Thur. Sept. 17 - Capitol Reef National Park

Mike Here - Utah
Started off the day with a great breakfast at our favorite restaurant in Bicknell, Utah (the only one in town). As we approached Capitol Reef National Park, the giant walls rose up to meet us. This massive wall of rock stretches over 100 miles from north to south. We stopped at many overlooks and each one seemed better than the last. The two best were the Grand Wash where a dry riverbed runs up a huge canyon. The road was pretty bad but the views were tremendous.

The other was at the end of the scenic drive at Capitol Gorge. A road continued up the canyon but was for 4 wheel drive, high clearance vehicles so we declined.

We passed a cabin which was built by the Behunin Family. They were the first settlers in the canyon and also built a schoolhouse which at times housed 22 students, including the 9 Behunin children. As we stared up at the petroglyphs on the huge wall, Judy started to talk to an elderly woman in a wheelchair. It turns out, her great grandfather, was the man who built that first cabin. Her son brought her down from Salt Lake City to see it before she died. It made our day.

Great granddaughter of first settlers

The old schoolhouse

Petroglyphs

Here Fremont Indians pecked into the cliff large humanlike figures.

Note from Mary
After leaving Bryce we took Highway 12 east all the way to Torrey and then headed west on highway 24 to Capitol Reef NP.  What a fantastic route to take as the scenery was spectacular.  If any of you decide to travel this way be sure to consider that route.