Cassidy Arch Trail: Capitol Reef's Most Dramatic Arch Hike

Butch Cassidy needed somewhere to disappear, and Utah’s canyon country gave him options. The Robbers Roost area, about 50 miles east of Capitol Reef, was a documented hideout for the Wild Bunch gang through the 1890s. The canyon terrain, the remote washes, the ability to spot anyone approaching from miles away, it worked for outlaws. The arch that carries his name sits above Grand Wash on the Waterpocket Fold, and whether Cassidy stood on that specific piece of sandstone is anyone’s guess. The history of the region is real enough to make the name fit.

The trailhead sits at the end of Grand Wash Road, a 2.5-mile dirt road that branches east off Capitol Reef’s Scenic Drive. You need a park entry pass to drive the Scenic Drive, so factor that into your planning. The road is generally passable for standard passenger vehicles in dry conditions. Check at the visitor center if you’re unsure, the road crosses the wash bed and can be impassable after rain.

Getting to the Trailhead

The Scenic Drive fee area starts just south of the visitor center on Highway 24. Pay at the self-serve kiosk or entrance station before heading south. Grand Wash Road is signed and easy to find. It runs east from the main scenic drive, following the canyon bottom to the trailhead parking area.

The lot is small. On spring and fall weekends, arrive before 9 a.m. or after 2 p.m. to find a spot. Midweek is noticeably less crowded. There’s no cell service and no water at the trailhead.

The Climb Out of the Wash

The first half mile follows the Grand Wash canyon floor. It’s flat, sandy, and easy. You can see the canyon walls rising on both sides and get a preview of what the Cassidy Arch trail will climb above. The wash floor is the same terrain covered by the Grand Wash Trail, which runs 4.4 miles one-way to Highway 24.

The Cassidy Arch trail branches left (north) from the wash floor and immediately starts climbing. This is where the difficulty shifts. The trail gains most of its 670 feet in about 1.2 miles. The switchbacks move up through Navajo sandstone, with the trail surface changing from sandy wash bottom to loose rock and exposed slickrock.

Pay attention to footing here. The rock is often gritty rather than grippy, especially on sections exposed to direct sun. Hiking boots with ankle support handle this better than trail runners for most people. The climb isn’t scrambling, but there are sections where you’re using your hands for balance on steeper rocky stretches.

The views open up quickly once you gain height. Looking back south, the Grand Wash canyon floor drops away below you, with the layered red and cream formations of the Waterpocket Fold stretching in both directions. Capitol Reef doesn’t have the dramatic spire formations of Arches or Canyonlands, but the scale of the Fold itself is its own thing.

The Arch at the Rim

Cassidy Arch sits right at the canyon rim, 670 feet above the wash floor. From a distance on the trail, you see it as an opening in the rock, the canyon sky showing through the sandstone above the drop.

The arch is large. It spans roughly 150 feet and sits well off the ground. The trail brings you to the rim beside it, where you can look out over the canyon and back down the route you climbed.

Walking On It

Most people who reach Cassidy Arch walk onto it. You can, and the arch is wide enough that it doesn’t feel precarious if you’re comfortable with exposure. But the drop is real on both sides. Standing at the center, you’re above a long fall to the canyon floor.

The approach to the arch involves walking across a section of open slickrock at the rim. There’s no railing and no marked path. If you’re comfortable with heights, walk to the middle, look down both sides, and take your photos. If heights give you trouble, the view from the rim edge where the trail arrives is also excellent and completely safe.

This is one of a small number of natural arches in Utah that visitors can actually stand on without technical gear or a permit. That’s part of what makes the extra effort worth it compared to some other Capitol Reef hikes.

Views From the Top

From the arch and the surrounding rim area, you’re looking west across the Grand Wash drainage toward the main Capitol Reef formations. The white Navajo sandstone domes that define the park’s skyline are visible to the north. To the east, the land drops off into the broader canyon country beyond the park boundary.

The light is best in mid-morning when the sun is high enough to illuminate the canyon walls without harsh shadows. Late afternoon works too. Midday in summer turns the exposed rim into an oven.

Combining With Other Capitol Reef Hikes

Grand Wash Trail runs below the Cassidy Arch route and connects the same trailhead to Highway 24 via the canyon floor. It’s flat, easy, and reaches some of the same dramatic canyon walls from ground level. If you have a second car or a shuttle option, combining the canyon-floor walk with the arch hike makes a full day.

Hickman Bridge is on the north side of Highway 24, about a mile east of the visitor center. It’s 1.8 miles round trip with 400 feet of gain and ends at a natural bridge you walk under. It’s more accessible than Cassidy Arch and worth doing if you have time. The two hikes are different enough that doing both on the same day isn’t redundant.

Season and Heat

The canyon terrain amplifies heat. In July and August, temperatures in the Grand Wash area regularly exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit by midday. The exposed upper section of the Cassidy Arch trail has no shade at all.

Spring (March through May) and fall (September through November) are the right seasons for this hike. You want to be on the upper section no later than 10 a.m. in warm months. Start at the trailhead by 7 a.m. if you’re hiking between June and August.

Bring more water than you think you need. Two liters minimum for the 3.4-mile round trip. The hike has no water sources, and the climb is real work even in moderate temperatures.

The trail also closes during heavy rain or when the Grand Wash Road becomes impassable. Check conditions at the visitor center if there’s any chance of precipitation.

What to Bring

Good footwear matters on this trail more than on most Capitol Reef hikes. The rocky upper section and the slickrock near the arch reward boots with a stiff sole and ankle support. Bring trekking poles if you use them, the descent on loose rocky trail is where most people slip.

Sun protection is non-negotiable above the wash. Hat, sunscreen, and UV-protective sleeves make a real difference on the exposed upper section.

The hike is 3.4 miles with 670 feet of gain. Plan 2.5 to 3.5 hours depending on your pace and how long you spend at the arch.

Frequently Asked Questions