Cohab Canyon Trail: Capitol Reef’s Best View

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I feel like every time I do a new hike at Capitol Reef, it’s my favorite and things were no different on my first visit of the year.  Our plan was to drive Cathedral Valley Loop and camp a night out there, but as usual, things changed.  Our new plan was to hike Cohab Canyon then get salsa and ice cream at the Gifford Store.

Off we went to start the hike.  The weather was pretty perfect since it was still early in the year.  It starts with a set of switchbacks, which was probably most of the elevation gain for the hike.  I was having a tough time but I was determined to see it.  Once we got to the top we had wonderful views of Fruita and the campground below.

Once you get to the top, you go left into the canyon.  You’re pretty much just following a wash the whole way and you might find some little side slot canyons.  Eventually, you’ll come to a slick rock area that you go up and over. 

When you do get to this, stay towards the left.  Shortly after this, you can either continue straight towards Grand Wash and the Hickman Bridge parking area or you can go up to the North Fruita Overlook which is what we did.

After branching off the main trail, it isn’t too far before you get to the overlook and another fork to a different overlook.  We skipped that one.  I did love the North Fruita Overlook a lot though.  You can see the Hickman Bridge trail, the campground, the river trail, and the road passing through the orchards.

The whole time it was pretty cloudy and thundering, which usually would really freak me out, but I loved it on this hike.  Like, a lot.  It felt moody but it kept the temperature a little cooler and it was just all good.

When we did thee hike it felt like peak wildflower blooming season so I was taking pictures of every flower bloom we passed.  I got to see my first Claret Cup Cactus blooms which were fantastic!  They’re the red cactus blooms in this post.  I could have taken pictures of just those all day.

The scenery at the top of the canyon, by the Fruita Overlook felt like a totally different place.  It was flat with prairie type grasses and white rock instead of the red below.  This is definitely one of my favorite hikes in Capitol Reef now, along with Headquarters Canyon.

National Park Pass + Other National Park Deals

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• Get yourself a little National Park notebook to write all about your adventures while you’re on the road. These from Field Notes are all very cute! If you want one for all of the NPS sites (400+!) then this one is for you!
• Before your trip, get some national park apparel for your trip! Homage is donating 5% of sales from the national park collection to the National Parks Conservation Association this year. Buy national park shirts here.
• Consider reading some of these books set in national parks before your big trip, on your adventure, or once you get home to take you back to the parks until next time.
• Planning a big national park trip? Check out these other posts: National Park bucket list, Make the most of a National Park trip, National Park camping packing list, My favorite National Park hikes, More National Park hikes I love, Underrated National Parks.

Where is Cohab Canyon?

Cohab Canyon is just across from the Gifford Store.  If you’re on the front porch of the store looking across the street, there is a dirt parking lot (across from the barn) and that’s where you park. 

From the parking lot, walk towards the campground along the road and you’ll find the trailhead on the left (the same side as the parking lot) heading up as a set of switchbacks.

How long is the Cohab Canyon hike?

It is 1.7 miles one way, so about 3.4 round trip.  It has 440 feet of elevation gain and is a derate difficulty.   I would plan 3-4, maybe even 5 depending on your speed, hours for this, especially if you go up to the overlooks.

What to bring on Cohab Canyon hike

Water bottle – It’ll be hot and you’ll need to stay hydrated.  Even if it’s not hot you need to stay hydrated.  A Hydro Flask will keep your water ice cold all day long.

Hat – You’ll want some kind of hat to keep the sun out of your eyes.  A baseball hat should be fine but a bucket hat or sun hat could help keep the sun off your neck.

Sunglasses – This is a must no matter where you are.  Sunglasses are best paired with a hat on those really bright days.

Sunscreen – If you plan on being outside, you’ll want sunscreen.  I like the Hawaiian Tropic Sheer Touch a lot AND it’s reef safe! If you’re sensitive to fragrance though, it’s not a good choice. I also like the same one but specifically for your face.

Light Jacket – Because you just never know.  Weather can change quickly depending on where you are, time of day, and season.  I usually use my rain jacket for this.

Good hiking shoes – If you’re hiking when it’s warmer, Chacos will be good.  If it’s fall, muddy, or a little cooler out, you’ll want closed toe shoes.

Where to stay near Capitol Reef

There are quite a few hotels in Torrey to choose from.  We stayed in the Juniper Room at the bed and breakfast and I loved it!  I will definitely stay there again. 

Hotels can easily fill up on weekends in the summer, so if there is somewhere specific you want to stay, I’d recommend booking in advance, especially for the bed and breakfast since it only has six rooms.  Check prices here.

I would definitely recommend this hike if you’re looking for something a little tougher but not too strenuous with rewarding views that doesn’t take all day to finish.  It’s also a lot less busy than other trails in Capitol Reef.  I would say this is a great addition to a road trip itinerary and your Utah bucket list.

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Have you hiked Cohab Canyon?  What did you think of it?  What is your favorite hike at Capitol Reef?