Hickman Bridge

Hickman Bridge is a 133-foot natural bridge tucked into a sandstone canyon above the Fremont River. At the end of the hike, the path passes beneath the span and continues around the rock. This is one of Capitol Reef’s signature short hikes, but plan on roughly two miles round trip and 400 feet of climbing; the mileage hides a steady uphill walk.

From the Highway 24 trailhead, the path follows the Fremont River before turning into a wash and climbing over sandy slickrock and natural steps. Views of Capitol Dome and the surrounding cliffs appear along the way. At the junction shared with Rim Overlook and Navajo Knobs, follow the Hickman Bridge branch. The final approach beneath and behind the bridge is worth slowing down for.

A Fremont pithouse foundation and a granary tucked into the rock sit beside the route, along with the smaller Nels Johnson Natural Bridge. Fremont people lived in this area from about 300 to 1300 CE; the granary stored crops such as corn, beans and squash, along with gathered food like piñon nuts. Stay on the trail and leave the archaeological remains undisturbed.

Hickman Bridge formed as water eroded softer red shale behind a more resistant sandstone fin, eventually cutting through it. Later erosion widened the opening. The span is about 133 feet long and 125 feet high, large enough to frame the pale cliffs and desert plants around it.

The trail gives you a close look at the tilted rock layers of the Waterpocket Fold, a huge bend in the earth’s crust whose uplift began about 65 million years ago. Around the route, pale Navajo Sandstone began as a field of dunes about 180 million years ago. Look for diagonal cross-bedding in the rock and small solution cavities across the canyon.

The trailhead is about two miles east of the visitor center on Highway 24. Expect a moderate hike with a 400-foot climb, high steps, sand on slickrock and other uneven footing. Carry water; it is not available at park trailheads. The lot can fill early, and many trailhead lots in the park are full by mid-morning. Spring and fall are generally milder; summer brings intense heat and little shade. Storms can send flash floods through washes and narrow canyons, so avoid them during heavy rain. Dogs are not allowed on park trails.