Wayne County is a land of contrast: narrow canyons and cool high forests, orchard valleys and remote badlands. Use Torrey, Bicknell, or Teasdale as a comfortable base and day-trip outward.
Day 1
Capitol Reef National Park
Waterpocket Fold geology, Fruita orchards, and the Scenic Drive.
Orient yourself at the visitor center, then explore the Fruita Historic District: pioneer orchards, the Gifford Homestead, and petroglyph panels along Highway 24. Drive the Scenic Drive for canyon pullouts, or hike Hickman Bridge for a classic first-day trail.
Evenings in Torrey often mean clear desert skies and a quieter pace than Utah's busier park gateways.
- Capitol Reef Visitor Center
- Fruita Historic District
- Scenic Drive
- Hickman Bridge Trail
- Torrey
Day 2
Cathedral Valley
Remote monoliths, Temple of the Sun and Moon, and high-desert silence.
Cathedral Valley sits in the park's northern district. High-clearance vehicles are strongly recommended, and conditions can change after rain. Check with rangers before you go.
The loop reveals freestanding monoliths, bentonite hills, and wide horizons that feel a world apart from the Fruita orchards. Pack water, spare time, and a full tank.
- Cathedral Valley Loop
- Temple of the Sun
- Temple of the Moon
- Gypsum Sinkhole area
Day 3
Loop the Fold & short slot canyons
Waterpocket Fold viewpoints and beginner-friendly slots near the park.
Trace the Waterpocket Fold on the Notom-Bullfrog Road or Burr Trail for sweeping geology. Pair the drive with short slot-canyon walks suited to your group's experience level. Always check flash-flood forecasts before entering narrow canyons.
Grand Wash and Capitol Gorge offer memorable corridor hikes without committing to a technical canyon day.
- Notom-Bullfrog Road
- Burr Trail overlooks
- Grand Wash
- Capitol Gorge
Day 4
Shopping, Pleasant Creek & Fish Lake
Local galleries in the morning, alpine water by afternoon.
Browse Torrey and Teasdale for galleries, crafts, and outfitters. Then follow Pleasant Creek trails for a quieter park experience before climbing toward Fish Lake for cooler air, aspen groves, and shoreline walks.
Fish Lake is a natural reset day between desert miles. Pack layers; mountain weather shifts quickly.
- Torrey shops & galleries
- Pleasant Creek area
- Fish Lake
- Scenic Highway 25
Day 5
Hike, bike, horseback, ATV, fish, or bird watch
Choose your own adventure day across Wayne County trails and backroads.
Use today to match the landscape to your favorite outdoor style. Guided horseback rides and hiking concessions operate seasonally near the park. Mountain bike and ATV routes fan out on public lands; get current maps and stay on designated trails.
Anglers and birders often favor quieter reservoir edges and riparian corridors. Local travel offices can point you to outfitters and trailheads that fit your group.
- Capitol Reef trailheads
- Guided horseback rides
- Scenic backroads
- Local outfitters
Day 6
Cainville & Hanksville
Rockhounding country, desert highways, and free-roaming buffalo herds when conditions allow.
East of the park, Cainville and Hanksville open onto broad desert country. Rockhounding is a local tradition on appropriate public lands. Follow BLM rules and never collect inside the national park.
Watch for free-roaming buffalo on nearby ranch and open-range corridors, give wildlife plenty of space, and fuel up before long empty stretches.
- Cainville
- Hanksville
- Highway 24 corridor
- Public-land rockhounding areas
Day 7
Butch Cassidy Country, Goblin Valley & Lake Powell
Outlaw lore, mushroom-shaped goblins, and the blue water of Glen Canyon.
Trace Butch Cassidy lore through Wayne and Emery County communities, then wander the otherworldly hoodoos of Goblin Valley State Park. From there, continue toward Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and Lake Powell for a final contrast of blue water against red cliffs.
Confirm marina and recreation access for the season before you commit to a long spur. Many visitors treat Lake Powell as a flexible finale rather than a fixed timetable.
- Butch Cassidy Country stops
- Goblin Valley State Park
- Glen Canyon NRA
- Lake Powell
This tour features
- Capitol Reef National Park
- Cathedral Valley
- Slot canyons
- Fish Lake
- Hiking & horseback
- Scenic drives
- Rockhounding
- Goblin Valley
- Lake Powell access