The Cassidy Arch hike
Capital Reef National Park is the least visited of all of Utah’s Mighty 5 National Parks! It’s isolated location makes it hard to reach, but it is a great stop when traveling from Zion or Bryce National Parks up toward Moab. When visiting, make sure not to miss the best hike at Capital Reef National Park:
The Cassidy Arch
This hike has lots of fun rocks to climb on!
What makes the Cassidy Arch such an amazing hike? Well, it is one of the few arches that you can legally stand on and take a picture. Most arches in Utah are very illegal to climb on. It is also a scenic hike the entire way.
You begin at the Grand Wash parking area by walking along the flat canyon floor for 0.3 miles from the parking lot. Then turn left at the the Cassidy Arch sign and begin your mile climb upward. This section offers a steep incline and lots of stone steps, while enjoying higher and higher views around the canyon. The last 0.5 mile flattens out and you follow stone markers along the way. It’s easy to lose your way along this last section, so watch for the rock cairns leading the way!
Once you get to the Archway, you can walk around the left side of the arch to access it easily. It may look scary, because the drop off is huge, but the arch itself is so wide, that you don’t feel scared walking on it at all!
Basic information:
Distance: 3.4 miles
Difficulty: Moderate to strenuous (a mile of uphill feels like stair climbing)
Elevation gain: 670 feet
Directions: After passing the Visitors Center, follow the main road and then turn left down Grand Wash road (road closes in case of rain or storm, due to flood risk). Parking lot with pit toilets at the end of the road.
Don’t forget: Follow the cairns! Bring plenty of water!
More details here: https://www.nps.gov/care/planyourvisit/trailguide.htm
After your hike enjoy some pie at the Historic Gifford house, made with fruit grown from the historic orchards in the park! They sell out early in the day, so maybe grab the pie before the hike (and don’t leave empty handed, like us!!)
Check out some of our other adventures:
