Frying Pan Trail, Cassidy Arch, Grand Wash Loop in Capitol Reef National Park, UT

Hike Frying Pan Trail, Cassidy Arch, Grand Wash Loop Capitol Reef National Park, UT

Class 1 9.6 miles 1800 gain 3-5 hrs Out + Back Sep 2, 2017
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Frying Pan Trail, Cassidy Arch, Grand Wash Loop GPX Track

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Rather than hiking the Frying Pan Trail or Grand Wash Trail as out-and-backs, I contrived a loop that combines these two popular hikes with Cassidy Arch and forms a loop. The one downside is that this loop requires roughtly 2.5 miles of hiking along the paved park road, but it's a small price to pay for seeing so much variety during this loop's duration. You coud start from the Cohab Canyon Trailhead, but I chose to begin from the Hickman Bridge Trailhead. From here I crossed the street and looked for a sign for the Frying Pan Trail. A well-traveled and cairned trail leads up into the Capitol Reef National Park slanted landscape of gorgeous sandstone. The Frying Pan Trail gains and loses elevation a couple of times as it navigates the sandstone wonderland and it eventually leads to the spur trail to Cassidy Arch. Later in the year we rappelled through Cassidy Arch Canyon, which you should check out if that's your thing. I enjoyed the arch for a bit before heading back along the spur trail and continuing down on the popular Cassidy Arch Trail. This led to the southern Grand Wash Trailhead, the head of the canyon.

I started down the Grand Wash Trail, which was a gorgeous, popular hike on a sandy trail. The towering walls made me feel quite small, and it was a vastly different experience than the first half of the hike, which took the high road through the desert terrain. While Grand Wash is non-technical, it's still gorgeous and quite pleasant. I reached the northern trailhead and followed the paved park road west back to my car at Hickman Bridge. If you can manage a shuttle or hitchhike, you can cut over two road walking miles off the hike.

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Starting along the Frying Pan Trail from the Hickman Bridge Trailhead.
Starting along the Frying Pan Trail from the Hickman Bridge Trailhead.
The trail winds through the gorgeous sandstone formations as it heads generally south.
The trail winds through the gorgeous sandstone formations as it heads generally south.
View back, amazing features.
View back, amazing features.
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Incredible views along the Frying Pan Trail.
Incredible views along the Frying Pan Trail.
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Still heading south along the Frying Pan Trail, the canyon walls at the head of Grand Wash visible on the far right.
Still heading south along the Frying Pan Trail, the canyon walls at the head of Grand Wash visible on the far right.
Stunning views south.
Stunning views south.
Along the side-trail to Cassidy Arch, which is visible in the distance, right of center.
Along the side-trail to Cassidy Arch, which is visible in the distance, right of center.
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Cassidy Arch.
Cassidy Arch.
Looking down into Cassidy Arch Canyon.
Looking down into Cassidy Arch Canyon.
Views below from near Cassidy Arch.
Views below from near Cassidy Arch.
View along the Cassidy Arch Trail as I head down to the southern Grand Wash Trailhead.
View along the Cassidy Arch Trail as I head down to the southern Grand Wash Trailhead.
Nicely maintained Cassidy Arch Trail.
Nicely maintained Cassidy Arch Trail.
At the head of Grand Wash.
At the head of Grand Wash.
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Heading down Grand Wash.
Heading down Grand Wash.
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Very pretty, towering walls in Grand Wash.
Very pretty, towering walls in Grand Wash.
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Narrows within Grand Wash.
Narrows within Grand Wash.
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Nearing the mouth of Grand Wash, more incredible rock features.
Nearing the mouth of Grand Wash, more incredible rock features.
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View back up Grand Wash as I finish the trail. From here I just took the paved road leading west back to my car at the Hickman Bridge Trailhead. I didn't take any photos along the road.
View back up Grand Wash as I finish the trail. From here I just took the paved road leading west back to my car at the Hickman Bridge Trailhead. I didn't take any photos along the road.

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Hire/refer me as a web developer or send me a few bucks if you find my site useful. I’m not sponsored, so all fees are out-of-pocket and my time preparing trip reports is unpaid. I really appreciate it!