Driving the Cathedral Valley Loop in Capitol Reef

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THE HARTNET ROAD

Your Cathedral Valley adventure begins in a most exciting way — driving through the Fremont River!

You’ll want to start your adventure along the Cathedral Valley Loop at the river ford. That way, you will know at the beginning of the loop if the river is safe to cross instead of leaving it for the end of your drive and potentially not being able to exit the loop if the water levels are unsafe.

This river is typically 8-16 inches deep, but conditions can vary. It’s wise to stop in at the visitor center to find out about current conditions before you go. Don’t enter the river if it is flooded or during periods of high water.

As you enter the river, make a sharp right to stay close to the riverbank. When you are directly across from the river’s exit, make a sharp left and then cross through the middle of the river to reach the exit on the other side.

As you exit the river, you’ll continue along the Hartnet Road. This road is typically in good condition for a vehicle with high clearance, but you may notice some sections of deeper sand as you go. 4WD is highly recommended!

After driving along the Hartnet Road for approximately 8.5 miles, you’ll notice the ground below you beginning to change.

You have now entered the Bentonite Hills! Driving through these beautiful multi-colored mounds of clay feels other-worldly.

Notice the crazy incline of the hills and other surrounding rocks!

The Bentonite Hills become a dangerously sticky and slippery mess when wet — avoid this area if it has recently rained or if storms are approaching. It becomes nearly impossible to get through the clay (you will likely get stuck or slide off) if the ground is wet through this section.

Five miles beyond the Bentonite Hills, you’ll see a side road to the Lower South Desert Overlook. Turn left here and continue down this road for another mile to the trailhead.

From the parking area, it’s an easy 0.25-mile hike to the overlook. This is where you’ll catch your first glimpse of the cathedrals in Capitol Reef!

These huge monoliths stand tall along the barren desert floor. The largest cathedral you can see from this viewpoint is known as Jailhouse Rock, and it stands 520 feet tall from its base.

After enjoying the stunning view of Jailhouse Rock, drive back out to the Hartnet Road and turn left. After about three miles of driving, you’ll see a small sign and parking area for the hike to the Lower Cathedral Valley Overlook.

This trail crosses the desolate landscape to a birds-eye view of the famous Temples of the Sun and Moon, but it sounds more exciting than it actually is.

I found this overlook to be a little anti-climatic and disappointing — the view of these cathedrals from the ground (which you’ll see later on) is much more spectacular! Unless you’re hoping to log some hiking miles, I’d skip this stop and continue on.

As you continue driving along the Hartnet Road, you’ll pass several obstacles that will make you grateful to be in a high-clearance 4WD vehicle!

The first is a natural spring that often makes the road wet and hard to pass through without 4WD. If you’re in a good adventure vehicle, you’ll likely have no problem navigating through this part of the road.

The second is a rocky section of the road that will make you grateful for strong tires! Lava rocks pepper the road here, making the route bumpy for a couple of miles.

As you’re driving through the lava rock, look for the turnoff for the Upper South Desert Overlook on your left (about nine miles from the previous stop).

This is a 0.5-mile hike that provides sweeping views of the spectacular South Desert!

Just a half-mile beyond the Upper South Desert Overlook, you’ll find a short 0.5-mile spur road that travels to the Upper Cathedral Valley Overlook. This spur road is rough but should be no problem for a vehicle with high clearance.

The Upper Cathedral Valley Overlook is phenomenal — you’ll definitely want to stop here to see the majestic cathedrals before dipping down into the valley!

After soaking in the magnificent Upper Cathedral Valley views, it’s finally time to stand at the base of some of these red rock cathedrals!

Drive back out to the Hartnet Road when you finish up at the overlook. Follow the main road for another mile until you reach the Hartnet Junction. At 7,000 feet above sea level, this is the high point of the Cathedral Valley Loop.

Turn right at the junction — this is Cathedral Road, where you’ll continue your driving tour!

Click NEXT to continue your adventure on the Cathedral Road!