Burr Trail Switchbacks — Waterpocket Fold Climb in Capitol Reef

This is the stretch that makes the Burr Trail famous. After miles of pavement through Long Canyon’s red walls, the road turns to dirt and drops down the east side of the Waterpocket Fold in a run of steep, tight switchbacks inside Capitol Reef National Park. The reward is a long view over Strike Valley, with the Henry Mountains on the horizon. Pull off at the top, shut the engine off and look at it for a while. The sandstone ridge runs south as far as you can see.

It’s graded dirt, and a careful driver in a stock high-clearance rig can handle it when dry. The NPS discourages trailers and long RVs, because the turns are tight and the grades are steep. Rain turns the clay slick and can close the road, so check conditions at the Capitol Reef visitor center or the Escalante BLM office before you commit. At the bottom the road meets the Notom-Bullfrog Road, which runs north to Highway 24 and south toward Bullfrog. Cell service is nonexistent here, so carry water, a spare, and a plan. Verify current road status ahead of time.

The Fold's famous switchbacks, dirt and drop-offs