by Alex Gugel , all rights reserved
Capitol ReefSulphur Creek |
Brochure and Map of Sulphur Creek at Capitol Reef National Park (NP) in Utah. Published by the National Park Service (NPS).
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Capitol Reef National Park
National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
Sulphur Creek
Sulphur Creek has cut a deep canyon that passes through the oldest rocks exposed at Capitol Reef.
It is a perennial stream with a flow that varies significantly in response to upstream water usage,
snowmelt, and heavy rain. There are about two miles of scenic narrows and three small waterfalls.
Bypassing the falls requires the ability to scramble down 12-foot ledges. The route nearly always
requires some walking in shallow water, but it is not uncommon for there to be much deeper water
that might even require swimming. This route may be difficult for children if deep water is present.
Ask at the visitor center for the latest condition report. Dangerous flash floods are an occasional
hazard on this route—do not hike the Sulphur Creek route if there is a chance of rain.
The 5.5-mile (8.9 km) one-way hike through Sulphur Creek Canyon involves leaving a shuttle
vehicle at each end. If you don’t have two vehicles, a 3.3-mile (5.3 km) hike along Highway 24 is
required to return your starting point. Vehicle shuttles are not provided or facilitated by the park.
Though legal, hitchhiking is not recommended.
Sulphur Creek
This route is not an official, maintained trail. Route conditions, including obstacles in canyons,
change frequently due to weather, flash floods, rockfall, and other hazards. Routefinding,
navigation, and map-reading skills are critical. Do not rely solely on unofficial route markers
(rock cairns, etc.); they are not maintained by the National Park Service (NPS), may not indicate
the route in this description, or may be absent.
Trailhead Locations
Parking for the upper end of the Sulphur Creek
route is at a paved pulloff on Highway 24,
0.3 mile (0.5 km) west of the Chimney Rock
trailhead, a total of 3.3 miles (5.3 km) west of the
visitor center. Space-permitting, you may also
park at the Chimney Rock trailhead. Parking
for the lower end of the route is on a gravel
road shoulder on the north side of Highway 24
across from the visitor center, adjacent to the
highway bridge over Sulphur Creek.
Hike Description
For those wishing to hike a short section of the
canyon to a small waterfall, begin your hike at the
visitor center and follow Sulphur Creek upstream
0.7 mile (1.2 km). However, many hikers choose
to hike the entire route in the downstream
direction, starting at the Chimney Rock trailhead
and ending at the visitor center. This description
details the hike in that direction.
(229 m) to the next falls, also passed on the right
(south). Here, pass under a large rock against
the south canyon wall and scramble down three
separate short pitches, slightly more difficult than
the first falls. Beyond this falls there are narrows
that usually require walking through water. After
the second falls, it is 1.7 miles (2.8 km) to the
third and final waterfall. Though only about eight
feet (2.4 m) high, this obstacle requires a short
but slippery traverse on a narrow ledge to the
left (north), followed by a short downclimb—use
caution. A faint hiker-made bypass trail can be
accessed by returning upstream about 20 yards
(18 m) to a point where it is possible to climb
out on the south side via a series of ledges. Once
atop the ledges, follow the bypass to the east,
traversing the slope above the lower cliffs south
of the creek. The bypass eventually descends
back to creek level well beyond the falls.
From the Chimney Rock trailhead, cross to the
south side of Highway 24. Directly across the
highway is a short hiker-made trail that quickly
leads down into the left side of a small wash.
Walking in the wash bottom reduces hiker
impacts on the sparse plant community. Con
tinue in the small wash for 500 feet (152 m)
until it runs into a much larger wash. Bear left
(southeast) and follow the wash for another
1.4 miles (2.3 km). Before the confluence with
Sulphur Creek, the wash narrows and there are
two 6-foot (2 m) pour-offs to downclimb. If
you are hiking in the opposite direction (visitor
center to Chimney Rock) the exit wash is at
UTM 0473452mE, 4239348mN (NAD27 datum).
