Very flexible. Storms were threatening, and Mike allowed us to push back our ride by an hour and a…read morehalf to allow things to clear up. We received great riding instructions, the views from the trail were spectacular, and we even saw a rattlesnake and coyote along the way. We could have done without the ten minute Toby Keith lesson or the political commentary. That partially ruined the experience for me. Giving two stars since the business owner likes to leave nasty replies to honest reviews. Not a great way to run a business.

What a great day we had riding horses right in Capital Reef National Park! Marylou was so helpful…read moremaking our reservations and answering all our questions. Brett was our guide, he treated us like family (the kind you like) we had a blast with him, he was knowledgeable about the area and his love for the horses really showed. The horses were so well cared for and happy. They were fun and easy to ride. You will not be disappointed booking with them!

I called on a Tuesday morning to book a tour. Gary answered the phone. He is not in the office but…read moreat the farm. He had no schedule but assured me that we could take a jeep tour on a Saturday. He could not confirm with Pat because they do not communicate. Told me to check in with her on Friday afternoon at the office in Torrey. We did but Pat was very negative - said he should not have told us to expect a tour. She said the website had not been updated. My question is - How are you supposed to book a tour? You can't book it online, phone calls go to Gary who can't book anything, Pat is out of the office on trail rides almost every day and has no phone. Also, she said that this would be their last year, so they are not too concerned about their reputation. I definitely would NOT recommend!

We scheduled the "jeep" tour. When we arrived at the appropriate time the tour guide was prepping…read morea van not a jeep. When I mentioned we schedule a jeep tour, he said well that's what we are taking. It was fine but not what i expected at all... don't let the name fool you. He was very knowledge about the area and we had a good time, I would rather of been in a jeep! - the van felt stuffy.

My tour with Sam was amazing! He was very knowledgeable, so fun, so flexible and made the most of…read morethe time we had together showing us all the most beautiful parts of the place he loves! Honestly, it's been one of the most favorite days I had during our month long stay in the area. Thank you Sam for answering all my questions, showing me the coolest places and making me laugh in the process. Next time I'm in the area we can continue where we left off!

They don't make it easy to find, but it's not really hidden…read more I don't remember if the signage on the road indicates that this is the Sunset Point Trail, but if you're coming down the highway you will see signs for the Goosenecks overlook, and that's your indication. Once you exit the highway, you'll want to go left past the first parking area that's ahead, and down a dirt road that's a half mile or so. You'll go down that road, and then come to a parking area. You'll be tempted to go up to the right a bit to the overlook, and that's a good idea, you should do it, but that's not the Sunset Point Trail. The trail you seek is on the left (west) side of the parking area. We made our way here a bit prematurely before sunset, but I'm glad we did. We rolled in on a holiday weekend and still found parking in the small lot that probably holds no more than 20 cars. By the time we left, it was packed and there were cars parked all along the dirt road. The hike is pleasant, with only mild elevation gain and it goes for just about 1/3 of a mile each way. The views are stellar, though not as dramatic as that Goosenecks Overlook, they are still sweeping and majestic. You can see the red fingery cliffs to the north, the white-capped peaks to the west (is that Fern's Nipple?) and the canyon to the south. Funky rock formations and spires greet you at the terminus of the trail and you can sit along the way and there at the end on a couple of benches. Sunset is the right time to visit; it's aptly named. Red and orange cliffs were just aglow with amber light in the late, late afternoon. The red cliffs become their own new colors and it's really special.

Very easy & perfect for a sunset trail. We were lucky not many people came to this hike…read more HOW TO GET THERE & PARKING: if you're driving in from town to the park, the road that leads you to the parking lot is right before the visitor center so be sure to keep your eyes peeled on your right hand side. Once you got it, there's a lot of gravel & you think you're going the wrong way, but soon, you will reach the parking lot. There's plenty of parking so don't worry about that. Considering this is also a very short hike, people come in & out of there pretty often. HIKE: very easy. Pretty much 0.5 miles RT without any strain/incline challenge so any level hiker can do this. The path is pretty smooth & the end result is gorgeous view of the park. There are a lot of tall rocks that you can easy climb on to see a higher view of the park. There's a couple of benches at the end of the trail so very nice to just sit, relax & enjoy the color changes of the rocks & mountains as the sun sets. Very beautiful. And at such an easy hike, the reward is pretty big! I'd suggest bringing your dinner, hike the short hike & enjoy nature's beauty.

