Round Trip Distance: 0.2 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation: 6323 - 6352 feet
Cellphone: 0-3 bars
Time: 30 mins.
Trailhead: Goosenecks Overlook
Fee: $7 individual, $15/vehicle
Attractions: Scenic views, geology
The Goosenecks Overlook trail is in the Capitol Reef National Park near Torrey, Utah. The short trail leads from the parking area to an overlook above the winding bends of Sulphur Creek Canyon hundreds of feet below. The creek apparently cut its way downward into the soft rock as the area was lifted up when the Rocky Mountains were formed.
The trailhead is less than a mile on a dirt road from Highway 24 at the Panorama Point turnoff west of the Visitor Center. The Goosenecks Overlook and Sunset Point trailheads share the same parking area.
The trail begins by ascending the hill between the parking area and the canyon.
The overlook sits on the canyon rim just below the summit of the hill. Hikers are warned to keep off the rocks close to the rim because they can be loose.
The 'S' shaped course of the creek resembles some of the petroglyphs in the area that appear to represent rivers. The smoke in this picture is from wildfires that were burning 2 states away in California. Hazy skies are not uncommon during California's yearly fire season. It makes you wonder if it was much different during ancient times when the Fremont and even older tribes were the inhabitants.
Looking closely at the banks of Sulphur Creek in places you can make out yellow sand and rock that probably come from the mineral that gives it its name.
