Capitol Reef Adventure Trip

We leave the comfort of the lodge and head to the backcountry as we bike down the historic Burr Trail.
The ride begins on a high plateau named Durffy Mesa, which is surrounded by interesting slickrock formations that soon give way to darker red sandstone.
As we drop into the narrows of Long Canyon, the sheer walls rise for several hundred feet above us. Along the way, we’ll pass through The Gulch, the Circle Cliffs, and Deer Creek Recreation Area.
We will turn off the Burr Trail toward the Lamp Stand formation, where we will spend the night under the stars. Our 270-degree view includes the Henry Mountains, Boulder Mountain, and Navajo Mountain, a sacred religious place for the Navajos.
Biking Distance: 26 miles

Today our ride begins at the boundary to Capitol Reef National Park. In the foreground lies the twisted rock formations of the Waterpocket Fold.
As we enter the park, the contrast of the mountains and canyons creates a dramatic interface. After a fun descent, we’ll turn off the Burr Trail and ride out to the trailhead at Upper Muley Twist Canyon.
At the beginning of our hike, we’ll have a wonderful view looking right up the Fold. This canyon was named by the Mormons who arrived in their wagons, who said traveling through the canyon would “twist a mule.”
At this point, we will still be traveling in the shadow of the Henrys, the last mountain range to be mapped and explored in the lower 48 states. Free-roaming buffalo herds are still part of the mountain ecosystem.
After our hike, we’ll head back to the Burr Trail for lunch at the top of the Waterpocket Fold switchbacks. Descending the spectacular switchbacks places us at the base of the fold, where we head south to our camp for a night surrounded by true desert solitude.
Biking: 20-23 miles, Hiking: 1 mile

Today we will hike right from our camp into Hall’s Creek and make our way to Brimhall Arch.
Once again, if we keep our eyes peeled, we will see evidence of those that came before us. In many places in the desert southwest, the population was much bigger 1,000 years ago when the Ancestral Puebloans made these canyons their homes, unlike around 100 years ago when the cowboys turned up. At that time, it was a whole lot lonelier.
We will see evidence of both as we negotiate the canyon to get to this amazing Arch!
Hike Distance: 4.7 miles

Our destination today is North wash for a great introduction to proper canyoneering. We will explore Middle Maidenwater Canyon.
This will be the perfect place to experience this unique geology both up close and from a whole different perspective.
But the highlight of today will be the fun moves our canyoneering guides will teach us as we learn to stem, rappel, and scramble through this fantastic canyon.
In the afternoon, sadly, it will be time to return to Moab and head home, wrapping up a full week of Grand Staircase-Escalante adventure.