Parking
Follow the Goosenecks spur road to the small shared circular lot at its end. Goosenecks is the westward path; Sunset Point starts separately across the lot.
Overview
About Goosenecks Trail
Why go
- A tight canyon bend is visible after a very short walk.
Heads up
- Uneven dirt and rocky steps make it less than a paved stroll.
Goosenecks is an easy 0.2-mile out-and-back from a shared parking area to a railed overlook above Sulphur Creek. The path is 0.1 mile each way with less than 50 feet of elevation change; allow about 10–15 minutes for the walk and a quick look. It is a high-payoff stop if you are already on the Goosenecks spur, but it is not a substitute for a longer hike. A park entrance pass is required, and pets are not allowed on park trails.
Parkwolf’s verdictIs this worth the stop?Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Capitol Reef map
Full mapElevation6,349–6,379 ft
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Safety
2 active Capitol Reef alerts
- CautionE. coli advisory for Fremont River and Sulphur CreekMentions Sulphur Creek, referenced in this guideDo not swim in the Fremont River or Sulphur Creek or get water in your mouth: NPS reports elevated E. coli in both waterways, and Utah DEQ has issued a warning advisory. - DEQ reports Sulphur Creek E.Official details
- CautionFlash-flood hazard in canyons and washesHeavy rains can cause sudden flooding in Capitol Reef’s canyons and washes; do not hike or drive through floodwater.Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Capitol Reef Tour Guide
Your drive to Goosenecks Trail, narrated.
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 trailhead
Sunset Point and Goosenecks0:00 / 0:27
“Sunset Point and Goosenecks are coming up, with two quite different views from the same parking area.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Capitol Reef Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Panorama Point
- Fluted Wall Viewpoint
- Chimney Rock
- The Castle Viewpoint
- 116 audio storiesacross Capitol Reef’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Bighorn Sheep, Mule Deer, Marmot, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 48 trails, 52 places, and audio download before you lose signal
- CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
“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!!!!”
Trail guide
Hiking Goosenecks Trail
The short approachFrom the shared lot, take the Goosenecks path to the west; Sunset Point is the separate trail…
From the shared lot, take the Goosenecks path to the west; Sunset Point is the separate trail across the lot. The dusty track has a switchback and several rocky steps, crosses a small ridge, then drops toward the rim. Expect uneven footing. Stop at the fenced platform and stay behind the railing.
The bend belowSulphur Creek lies far below in a deep, banded gorge.
Sulphur Creek lies far below in a deep, banded gorge. At the overlook, the creek cuts a tight bend that almost doubles back on itself—the gooseneck that makes this short walk worth the stop. For a photo, include the curve and layered canyon walls so the drop and the creek’s shape read clearly; the view is about the creek’s turn, not a distant park panorama.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Capitol Reef
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.
