Notom-Bullfrog Road — Capitol Reef to Lake Powell via the Waterpocket Fold
The Waterpocket Fold's lonesome desert spine road.
The Waterpocket Fold is one of the most dramatic geologic features in North America — a 100-mile wrinkle in the Earth’s crust where tilted sandstone layers expose a rainbow of Jurassic and Cretaceous rock in bold, unambiguous color. The Notom-Bullfrog Road runs its full length, starting from Highway 24 near Capitol Reef and dropping south 70 miles through the Henry Mountains foothills to Lake Powell at Bullfrog. You pass through the raw canyon country of Halls Creek, skirt the base of the Henry Mountains (highest point: Mount Ellen at 11,522 feet), and drop into the slickrock badlands approaching the lake. Sandy wash crossings at Halls Creek and Oak Creek can be deceptively deep after monsoon rain — several vehicles have been swallowed here by fast-moving flash flood debris.
The road is two-wheel-drive passable in dry weather for most of its length, but two sections near the Henry Mountains foothills and the wash crossings require high-clearance. After any rain, the clay sections become impassable for anything. This is serious desert — temperatures exceed 100°F in summer, and there’s no water, fuel, or cell service for the entire 70-mile corridor. Carry at minimum 5 gallons of water per person. The nearest fuel is Torrey to the north or Bullfrog Marina to the south (call ahead, Bullfrog’s services are seasonal and unreliable). Best season is March-May and September-November. Dispersed camping is permitted throughout the BLM corridor outside the National Park boundary. This is one of the great lonesome desert drives in the American Southwest.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Moderate |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | High Clearance, Overland Route, Scenic Drive |
| Surface | Dirt, Gravel, Sand |
| Features | Camping, Historic, Remote, Scenic, Water Crossings |
| Length (miles) | 70 mi / 112.7 km |
| Duration | 2-3 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 5800 ft |
| Best season | March-May, September-November |
| Minimum vehicle | High-clearance recommended, 4WD after rain |
| Nearest town | Torrey, UT |
| Land manager | Bureau of Land Management / Capitol Reef National Park |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | Yes |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Official sources | nps.gov |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
| Copy both for Google Maps directionsClick to copy the directions URL · or open it directly in a new tab | |
| Find on Google | Search on Google → |
Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
Can a stock Tacoma or 4Runner handle Notom-Bullfrog Road, or do I need a lifted rig?
A stock high-clearance 4WD like a Tacoma or 4Runner handles this route fine in dry conditions. After rain, the clay sections turn greasy and rutted — that's when 4WD actually matters. A lifted rig gives you more margin, but it's not required.
When is Notom-Bullfrog Road passable, and what happens to it when it rains?
Best windows are March–May and September–November. Summer brings flash flood risk and brutal heat. Rain at any time of year can make the clay sections impassable — even briefly wet roads can strand a vehicle for hours. Check weather forecasts for the entire region, not just your start point.
Do I need a permit to drive or camp on Notom-Bullfrog Road?
No permit is required to drive the route. The northern section runs through Capitol Reef National Park, which charges a vehicle entrance fee. Dispersed camping on the BLM sections south of the park boundary is free and requires no permit — standard 14-day stay limits apply.
What's the hardest section of the route and what should I actually expect?
The roughest stretch typically runs through the mid-section where the road crosses several sandy washes and loose-surface climbs near the Swap Mesa area. Nothing is technically extreme, but washouts, embedded rocks, and soft sand can slow progress significantly. The difficulty spikes fast after rain — what looks moderate on paper becomes a recovery situation.
Is there any water or fuel available along the 70-mile route?
There is no fuel, water, or services between Torrey and Bullfrog Marina — fill up and carry all water before you leave. Bullfrog Marina has fuel and limited supplies, but treat it as a backup, not a plan. Carry at least 2 gallons of water per person per day and enough fuel for 100+ miles of low-speed desert driving.
Trail track
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