Sight · Capitol Reef National Park
A capped red-rock tower beside the road, with a strenuous loop.
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The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Capitol Reef Tour Guide
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Capitol Reef National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
See the Capitol Reef audio tourRecorded for this place
Chimney Rock“Chimney Rock is coming up, a red, banded pillar with a pale cap beside Highway 24. Use the trailhead turnout for a quick look; you don't need to hike to appreciate the tower.”
Plays as you drive up to Chimney Rock in the Parkwolf Capitol Reef Tour Guide.
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“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Guide
Chimney Rock is a banded sandstone pillar beside Utah State Route 24 at Capitol Reef’s western end. The circular pull-off at its trailhead makes a quick roadside look easy; the full loop is for hikers who want the broader view from the high rim.
The Chimney Rock Loop is 3.6 miles round trip, gains 590 feet, and is rated strenuous. It takes about two to three hours, with a steep climb along a fault near the start and a surface of sand, dirt, and rock. The upper rim opens into wide views over the Waterpocket Fold. The trail is for foot traffic, and dogs aren’t allowed.
The circular turnoff just off UT-24 has parking and a restroom. Carry the water you’ll need for the hike; a refill point wasn’t verified at the trailhead.
The red bands belong to the Moenkopi Formation, roughly 245 million years old. A harder cap of Shinarump sandstone protects the softer layers underneath, helping leave the narrow pillar standing above the surrounding slope.
The loop gives changing views of the tower and broad Waterpocket Fold cliffs. For a wide photo, include the layered cliffs and valley below; a closer frame brings out the rock’s pale cap and horizontal bands. The National Park Service marks the panorama as good for sunset. The rim has little shade and can be windy, so leave enough daylight for the full loop.
Wildlife
50 sightingsBighorn SheepMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
322 sightingsMule DeerMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
70 sightingsMarmotMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
13 sightingsCottontail RabbitMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
33 sightingsTurkeyMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
14 sightingsRavenMost seen around 9 AMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Capitol Reef. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
Keep exploring
ChallengingChimney Rock Loop3.6 mi · 2.5 hr · 0.2 mi awayA steep climb opens onto Chimney Rock and Waterpocket Fold views.
ChallengingLower Spring Canyon9.7 mi · 6 hr · 0.2 mi awayA long canyon walk with an exposed bypass and river ford.
ChallengingSulphur Creek Route5.8 mi · 4.5 hr · 0.5 mi awayThree waterfalls and creek crossings make this a hands-on canyon hike.
EasySunset Point Trail0.8 mi · 45 min · 1.1 mi awayA short rim walk for sunset over the Waterpocket Fold.
EasyGoosenecks Trail0.2 mi · 15 min · 1.1 mi awayA short walk to Sulphur Creek’s tight canyon bend.
ModerateSulphur Creek Waterfall Hike1.4 mi · 1.5 hr · 2.6 mi awayFollow a desert creek upstream to a waterfall below red rock walls.
ChallengingFremont Gorge Overlook Trail4.6 mi · 3 hr · 3.5 mi awayA mesa climb ends above the Fremont River, 800 feet below.
ModerateFremont River Trail2 mi · 1.5 hr · 3.5 mi awayRiver walk, a steep climb, and broad views over Fruita.
Sight · 0.6 mi awayPanorama PointA 360-degree red-rock view after one very short walk.
Sight · 1.1 mi awayGoosenecks OverlookQuick access to Sulphur Creek's tight turns.
Sight · 1.1 mi awayFluted Wall ViewpointA quick roadside stop for the Moenkopi’s fluted red wall.
Sight · 1.2 mi awaySunset PointA short walk to sunset color on the Waterpocket Fold.
Sight · 1.8 mi awayNavajo KnobsClimb high above Fruita for a 360-degree view of the Waterpocket Fold
Sight · 1.9 mi awayThe Castle ViewpointA sandstone bluff cut free by erosion’s own moat.
Sight · 2.1 mi awayTwin Rocks ViewpointA quick stop for two pale caps and their shrinking red pedestals.
Sight · 2.3 mi awayLower Sulphur Creek WaterfallA short creek walk ends at a small waterfall.Parkwolf’s Capitol Reef ranking
The audio tour guide for the drive, plus offline maps, trails, and wildlife heatmaps for when the signal drops.
