Utah · Hiking

Grand Wash Trail

2.33-mile out-and-back hike in Utah with 1,203 ft elevation gain.

2.3 mi
round trip: 1,896 ft
climb: 5,479 ft
high point: Out and back
route

Is Grand Wash Trail open right now?

Alert in the area

The National Park Service lists 2 alerts for Capitol Reef National Park.

Elevated E. Coli levels - Fremont River and Sulphur Creek
Park alert covering Capitol Reef National Park · NPS · Capitol Reef National Park
Monsoon Season & Flash Floods
Park alert covering Capitol Reef National Park · NPS · Capitol Reef National Park

As of Oct 23, 7:30 pm MDT · Source: NPS · Capitol Reef National Park. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Best time to visit Grand Wash Trail

Best months: March–May and September–October. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

Jan
41° / 21°
3 wet · 2 snow
Feb
47° / 26°
4 wet · 1 snow
Mar
57° / 34°
4 wet · 1 snow
Apr
65° / 39°
4 wet
May
74° / 48°
5 wet
Jun
86° / 58°
4 wet
Jul
91° / 65°
7 wet
Aug
88° / 63°
8 wet
Sep
80° / 55°
6 wet
Oct
66° / 43°
4 wet
Nov
51° / 30°
3 wet · 1 snow
Dec
40° / 21°
3 wet · 2 snow

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Capitol Reef Np, UT, 3.2 mi away at 5,500 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Grand Wash Trail is a 2.3-mile hike in Capitol Reef National Park in Utah, managed by the National Park Service. The trail is an out-and-back with a total length of about 4.7 miles and a one-way climb of 262 feet, from a low point of about 5,206 feet to a high of about 5,479 feet. It is rated moderate. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show May highs around 74°F and October highs around 66°F, while July averages about 91°F and winter highs sit in the low 40s. A fee is charged for the hike. The trail starts close to Cassidy Arch, about 0.1 mile away, and the Terrible Twos Wall climbing area is about 0.6 mile off. Grand Wash Boulders and the Lower Spring Canyon Trailhead are both within about 1.4 miles.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Lower Spring Canyon Trailhead

~2 min drive

Up the road and across the river is the mouth of Lower Spring Canyon. This gorge extends behind the cliffs all the way west toward Chimney Rock. The trek twists through a towering tunnel of sandstone for over 7 miles (11.3 km). Lower Spring Canyon is one of many popular backpa…