Capitol Reef

We tried to do this trip last spring, but Covid happened and all National Parks shut down. So then we were going to try it in the Fall and decided it would be more fun to go with friends to St. George - and that was indeed a VERY fun trip. But I was bound and determined to make it happen.  Brooke recommended these cabins where they had stayed before so I made some reservations for a few nights. we headed out on a Tuesday morning. Kids did awesome on the drive. It was a COLD and very windy day so when we got there we didn't do a whole lot. 

We checked out the little trading post store and tried to wander around town but there wasn't to see and it was quite cold. 

So we played in the cabin. They were so nice I though. Just quaint and warm and clean. Had a TV - perfect - just what we needed ;) 

We killed some time playing until restaurants opened and it was dinner time. I was going to cook our hobo dinners on the fire but it was way too windy and cold for me to want to try and do that, so we went out to eat and it was really fun, yummy and spendy. Haha.

We tried to get through watching Mandalorian. I think we still have a few episodes. But we watched a couple in the evenings.

The next morning we headed out and went into the park. We stopped and looked around the small little visitors center and then started driving down the scenic road. We stopped on the side to check out some cool rocks and run around a bit. They also liked crawling through the tunnels under the road. 

We got to the end of the road and had some poppyseed muffins for a snack. We played at the picnic area and then I decided we should drive down the dirt road and hike the little trail (Capitol Gorge) at the end of that road. GOOD idea! It was an awesome drive - short and beautiful - and the kids were AWESOME hikers and it was so pretty.

We hiked up to the "water tanks" and found some nice sand that the kids were in heaven playing in. Harvey jumped off a rock into the sand about 20 times and they made sand angels and we had snacks and I laid on a rock and enjoyed the warm sun and it was just a perfect moment. We actually stayed for a good bit. The kids loved it. 

These pioneer names were inscribed in the rock SO far up the wall. Kind of crazy. 

You really can't tell from this picture but the rock on the very top to the right looked like a lizard perched up looking over the valley. 

And it is so crazy to me how this picture looks so drab compared to the reality of the view driving back. It was INCREDIBLE. 

Nice little grassy picnic spot where kids stepped in muddy water. Annoying - wanted to do a couple of other things but they were kind of soaked and filthy. So we played some frisbee and ate lunch and then headed back to camp to see if my friend Chris and her family had made it. They hadn't and weren't coming down till quite late so we went and played at the park for a little bit.

Came back and made a fire and got a fire going for dinner. I love these cool kids. (I let them drive me crazy a lot but we had a really fun day and they are awesome).

Next morning we hung out a little bit - did a little walk waiting to meet up with Chris and her family. We planned to hike to Hickman Bridge. We waited quite a long time (playing by the river in the sand and finding treasures) and then I wasn't sure when they'd be coming so we ended up just starting on our own.

It was another great hike with the kids doing phenomenal with ZERO whining. We snacked under the bridge and it was heavenly. They played more in the sand at the end and then Chris made it down - we must have just missed them at the little loop at the arch. 

We all went to the picnic area and ate lunch and played for a long time. Frisbee, tag, hide and seek, etc. It was a lot of fun. 

Then a little trip to the country store for an ice cream and cookie snack.

Little posers...

After a good break, we decided to hike to the sulphur falls along sulphur creek. Also beautiful and my kids really did so good again. I was so proud of them.

It didn't take long for Lottie to follow Sam's lead and start hiking in the water. 

A happy, lovely reward at the end!

I like this picture :)

This view!!!!! Looks quite lovely in the picture but the real life view and the red and blue all together were just breathtaking. 

We made a fire and played back at camp and it was perfection. A grandkid of the owner of the cabin area - Grant - made himself at home with us and ate roasted peeps and s'mores with us all. It was kind of funny. Hung out for a couple hours with us.  It was so fun to have some friends down there with us - wish it was longer we were crossing over. We had to leave the next morning and they continued on with the rest of their spring break adventures. 

And had to include all of these pictures of Lottie because they are funny and cute. 

It really was a perfect vacation - minus Dad not being there and me wanting one more day. We had so much fun. The kids were really good. The landscape was amazing. We're gonna have to repeat this one!