Old Wagon Trail Loop

Old Wagon Trail Loop is Capitol Reef's sleeper hit — a trail that most visitors drive right past on their way to the more famous Grand Wash or Hickman Bridge. The route climbs steadily through a fragrant pinyon-juniper woodland, following the path of a historic wagon road that once connected the Fruita settlement to the high country. You'll gain over a thousand feet across less than four miles, which means the grade is relentless enough to earn its strenuous rating. The reward comes at the upper reaches where the trees thin out and the views crack open: the Waterpocket Fold stretches below you like a geological textbook, with the Henry Mountains anchoring the horizon to the east. The descent loops back through slickrock sections and cairned passages that demand attention. This trail is built for hikers who want Capitol Reef's big views without Capitol Reef's crowds.