One Trail at a Time: Cohab Canyon Trail at Capitol Reef National Park
The Cohab Canyon trail is an excellent, moderately difficult trail beginning just past the Fruita Orchards in the heart of Capitol Reef National Park. The popular trail provides incredible views of Fruita, the hidden Cohab Canyon itself, and can be linked to the Cassidy Arch Trail, as well!
Cohab Canyon Trail
Trailhead and Parking
The Cohab Canyon Trailhead is located 1.3 miles down Scenic Drive from the Visitor’s Center. Parking can be found in the lot across from the Gifford Homestead. From the parking lot, a short walk along Scenic Drive will take you to the well-marked trailhead.
Pro Tip: Arrive early as the lot fills up quickly due to Gifford Homestead visitors and Cohab Canyon hikers.
Cohab Canyon parking is directly across from the Pendleton Barn
Cohab Canyon Trailhead
Trail Information
The Cohab Canyon trail is a 1.7 mile (one-way) that traverses the Canyon from the Pendleton Barn to the Hickman Bridge Trailhead. The Trail has multiple spur trails that lead to overlooks of Fruita and Cassidy Arch. Cohab Canyon Trail climbs 793 ft, most of which is encountered within the first 0.5 miles of the hike. At the 1 mile mark, the Overlook spur can be taken to view Fruita from the canyon rim. Just past the Overlook spur, the Frying Pan spur trail will take you to Cassidy Arch.
The initial climb into Cohab Canyon
The Hike
Beginning at the trailhead adjacent to the Pendleton Barn, the hike begins with a relatively steep climb up the rocky slope via a series of switchbacks. The trail ascends approximately 400 ft over 0.4 miles before reaching the ridgeline.
The ridge before dropping into Cohab Canyon
After hiking along the ridge, the trail drops into Cohab Canyon. Descending into the canyon, the trail surface changes from a packed, gravely surface to a rocky, sandy trail. The next mile of trail will lead you through incredible waterpocket formations within the sandstone walls as you descend approximately 200 feet through the canyon.
Descending into Cohab Canyon
Moving through the canyon, the trail opens after about 0.5 miles into an exotic slickrock formation with volcanic basalt boulders strewn about!
Trading the sand for slickrock in Cohab Canyon
The trail can be a bit difficult to follow through the slickrock, but a few cairns and basalt boulders mark the way as you descend a bit further into the canyon.
Pro Tip: Be aware of any wet slickrock on the trail, since as the name implies, it can be very slippery.
Following the basalt boulders through Cohab Canyon
Shortly after the section of slickrock, the trail to the Overlook spur trail will appear on your left. This portion of the trail requires an initial climb up a few rock slab switchbacks before summiting to the canyon rim.
Hiking the sagebrush meadow atop Cohab Canyon
Once atop the canyon rim, a trail fork appears giving you the option to stay straight to the North Fruita Overlook, or take the left fork to the South Fruita Overlook.
Fruita from the Cohab Canyon rim overlook
To return to the main trail, simply retrace your footsteps back through the meadow and down the switchbacks. Once you arrive back at the main trail, turning left will take you to the Frying Pan Spur Trail which appears almost immediately on the right side after the Overlook Trail Spur. The 3 mile Frying Pan trail will take you to Cassidy Arch, which will create an 8.5 mile out-and-back total trail distance.
Another option would be to stay on the main trail, bypassing the Frying Pan Spur Trail. This will bring you to Route 24 directly across from the Hickman Bridge Trailhead. At that point, you will need to get a ride back to your original starting point at the Gifford Homestead, or make the 1.7 mile hike back along the Cohab Canyon Trail.
A massive storm rolling into Cohab Canyon on the return hike
Pro Tip: As the trail into Cohab Canyon can get moderately tight, be sure to check the weather for any upcoming storms as most of the hike is through the canyon wash, which is susceptible to flash flooding. Thankfully, the booms of thunder are amplified within the canyon walls, which provides plenty of warning to get out of the canyon well before a summer storm is right on top of you!
