Capitol Reef National Park, UT

June 18 & 19, 2010 - From Moab, we drive 146 miles on the 191 then to the 24 heading east to Capitol Reef National Park.  Known as a 'Waterpocket Fold', Capitol Reef is a near 100 mile long warp in the Earth's crust.  According to the National Park Service, "the Waterpocket Fold is a classic monocline: a regional fold with one very steep side in an area of otherwise nearly horizontal layers."  Confusing as it may sound with the large words, this place was fantastic!  With the uplifting of the Colorado Plateau, millions of years of erosion exposed the colorful cliffs of powdery sandstone.

We stayed in the historic Fruita campground, right in the heart of the park.  Once a small village of Mormon farmers, settled in 1872, this oasis of a fruit orchard is now home to the park's campground, visitor center and historic farming village.  In the 2 days at Capitol Reef, we enjoyed a crazy uphill 4 mile hike as well as a scenic drive through the park.  On the eve of our last night, we drove to nearby Torrey, where we tried the restaurant, Cafe Diablo.  They served the craziest looking southwestern food.  Aside from a super loud group camping next to us, we loved Capitol Reef.

The park's old Mormon farmhouse sold tasty mini pies!  This was an awesome strawberry pie with meringue that we enjoyed at camp.

Camping in the orchard.

Scenic drive with the moon in the distance.

Crazy sandstone formations.

Pearl and I pose.

So many colorful layers of exposed rock.

More colored layers!

Breathtaking drive.

The orchard with an original stable.

Charlie's Rattlesnake cakes at Cafe Diablo.  For real.  This is rattlesnake! ...topped with some sort of roe or tiny eggs from a creature that i do not recognize.

My vegetarian tamales wrapped in banana leaves.  A little too much fiesta throw-up of color for me to handle!  They obviously didn't get the memo on clean, simple foods!