The Rolling Toaster at Sunrise

Capitol Reef National Park, UT
Canon PowerShot SX40 HS

Capitol Reef is one of my favorite parks.  It was a one night stop on my week-long road trip to Bryce Canyon in September of 2013, and I am anxious to return.  Its appeal to me I think is in part because it's not very crowded.  It seems to exist in the shadow of the other Utah national parks.  Fine by me.

Sunrise photos are a rarity for me.  I seem to get up early when I'm camping, though.  I was just on my way out of the park to begin the drive down Utah Route 12 to Bryce Canyon when I stopped to get this shot.  This was the start of one of the best driving days I've ever had.

I always like to get a few shots of the car when I'm on a road trip.  I'm not really into cars as you can probably tell by my choice of vehicle, but the car is a big part of the story on a road trip.  This rolling toaster has been very good to me.

Photo selection inspired by Geogypsy's Foto Friday Fun 132, image #1010.

Capitol Reef

Capitol Reef National Park, UT
Canon PowerShot SX40 HS

Of Utah's five national parks, Capitol Reef is probably its least well known and least visited.  I don't know why that it because of the three I've been to it's easily my favorite.  I suppose that's at least in part because it was the least crowded of the three parks I've been to.  It's got a lot of cliffs and therefore a lot of geological drama going on.  I even witnessed some rockfall.

Photo selection inspired by Geogypsy's Foto Friday Fun 125, image #812.

Roadways: Capitol Reef's Scenic Drive

Scenic Drive, Capitol Reef National Park, UT
Canon PowerShot SD770 IS, 1/500s, f/2.8, ISO: 80

Capitol Reef is probably the least well-known of Utah's national parks, and I'm both surprised and a little awed by that fact.  I've also been to Zion and Bryce Canyon, and of the three I'd have to say Capitol Reef was my favorite.  That makes me wonder what Canyonlands and Arches have in store for me on some future visits, because I think they're both more popular destinations than Capitol Reef, and if so they must be truly spectacular.  Zion and Bryce Canyon were pretty amazing also, I just didn't spend much time in Zion and Bryce was a bit too crowded for my liking.  It's easy to get away from the crowds in Capitol Reef, though (a lot like Death Valley in that regard) , and the views are unforgettable.

I spent a single night at Capitol Reef a couple of years ago.  I arrived in the early afternoon, snagged the last available camping spot, then spent the rest of the daylight hours seeing as much of the park as I could.  If I knew then what I know now I'd have spent an extra night at Capitol Reef and cut my time at Bryce Canyon shorter.  Well, then again I had some cool adventures at Bryce, so maybe not.

I kind of think all of Southern Utah should be one big park.  That place is amazing.

Capitol Reef

Capitol Reef  National Park, UT
Canon PowerShot SX40, 1/640s, f/4, ISO:200

I made a trip to Utah in the fall of 2013.  I followed on the heels of a very large storm that had caused extensive flooding in the neighboring state of Colorado and had dumped a lot of water on Utah and Nevada as well.  The ground was still saturated in a lot of places when I arrived at Capitol Reef, and the rivers and creeks were running high.  The water brought out a lot of dark tones in the rocks, which can be seen a little in this photo.  It turned out to be a very nice time for taking pictures.

Capitol Reef was something of an afterthought for me.  My main destination on that trip was Bryce Canyon.  I'd been hoping to hit the North Rim of the Grand Canyon as well, but I wasn't able to reserve a camp site and they don't have unreserved spots on that side of the canyon, so I altered my plans and visited Capitol Reef instead.  I have no regrets about that.  I still want to visit the North Rim, but Capitol Reef was an absolute revelation and I hope to visit the park again soon.  I only spent an afternoon and a night there, I have a whole lot more I want to see.

Photo selection inspired by Geogypsy's Photo Friday Fun 94, Image #888.