Route Distances
Once at the creek, turn left (east) and walk
downstream. The canyon quickly deepens. A
half mile (0.8 km) along is the first view of the
fence at Goosenecks Overlook, about 800 feet
(244 m) above. From here it is another mile (1.6
km) of creekside walking to the first falls and the
beginning of the narrows section.
The lower 0.7 mile (1.2 km) of the route follows
the creek toward park headquarters and the
visitor center. When the cliff to the north of the
stream ends, find a hiker-made track that leads
to that point, where there is an old lime kiln built
and used by the early residents of Fruita. Please
preserve this fragile historic relic by not climbing
on or inside the kiln. The trail continues over a
low hill and down to Sulphur Creek behind the
visitor center. Go around the left (north) side of
the buildings to the parking area.
To pass by the falls, keep to the right (south) and
cross angled slickrock. Next to the wall, scramble
down a 10-foot (3 m) pitch; this will require the
use of hands to negotiate. Below the falls, the
canyon tightens with undercut walls. Note that
flash floods rearrange Sulphur Creek significantly
and have, in the past, created six-foot-deep (1.8 m)
pools that cannot be avoided. It is only 750 feet
Note: Capitol Reef National Park recommends
hikers do not ingest water from Sulphur Creek
because E. coli bacteria are occasionally detected
at frequencies greater than Utah water quality
standards. Sources of E. coli bacteria in Sulphur
Creek may include runoff from upstream
agricultural, grazing, and urban land, and human
and wildlife waste.
Chimney Rock trailhead/parking area to Sulphur Creek confluence........................1.5 miles (2.4 km)
Sulphur Creek confluence to first waterfall...................................................................1.5 miles (2.4 km)
First waterfall to second waterfall......................................................................................750 feet (229 m)
Second waterfall to third waterfall..................................................................................1.7 miles (2.8 km)
Third waterfall to lower end of route (visitor center)....................................................0.7 mile (1.2 km)
Total route distance (Chimney Rock trailhead to visitor center).............................5.5 miles (8.9 km)
Rules and Regulations
Additional Information
• Free permits are required for backcountry
camping, and are available at:
♦♦Capitol Reef Visitor Center
♦♦Bullfrog Visitor Center (Glen Canyon NRA)
♦♦Anasazi State Park (Boulder, UT)
♦♦Escalante Interagency Visitor Center
• Dispersed/at-large camping with vehicles is
prohibited within the park, including at or
near trailheads. Dispersed/at-large camping
is allowed on federal lands (USFS, BLM)
adjacent to the park.
• Pets are not permitted on trails or in off-trail
or backcountry areas. Pets are permitted on
roads and in designated campgrounds.
• Fires are prohibited.
• Collecting or damaging any park resource
(plants, animals, wood, rocks, bones, antlers,
artifacts, etc.) is prohibited.
• Violation of these regulations may result in a
citation.
Best season:
For more information:
Spring and fall during warm weather, and
summer if there is no chance of rain.
Contact the Capitol Reef Visitor Center at
435-425-4111.
Maps:
0.7mi
1.2km
Third waterfall
k s R oa d
EXPERIENCE YOUR AMERICA
Dry wash
joins Sulphur
Creek Canyon
To
Torrey
1.5mi
2.4km
1.5mi
2.4km
24
First waterfall
Goo
sen
ec
Sulphur Creek
Chimney Rock
parking area
trailhead &
parking area
Second waterfall
Goosenecks viewpoint
(no access to canyon)
1.8mi
3.0km
3.0mi
4.9km
0
0
24
Visitor center (lower
trailhead and parking)
1 km
Contour interval - 40 feet
0.5 mi
North
Distance between
points
0.5mi
0.8km
Paved road
(Highway 24)
Unpaved road
Hiking route
USGS 7.5-minute series: Twin Rocks.
Maps available at the visitor center.
www.nps.gov/care
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