
Starting down the Grand Wash Trail. We will soon be on the ledge above in the center of the face ahead.

Heading down the Grand Wash Trail.

A social trail leads out of Grand Wash on the right.

Class 2 up to a convenient ledge above Grand Wash.

Class 3 move along the ledge.

The ledge wraps us safely around the base of the cliffs. Here we are about to cross over the first canyon.

Past the first canyon, Class 2 to gain some elevation.

The terrain would be tricky if not for cairns.

Continuing on another ledge system.

View back, Grand Wash seen far right.

Some more Class 2/3 route-finding.

A higher ledge.

A Class 3 lip.

And then we emerged onto a slickrock section.

View back, Grand Wash below on the left.

Close-up toward Cassidy Arch across the canyon.

Wrapping around on a significant ledge/bench that wraps us much of the way toward Ferns Nipple, seen center.

Beautiful open view toward the steep cliff faces.

Another canyon avoidance using the ledge/bench. The ledge is angled downard on the way to the canyons, then ascends slightly after passing each canyon.

Third canyon we passed over.

Other side of the canyon, still ascending.

Wrapping around on the ledge.

At the fourth major canyon, we started up a bouldery gully, leaving the ledge/bench.

Class 3 within the bouldery gully.

Ascending to higher ground.

View back the way we came.

Class 2/3 leading south through open slickrock country.

A view back, Grand Wash obscured in the center.

Ferns Nipple ahead.

Class 2/3 to the base of Ferns Nipple.

Ferns Nipple. I recommend keeping to the right to avoid the steepest stuff, then head to the "nipple".

Class 2 and some Class 3 on the way up.

Nearing the summit, view back.

Class 3/4 along the north ridge.

View up at the north ridge of Ferns Nipple, Class 3/4.

View down the north ridge.

Matt at the top of the north ridge. Summit directly behind me.

View north into Grand Wash.

View south toward the traverse to come.

Optional Class 4 seam. I recommend just using the narrow north ridge.

We backtracked from Ferns Nipple and headed around its east face in order to head toward Peak 6920 (seen right). Our ascent is the gully seen center of this photo, which has a Class 4 high-angle slab. Alternatively, you could wrap around on the left and use a Class 2/3 route, though it's longer.

We chose to use the gully seen right of center.

Descending from Ferns Nipple on somewhat complex terrain.

Ascending to the gully.

Matt on the Class 4 slab. They dropped me webbing, thankfully. I didn't like how steep it was.

Above the Class 4 move, view toward Ferns Nipple.

Above the move, ascending to the summit of Peak 6920 (top right out of frame). We used the slope seen center for our ascent.

Approaching Peak 6920's summit.

Class 3 summit block of Peak 6920.

View south toward Peak 7080 and George Benchmark.

We backtracked from Peak 6920, then navigated complex terrain to get back to the main ridge south of Ferns Nipple. We took a wide sandstone rib initially.

The rib ended in a Class 3 down-climb. I don't know if there was an easier option, but the canyons in the area looked either brushy or cliffy. You may want to consider just backtracking to the base of Ferns Nipple and route-finding along the main ridgeline.

View back toward the wide rib we just had to descend from, making progress up to the main ridge.

Back on the main ridge. Ferns Nipple seen left, Peak 6920 seen right.

Another shot back toward Ferns Nipple as we make our way to Peak 7080. The ridge is wide enough that it's hard to find the most efficient route, plus there were occasional gullies and canyons to wrap around.

Ascending to Peak 7080, left of center.

Peak 7080 on the right.

Class 2/3 to gain the sandstone slab at Peak 7080's base.

Class 2/3 from here to the summit.

View back as we near the summit of Peak 7080. Ferns Nipple seen far right.

Peak 7080 summit, view toward George Benchmark. What an impressive north face!

View back toward Peak 7080 (far right), and Ferns Nipple (far left).

So far from Peak 7080 the terrain was pretty tame, but then we reached a Class 2 descent, followed by a Class 3 move to reach the saddle separating the two. George Benchmark seen center.

From the saddle, we took the little gully/canyon seen center.

Class 2 up the gully.

George Benchmark ahead. We continued directly toward it initially, Class 2/3.

A fun, featured Class 3 face to gain the north side of George Benchmark.

View down at the Class 3.

Above the Class 3, view back.

We navigated a Class 2 slope to gain the summit ridge.

Summit ridge leading to George Benchmark.

George Benchmark summit, view north toward Ferns Nipple.

George Benchmark summit, view south along Capitol Reef.

We located a sandy wash after backtracking from George Benchmark. This is a view back, George Benchmark seen top right.

Hiking for a while through the wash.

At the end of the wash, a cairn marked the start of a social trail.

Golden Throne seen center. The social trail continued for a time before becoming difficult to follow. I recommend sticking to a low-angle sandstone ramp as much as possible. Venturing to the left results in lots of cryptobiotic soil avoidance.

Golden Throne seen top right as we descend. It's important not to end up too far to the right (south) as you descend since you'll get cliffed-out at the bottom.

View back up. We came from the top left in this photo.

A key crossover before a canyon drops. If you were too far south, you'll be hit with a cliff. An obvious social trail continues past here.

View back at the key canyon crossover.

Along a social trail leading to the end of the official Golden Throne Trail.

View toward Golden Throne.

End of Golden Throne Trail. We would take the trail back.

Along the Golden Throne Trail, a beautiful hike.


The trail was constructed along ledges/benches like much of our ascent route to Ferns Nipple had been. The sandstone formations really were conducive to foot traffic.


View back, Golden Throne seen above.

The Golden Throne Trail weaves in and out of canyons.


Beautiful features on the opposite side of Capitol Gorge.

Capitol Gorge seen below.


Descending to Capitol Gorge.

The start of the Golden Throne Trail. Since the road was closed, we walked back a few miles along the road back to the upper trailhead.

Golden Throne seen from within Capitol Gorge.

The walls were beautiful and it was actually a lovely road walk.

Capitol Gorge.

We arrived at the head of Capitol Gorge, where we'd parked our shuttle car.
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