Capitol Reef is a long, narrow National Park in Utah's south formed by the special geological feature the Waterpocket Fold.

It is a very colorful landscape of canyons, waterpockets, butts, natural arched  and rugged ridges.

 

The park's name refers to the many white domes that resemble Capitol Hill building in Washington DC.

 

The region was home to the people of the Fremont Culture, from 500 AD. They left many petroglyphs carved in the rocks.

In the 19h century Mormons settled in and planted orchards of fruit trees.

 

There are several hiking trails, a favorite one is the Hickman trail that leads to an imposing natural arch which goes by the name Hickman Bridge.

On this trail there is another small arch called the Jens Johnson Natural Bridge.

 

We visited Capitol Reef first in 1990 and returned in May 1994.