This is the only place to stay for 50 miles. Clean, family owned. Rooms quite attractive. EVs can…read moreplug into 110V. No good near by.

Cathedral Valley is noted for its solitude, because nobody goes there…read more Well, almost nobody. I went there once. Only once -- I haven't gone back. Why? Probably because its in a tough neighborhood: too much competition from the Great Circle's nearby (in Red Rock Country reckoning) Horseshoe Canyon, Canyonland's Maze and the Golden Staircase, and Capitol Reef's own canyons, the Waterpocket Fold and the ghosts of Butch Cassidy and the Wild Bunch. What we have here is a monotonous, backcountry desert of gypsum clay, with a slippery 4WD track that eventually leads you to a range of red rock cliffs. Near their foot are some tall, freestanding sandstone obelisks, resembling cathedrals (see photos). In the mid-day sun the resemblance may not be too striking. You should take photos in early morning or late afternoon when strong shadows are at play. You would need to arrive in the afternoon, set-up camp away from the temples (pictures including your own tent are uncool). Then scout out the temples with an eye to the afternoon sun and set-up your tripod position(s) accordingly -- follow the interplay of light and shadows on the obelisks as the sun goes down. When the evening light finally fades, figure out where you're going to set-up for the morning light. To do this in the gypsum clay desert means that you're going to get really close to solitude. Also, you're going to use at least a day and a half of trip time that you could be spending in Horseshoe Canyon, the Maze, et al. It doesn't rain there often but when it does, the clay becomes impassable and you can easily lose a couple of days getting out. When the rain water rages down through the canyons from the West, it carries red silt into the Fremont River (along Hiway 24, the Southern edge of the desert). With the sun behind it, the river boils blood red. Cormac McCarthy wrote about a river like this in "Blood Meridian," but I didn't believe it until I saw the Fremont River turn to blood.

I combined the Rim Overlook trail with the trail to Hickman Bridge to get the most out of my hike…read more Unfortunately, the sky was threatining rain so I didn't want to risk it hiking to Navajo Knobs. The Hickman Natural Bridge is a 125-foot-tall natural bridge in Capitol Reef National Park. It's an 1.8 mile out-and-back trail, with some switchbacks, but it's an easy trail if you don't have any trouble climbing a few flights of stairs as baseline daily activity. The first part of the trail is the steepest with some stairs, but it gets more level afterwards as it follows a dry riverbed. You are hiking from the canyon floor to the rim! On the way up, you get to see the rock formation that reminded travelers of the Capitol dome that inspired part of the national park's name. It's a much better name than "Wayne Wonderland" which was what the region was called before it became a national park. The natural bridge is absolutely amazing. Climbing on it is prohibited, but you get to go up close and personal with the bridge to satisfy your photo-taking cravings. Vault toilets are at the trailhead, otherwise you're on your own.

This is a lovely hike. It's not too steep, not very hard, and the bridge is pretty massive and…read morebeautiful when you reach it! It was recommended to me by friends and the volunteer at the visitor center because it's easy to do in a short time/on a short trip. There was plenty of trailhead parking as well. Would definitely recommend if you're passing through Capitol reef NP!

I combined the Rim Overlook trail with the trail to Hickman Bridge to get the most out of my hike…read more Unfortunately, the sky was threatening rain so I didn't want to risk it hiking to Navajo Knobs. This 2.3 mile trail is okay if you don't have any trouble climbing a few flights of stairs as baseline daily activity. The NPS site officially lists this trail as strenuous, but I saw plenty of young kids hiking this. The trail has some stairs as you ascend. You are hiking from the canyon floor to the rim! On the way up, you get to see the rock formation that reminded travelers of the Capitol dome that inspired part of the national park's name. It's a much better name than "Wayne Wonderland" which was what the region was called before it became a national park. At the end of the hike, you're rewarded with panoramas of Fruita and the Waterpocket Fold. Vault toilets are at the trailhead, otherwise you're on your own.

