Goosenecks Overlook & Sunset Point

The Trail

This easy jaunt is under a mile long (round trip) with a 61 foot elevation change when both trails are done in succession. Here we started by going up the short Goosenecks Overlook Trail, which leads to a view point for the U-shaped bends of the canyon below. For more adventuresome hikers, this slot canyon can also be accessed and hiked via that Sulphur Creek Route from the Chimney Rock Trail head.

Topographical Map

Graph of Elevation (doing the Goosenecks Overlook Trail first)

Trail in Google Earth

View of Goosenecks from Goosenecks Overlook

Another View of Goosenecks from Overlook

After coming down from the Goosenecks Overlook, we headed up to Sunset Point. This point is aptly named; it is a beautiful place to be as the sun sets. The sun radiates off the rock faces across the surrounding canyons, causing them to glow brightly. Unfortunately, the clouds blocked the sun while we were there, so we didn't get to see this effect. Even the brief sunset itself was muted in the cloudy sky. It would have been better could we have been there on a less cloudy night. Despite this, we still found the view from Sunset Point enjoyable.

View from Sunset Point during cloudy evening

Another section of the deep gorge cradling Sulphur Creek is also visible from the south side of Sunset Point.

Sulphur Creek from Sunset Point

Directions

This trail is located in Capitol Reef National Park in Wayne County, Utah. The trail is off of UT-24. To get there from I-15, take Exit 188 to get onto US-50. Get off US-50 at UT-260. From there get onto UT-24 and continue to Capitol Reef. The turn off for these trails will be before the Visitor's Center. Take the Panorama Point/Sunset Point turn off to the right. Stay left where the road splits and continue up the dirt road to the parking area and trail head.