We explored Capitol Reef National Park the first week in June. It was stunning! I never get tired of southern Utah's amazing red rocks. We camped in the park at the Fruita Campground. The campground is in the middle of the original pioneer orchards and has lots of shade. The Fremont river runs next to camp but it's really just a large stream. Everyone, especially Bethany, loved wading in the river in the hot afternoon hours. Ryan, Bethany and Carter liked hanging around camp relaxing with a good book, building fires and eating treats. They don't love hiking the way Mom and Dad do but they are good sports.
The orchards in Fruita, Utah.
There is a herd of deer who were living in the orchard next to our campground. As you can see they were not very scared of us. The nights were bright while we were there, and when I would walk to the restroom during the night the deer were all through the campground grazing.
The first afternoon we were in Capitol Reef we hiked Grand Wash. It's a mostly flat hike great for tired kids. We enjoyed the beautiful canyon walls and pioneer names carved into the rock. At the far end of the hike we scrambled up the hill to some "tanks" and saw a hole full of tadpoles.
Carter caught one of the many kinds of lizards we saw in the park.
Early in the morning while the kids were still sleeping, Scott and I hiked up Cohab canyon. It was my favorite hike. There are many hidden canyons like this one. Some of the rocks were strangely pitted like swiss cheese. The spring rains being recent, the greenery contracted beautifully with the red canyon walls.
We explored the pioneer town of Fruita. This is at the educational center for kids. Bethany would make a great ranger!
Ryan fell and sprained his wrist on the first day so our most enthusiastic hiker was in some pain the rest of the trip. Being Ryan he was pretty stoic about it.
