Things to do in Caineville

Like other southern Utah lands, Capitol Reef National Park has colorful cliffs and rock canyons up to 275 million years old. Its uniqueness comes from specific shapes and sights. Inspect 1,000-year-old Fremont Culture Indian petroglyph rock art. Try to identify the “Capitol” and “reef” that influenced early pioneers who gave the area its name.

Until 1962, the path that winds through the bottom of Capitol Gorge was the only connection the pioneers of Fruita had to the outside world. Today, a highway has replaced the narrow, 1-mile (2-kilometer) trail. It is now part of Capitol Reef National Park and offers a walk through the long past of the region.

The Hickman Bridge Trail is a fairly easy walk suitable for most people. It leads to its namesake natural arch and comprises a range of switchbacks, arches and overlooks. Complete the hike for excellent views of the red stone arch as well as several other landmarks in Capitol Reef National Park.

Amid the otherworldly red canyons and sandstone spires of Capitol Reef National Park remain the historic and awe-inspiring Petroglyphs. The site consists of ancient engravings of the Fremont and Ancestral Puebloan peoples etched onto the canyon walls between the 7th and 14th centuries. Try to decipher the mysteries of the legends and information that shed light on their lives.

Beyond the edges of the civilized world, Fruita residents needed to be largely self-sufficient, so they had their own Blacksmith Shop. Founded at the very end of the 1870s, the small community of eight to 10 families remained until well into the 20th century one of the smallest, most isolated towns in America. That isolation translated into technological delays; the first tractor was not introduced here until World War II. This late arrival of modern development meant that people had to make their own tools of every kind. On a visit to the small community, stop at the Gifford House for a trip back into history and a slice of homemade pie.