This Rim Overlook Trail is a decent hike within Capitol Reef National Park. What makes it better…read morethan average though, is that you can pare it with a little side trek to Hickman Bridge, and for those interested, hike even further past the Rim Overlook to Navajo Knobs for grander views of the surrounding Capitol Reef landscape from high above! For myself, I was content with just making it here and completing the Rim Overlook Trail portion. I did not have enough strength and energy to attempt to go deeper along the path to Navajo Knobs. In fact, I visited here at Capitol Reef back in late July of this summer, 2021, and since I first wandered off to see Hickman Bridge and then returning to this main trail towards Rim Overlook...it was late morning to midday and while hiking upwards, the temperatures were scorching hot!!! I'd say at least mid to upper 90's. Wow...so getting here (at least for me) was difficult. I was certainly slurping down plenty of water. And that's because officially from the parking lot and trailhead to here at Rim Overlook, it's a 2.3 mile one way trek gaining at least 1000 feet in elevation. Surprisingly I struggled to arrive at the top. Plus...starting at the trailhead and veering off almost 1 mile each way to see the sights at Hickman Bridge was sort of an extra mini voyage of its own. For those who care, I'd describe Hickman Bridge as this giant arch/bridge embedded in the rugged Capitol Reef rocks, similar to what you'd expect to find at a place like Natural Bridges National Monument. Still, it's worthwhile (and in tandem with) to check out Hickman Bridge and then return to this main trailhead and continue on towards Rim Overlook. For those adventurous hikers...there's always Navajo Knobs Point at the end of it all. I used about half the day to visit Hickman Bridge and then come here to Rim Overlook. And for continuing to Navajo Knobs and returning would take up a majority of the day. Along the pathway up here to Rim Overlook, there really weren't any signs as I went along. What I had to follow was keeping track of the little piled rocks as sort of guide marks along the hike. These rockpiles are very typical of what you'd expect to discover on remote hikes. It's nice of the park services and rangers to create them and it certainly helped assist me heading in the correct direction. This Rim Overlook Trail didn't get strenuous until the last 1 mile of the grind higher. This is where I had to pause a few times for water. Overall, along the entire 2.3 miles one-way...there weren't too many opportunities to stop for photos. Other than heading off to Hickman Bridge, this Rim Overlook Trail was a pretty standard path unlike other hikes where along the way I'd be stunned by glorious views and it'll take me forever to make it to the peak, lol. Not here, not on this hike. It's only until you arrive at the official Rim Overlook, where you'll appreciate the scenery. And yes, from the top of Rim Overlook and looking down upon the Capitol Reef landscape, my best memory were the colors, so vintage of Utah's wondrous landscapes. I think the reddish rock tones really stood out to me. I also liked how Highway 24, which cuts straight through the heart of Capitol Reef, was pretty visible from here at the rim. I used 20 - 25 minutes admiring the setting. It gave me a chance to take some panoramic photos as well as record a video. It was refreshing gazing down upon Capitol Reef, realizing how far I had climbed while having a moment to reflect and simply catch my breathe from the hard journey. One thing I'd like to point out for any photography enthusiasts...from here at Rim Overlook it's situated right along the edge of the cliff. So...(for me) I usually bring a tripod for my camera to place down on the ground, but I was pretty cautious of my steps up here at Rim Overlook. Basically there's no room for error and it's a straight fall if you move too close to the edge. Just keep that in mind. I'd suggest crouching or sitting down for optimal photos. That's what I did. Otherwise if you stand, you'll appear out of proportion within the context of the beautiful backdrop behind you. That's just me trying to be nit picky when it comes to picture taking, lol. Just enjoy the vista point regardless. Lastly, I'd like to mention that coming here to Rim Overlook was nice and pleasant and yes I managed the tough climb to the top while paring it off with venturing to Hickman Bridge. Though...if there's just one hike for you to attempt at Capitol Reef, my favorite without a doubt hike is....Chimney Rock Trail! I can't recommend that hike enough, one of my favorites of all time! Chimney Rock should be first and foremost on your priority list and if you're still having fun and looking for more ways to explore, then sure coming here to Rim Overlook is just fine.

Just got back from The Narrows spring trip with Grant and his outfit. Amazing guides with an…read moreincredible knowledge base about the geology, anthropology, biology of the area we hiked through. The hiking was challenging and often out my comfort zone but Grant, Jill and Rebecca were super patient, helpful and made the non-billy goat people among us increasing confident as the week went on. When I look back on my pictures, I can't believe I was up on those ledges and chimneying down those slot canyons. It was way fun! Beautiful scenery, great food, and hikes customized for many levels...

Escalante Canyon Outfitters offers a unique and unforgettable way to experience the natural beauty…read moreof Southern Utah's high red rock desert. Grant's knowledge of the geography, history, flora and fauna is unsurpassed. Sue's planning was impeccable. The guides were great. The food superb! The hiking spectacular! This was a thoroughly enjoyable trip that I want to repeat and I highly recommend.