Capitol Reef National Park
Goosenecks
easy FamiliesPhotographersQuick Stops
0.1 mi Distance
50 ft Elevation Gain
Varies Estimated Time
one_way Trail Type
What to Expect
This is less a hike and more a short stroll to one of Capitol Reef's most jaw-dropping viewpoints. From the small pulloff along the Scenic Drive, you'll walk a flat, well-worn path for barely a minute before the earth drops away and you're staring down into Sulphur Creek canyon — a labyrinth of sinuous, deeply carved gooseneck bends that look like a river got lost and kept changing its mind. The rock layers tell roughly 200 million years of geologic history in a single glance. There's no shade, no drama in the walking itself — the drama is entirely in the destination. You'll spend more time at the overlook than you did getting there, and that's exactly the point. Perfect for anyone who wants a world-class canyon view without breaking a sweat.
Safety Advisory
The overlook has no guardrails in some spots and the canyon drop is several hundred feet — keep a firm grip on small children and stay well back from the edge.
Trail Details
Distance 0.1 miles round-trip
Elevation Gain 50 ft
Difficulty easy
Estimated Time Varies
Trail Type one_way
Pets Not allowed
Season Year-round
Trailhead Goosenecks
Pro Tips
Trail Tip
Visit in the late afternoon when the low-angle sunlight ignites the red and white rock layers in the canyon — the midday sun flattens everything out and kills the depth.
Trail Tip
Combine this with the Sunset Point trail just up the road; together they take under 30 minutes and give you two completely different perspectives on Capitol Reef's geology.
Trail Tip
Bring a wider lens or step back from the railing — the gooseneck bends are so dramatic that a phone camera at the edge can't capture the full sweep of the canyon.
