Capitol Reef National Park preserves much of the land along a 100-mile long tear in the Earth/s crust called the Waterpocket Fold. An uplift followed by much erosion exposed several colorful layers of rock capped by hard, petrified sand dunes. The Waterpocket Fold created a barrier between east and west, although there were a few relatively easy paths through it.

At the end of a scenic drive that runs south into the park from Utah Highway 24 is the east entrance to Capitol Gorge. Although it flash floods regularly during the late ... (more)