Hickman Bridge Trail

The Trail

This moderate trail has a 350 foot elevation change and is about 2 mile long (round trip). It starts next to the Fremont River, but quickly climbs up a couple switchbacks to drier sunnier terrain. The rock formations along the trail add interest to hikers' journey as they make their way to Hickman Bridge.

Topographical Map

Graph of Elevatioin

 

Trail in Google Earth

The trail starts right next to the Fremont River, and climbs along the side of a canyon wall to the first switchback.

Trailhead

Fremont River at beginning of the trail

Looking back at Capitol Dome toward the
beginning of the trail

About .3 mile up the trail there is a split (marked by the hiker symbol in the topographical map above). The trail to the right will take hikers along the Rim Overlook/Navajo Knobs Trail. Keep to the left to go to the Hickman Bridge. About 0.7 mile up the trail hikers will reach the Nels Johnson Natural Bridge to the right of the trail.

Nels Johnson Natural Bridge

Nels Johnson Natural Bridge from above

At about 0.8 mile up, the trail splits since it makes a loop at this point. The elevation graph above reflects going right here toward Hickman Bridge.

Hickman Bridge

The best views of the arch are those approaching it from this direction. The trail then cuts under the arch and around to the backside where it turns to head south.

Hickman Bridge

The trail continues to an turn off on the right with a nice overlook just off of this loop that offers some great views.

Pectols Pyramid (on the left)

From there, turn around and continue back to the place the trail split into the loop and head back down.

Directions

This trail is located in Capitol Reef National Park in Wayne County, Utah. The trail is right off 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 and the trail head.