Upper Cathedral Valley Overlook

Upper Cathedral Valley Overlook is a 0.2-mile out-and-back from the end of a dirt spur on Hartnet Road. The short, rolling walk takes under 30 minutes and leads to a broad view over Upper Cathedral Valley and its line of monoliths called the Cathedrals. It makes a good leg-stretcher if you are already exploring the remote Cathedral District; the drive is a much bigger commitment than the hike.

The path rises gently through pinyon-juniper, dips through a wash, then opens near the rim. That stretch-by-stretch detail comes from an older route account; the current park description calls the trail short and rolling but gives no turn-by-turn map. The trail is not maintained; its tread is faint in places and informal markers may be absent. The overlook sits by an exposed edge. Keep to the obvious path and stay back from the rim; narrow ledges beyond the main viewpoint are optional wandering, not part of the mapped walk.

From the overlook, a line of buttes and spires stands out against the valley's banded cliffs. The towers are Entrada Sandstone, laid down about 160 million years ago; harder gray-green Curtis Sandstone caps protect some formations while uncapped sandstone wears away. For a photo, frame the row of towers with some of the scrubby valley below so their scale reads, and take it from well back from the rim.

From Highway 24, expect roughly 28 road miles on Hartnet Road, then about 0.3 mile north on the dirt spur to the trailhead. Published odometer points differ slightly, so treat the road mileage as approximate. The approach is the hard part: high clearance is required, 4WD is often recommended, and sand or bentonite clay can turn impassable when wet. The south end of Hartnet Road crosses the unbridged Fremont River. Roads are not plowed in winter; spring and fall are the usual seasons for this drive. Cell service is unreliable, and there is no confirmed water or food at the trailhead. Pets are not allowed on trails or in backcountry areas; the free permit rule applies to backcountry camping, not this day hike.