On my recent road trip, I got a chance to revisit a trail I didn’t get to finish. I’m talking about the Grand Wash Trail at Capitol Reef National Park. If anyone is familiar with this trail, there are 2 entrances to this trail – one along Highway 24 and the other one on the scenic road. Either way, it’s a 2 miles trail one way.

The first and last time I hiked this trail was in 2018 but I had to turn back abruptly due to a stomach bug. My stomach began gurgling around half-way in the hike, turned out I ate something bad. This time, I was determined to finish the trail.

This trail is one of my all-time favorite trails because is very accessible. Anyone can do it. I witness a few old folks walking with a cane and a few dads carrying their newborns on their backs. This trail used to be a river bed, maybe that’s why it’s such a flat trail. I kept checking my watch as I hiked, there was barely any elevation gain.

The landscape was as majestic as I remembered, even under the midday sun. My favorite part of the trail has to be the narrows – the narrowest part of the trail. The rock mountains are so close together that standing close to one can offer a comfortable breeze and shade.

I hiked this trail with my mom this time, who I was surprised was willing to do this trail. Maybe it was my emphasis that this is an easy trail. However, in the car the next morning, as we were heading for Goblin Valley, she said, “Never do that trail again.”

When I asked why, she told me she had a nightmare the previous night about the necessity to outrun an impending flood while hiking the Grand Wash trail. I rolled my eyes and sighed. I feel like that’s a possibility but if this trail becomes a river again, then we are most likely looking at the end of the world as we know it, don’t you think?

Still, I will definitely return to this trail again.

For SundayStills