Epic Travel → North America → Mountain States → Utah → Capitol Reef National Park → Cassidy Arch Hike

Location: Fruita Area, Capitol Reef National Park, Utah

Distance: 3.3 miles roundtrip

Elevation Gain: 600 feet

Time Required: 1.5 – 2 hours

Red Tape/Notes: No permit required, no shuttle required. Park is open 24 hours a day; the trailhead is reached via the scenic drive so you’ll need to pay the $10 per car visitor’s fee (pass is good for 7 days).

What’s Nearby?: Fremont Petroglyphs, Hickman Bridge, Pandora’s Box

This is a lovely hike with expansive views, culminating in the massive Cassidy Arch (named after Butch Cassidy who reportedly frequented the area with his band of thieving outlaws back in the late 1800’s). The hike starts out down a wash, arriving quickly at the Cassidy Arch Trail which heads immediately up the rock, traversing along plateaus and winding amongst rock formations, all the while giving lovely panoramic views. The arch comes into view in the distance fairly early, but it’s hard to grasp the size of the arch until you’re practically on top of it. It’s wide enough that you can hike out onto it for even better panoramic views, although the view of the arch itself is pretty fabulous. If you have the technical skills, the arch is the drop in point for the quick and extremely enjoyable Cassidy Arch Canyon.

Epic Travel → North America → Mountain States → Utah → Capitol Reef National Park → Cassidy Arch Hike