I get an early start this morning - out the door by 7:15am. Just trying to get to the trail head before things get crowded and they will get crowded I past by the parking lots in the afternoon yesterday.
My plan is to hike up to Hickman Bridge and then continue up to the Rim Overlook (and perhaps Navaho Knobs). I've been to all 3 places about 8 years ago on a Guided group trip. And yes, I liked them enough to go back (just took me 8 years).
Hickman Bridge is a rock bridge with a span of 133 ft across.
All 3 hikes share the same trail head and the same trail at least for the first 0.2 mile. Hickman Bridge splits off to the left and the other 2 continue on. Hickman Bridge is 1.8 miles (400 ft elevation gain). The Rim Overlook is 4.6 miles (1110 ft) and Navaho Knobs is 9.4 miles (1620 ft).
When I arrive at the trail head (just off Hwy 24), yea, there are only 2 other cars there!! Great chance of having the natural bridge to myself!
The trail starts next to a creek just for 50-100 ft before it heads up a big rock formation.
Quite a few rock steps and otherwise rocky trail until it flattens. After the climb, I get my first views of Capitol Dome.
Finally, I reach the point where Hickman Bridge heads left and I continue to the bridge. Lots of birds singing and flitting a bout this morning and a few chipmunks and squirrels.
Lovely views along the way.
It not much further when I reach the Bridge loop. Trying to control traffic, traffic down the trail is supposed to be one way -- I'm heading counter-clockwise. Soon I come to what appears to be a dead-end when I look up and I'm standing near the bridge.
Time to investigate.
Well it's time to go and I'm a bit embarrassed because I didn't look at the map very well and I can't find the other part of the "loop trail" so I just head back the way I've came. Oops!
No worries, I only saw 3 people on my way back to the trail intersection. Time to head up to the Rim Overlook.
Soon I'm looking down at Hickman Bridge - different perspective.
Continuing on
I soon see "the Face" -- I think the overlook is near there.
Not quite, I just past the "Face"
and no overlook - still climbing.
Finally, I reach the Overlook - looking down onto the Visitor's Center, the town of Fruita and the Waterpocket Fold (i.e., the geologic land formation that makes up the Capitol Reef area).
I find a bit of shade under a Juniper to rest and get out of the sun for a bit. Well, my mind really wants to go the 2.2 miles to Navajo Knobs but the energy level is just not there today, so I start heading down.
Many folks heading up now.
Finally, a Globeflower that's blooming!
I make it back down to a full parking lot and many, many cars parked along the road. Time to leave this craziness!
Well, since all the trails will be crowded now, I decide to head west about 30 miles to Koosharem Canyon. It's a great butterfly spot in the summer. But sitting at 7000 ft I'm just not sure if anything will be flying yet. But I have the time so off I go.
Along the way, I see some animals that I missed yesterday -- hundreds of ewes and little lambs! And of course, there are cows (with babies) and horses.
I reach the canyon road and start up the gravel path. I see a bunch of Clouded Sulphurs and that's all.
I decide to head about a mile farther west to the Koosharem Reservoir to see if there are any water birds around.
All I see are a couple of Coots but the view ain't bad.
Time to head back. Great Day!
