Sight · Capitol Reef National Park
A far-flung view above a 22-mile backcountry route.
Overview
Halls Creek Overlook is a remote rim viewpoint and trailhead above the Halls Creek drainage in Capitol Reef’s southern Waterpocket District. The park’s listed route from the visitor center is 56.1 miles, and the final roughly 3 miles to the overlook are rough and require high-clearance four-wheel drive. Make it a destination if you want the far-south view or a serious backcountry start; skip the spur if your vehicle isn’t suited to rough roads. Weather can make the unpaved roads impassable, so check conditions before heading out.
Parkwolf’s verdictIs the long drive for you?Map
Plan your stop
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 tour“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
The overlook sits above the Halls Creek drainage, with Hall Mesa to the east and the Waterpocket Fold to the west. The broad view takes in pale, tilted rock layers and open desert between them. For a photo, keep some of the drainage in the foreground with the folded cliffs beyond; the basin gives those layers their scale and context.
A cairned trail drops 800 feet in 1.2 miles from the overlook to the canyon bottom. That steep descent begins the Halls Creek Narrows route, which is 22.4 miles round trip. It’s a substantial backcountry hike, not an easy walk down from the viewpoint. The route beyond is largely unmarked, and the point where it climbs out of the canyon isn’t signed, so note landmarks if you continue.
Bring the water, food, fuel, and supplies you need before driving into the southern district. Cell reception is usually poor or nonexistent, and help may take hours or days. Check current road conditions with the visitor center or by phone before setting out.
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
ChallengingHalls Creek Narrows22.4 mi · 3.5 days · At the trailheadA remote 22.4-mile backpack through a water-filled sandstone canyon.
ChallengingBrimhall Natural Bridge Trail4.6 mi · 4 hr · At the trailheadA 4.6-mile arch hike with a steep return and possible swim.
ChallengingHalls Creek Overlook Trail2.4 mi · 3 hr · At the trailheadA steep, cairned descent into Halls Creek’s quiet canyon floor.Parkwolf’s Capitol Reef ranking
The audio tour guide for the drive, plus offline maps, trails, and wildlife heatmaps for when the signal drops.
