Flew into Las Vegas Friday evening, 2.5 hour drive to hotel by 130am. Up and out by 9 am for another 2.5 hour drive to Capitol Reef.
Day 1: Hike started at Holt Draw at 1pm - 17 miles through upper spring canyon to a water source, finally arriving at dark 830pm. Setup camp, filtered water and ate dinner at 930pm then crashed. Camped in the canyons surrounded by towering walls
Day 2: Lower spring canyon, into Grand Wash and finally up into the Frying Pan (15 miles). Beautiful camp up on top of a canyon overlooking deep canyons with strange rock formations.
Day 3: Frying Pan to the visitor center for a water resupply. Then on to Sulphur Creek. Amazing section of trail right in a stream through narrow canyons. This was like a mini Zion Narrows with more obstacles and tougher climbing with a big pack, including up an 8 foot water fall. Camped near the end of Sulphur Creek. 10 mile day.
Day 4: followed a wash along the road and finished with some road walking back to Holt Draw by 930 am - 6 miles out. 5 hr drive back to Vegas and an evening flight out.
Honestly Capitol Reef is just as cool if not cooler than any other Utah park. It’s huge with tons of variety and many other backpacking trips available in various parts in of the park. Epic trip.