hosts.

Hard to beat this view!

The next day we drove the 8 mile paved scenic loop, making lots of stops and learning as much as we can. This drive really gives you some breath taking views of the Waterpocket Fold. We took the gravel road down to Cassidy Arch (named for Butch Cassidy) and the Grand Wash. At the Grand Wash we hiked a good 2 miles plus to go so the Narrows. We did the hike at noon because the lighting is better. (Yep we are such good camp hosts - didn't bring any water and forgot the sunscreen.) After about a mile into the trail, the canyon begins to cut sharply into the Navajo Sandstone. They are approximately 600 feet tall and about 16 feet wide.

You have to look hard to see Cassidy Arch.

The Grand Wash trails leads you through the Narrows.

When you are deep in the Narrows and you look up this is what you see.

Entering the Narrows.

Yep, having fun!

The Narrows.

The Narrows

Just awesome

The rock has peep holes!

We got back on the Scenic Drive and continued to the gravel road for Capitol Gorge. We took the trail down to see the Pioneer Register. Back in 1883 a small crew of men cleared over 3 miles of Capitol Gorge for a new wagon road. This was the main travel road until 1962 when state highway 24 was built. Early travelers started carving their names into the soft sandstone walls of the canyon as early as 1871, long before the road was built. The tradition continued and this became known as the Pioneer Register. (It is now illegal to add any more additions.)

It is a little hard to read.

The next day we did a drive eastward on Highway 24. First stop was at the Fruita One-room school. The building was also used for church services, town meetings, box socials and dances when school wasn't in session. It closed in 1941 when the population started to dwindle.

Fruita Schoolhouse

One of the most popular hikes is to Hickman Bridge. The trailhead is on a cliff just above the Fremont River and ascends on steps and slopes until you finally arrive at a loop that takes you under Hickman Bridge. This trail offers some of the best views of Capitol Dome (trivia: How did the park get it's name? Because early settlers were reminded of our nation's Capitol dome.). You also get great views of the Fremont River valley.

Capitol Dome

Hickman Bridge

Looking down on the Fremont River with a small waterfall.

Inside Hickman Bridge

Peeking over Hickman Bridge

Fremont River beside our trail.

The Orchards here hold about 2700 trees, primarily Apple, apricot, peach, pear and cherry, with a few plum, mulberry, almond, pecan and walnut trees. Fruita is listed on the National Register of Historical Places as a Historical Cultural Landscape. The orchards are protected and are maintained by a small crew that is kept busy year round with pruning, irrigation and orchard management. There are millions of apricots at the moment. So what does a good old Texas German girl like me want to do? Make kolaches, of course. And then share with our new friends and Rangers.

Our campsite offers us a view of the Gifford House that was occupied until 1969. It was on the banks of the river, had a great pasture and fruit orchards.

Mail delivery was considered unreliable in 1914. It arrived by wagon from Torrey (11 miles west) en route to Hanksville (37 miles east). So mailbags and wooden boxes were hung on a large tree in the center of the community. The postman picked up outgoing mail and replaced it with new mail about every 3 weeks.

The biggest cottonwood tree I have seen. This is at the picnic area.

Another scenic drive is down hwy. 24 towards Torrey. Chimney Rock and Panorama Point are both awesome.

Chimney Rock

View from Panorama Point

Really hard to see the petroglyphs here.

We are enjoying it here immensely. Our schedule is 4 on and 4 off. I estimate that 50% up to 70% of the visitors here are from outside the United States. Wish I knew French or German. So many Europeans and so many rental RV's. We have a family of Orioles outside our door.