Capitol Reef is only a small part of the Waterpocket Fold. By taking the Notom-Bullfrog Road, you’ll see nearly 80 miles of the fold’s eastern side. This route crosses some of the younger geologic layers, such as those of the Morrison Formation that form colorful hills. In other places, eroded layers of the Waterpocket Fold jut up at 70-degree angles.

The Henry Mountains to the east and the many canyons on both sides of the road add to the memorable panoramas. The road has been paved as far as Notom, and about 25 miles are paved on the southern end near Bullfrog. The rest of the road is dirt and gravel. Most cars should have no trouble negotiating this road in good weather.

Keep an eye on the weather before setting out, though; the dirt-and-gravel surface is usually okay for cars when dry but can be dangerous for any vehicle when wet. Sandy spots and washouts may present a problem for low-clearance vehicles; contact the visitors center to check current conditions.

Have a full gas tank and carry extra water and food because no services are available between Hwy. 24 and Bullfrog Marina. Purchase a small guide to this area at the visitors center. Features and mileage along the drive from north to south include the following:

• Mile 0.0: The turn-off from Hwy. 24 is 9.2 miles east of the visitors center and 30.2 miles west of Hanksville (another turn-off from Hwy. 24 is three miles east).
• Mile 2.2: Pleasant Creek; the mouth of the canyon is 5–6 miles upstream, although it’s only about three miles away if you head cross-country from south of Notom. Hikers.
• Mile 4.1: Notom Ranch is to the west; once a small town, Notom is now a private ranch.
• Mile 8.1: Burrow Wash; hikers can explore the narrow canyon upstream.
• Mile 9.3: Cottonwood Wash; another canyon hike just upstream.
• Mile 10.4: Five Mile Wash; yet another canyon hike.
• Mile 13.3: Sheets Gulch; a scenic canyon lies upstream here, too.
• Mile 14.1: Sandy Ranch Junction; high-clearance vehicles can turn east 16 miles to the Henry Mountains.
• Mile 14.2: Oak Creek Access Road; the creek cuts a two-mile-long canyon through Capitol Reef and makes a good day hike. Backpackers sometimes start upstream at Lower Bowns Reservoir (off Hwy. 12) and hike the 15 miles to Oak Creek Access Road. The clear waters of Oak Creek flow year-round but are not potable.
• Mile 14.4: Oak Creek crossing.
• Mile 20.0: Entering Capitol Reef National Park; a small box has information sheets.
• Mile 22.3: Cedar Mesa Campground to the west; the small five-site campground is surrounded by junipers and has fine views of Waterpocket Fold and the Henry Mountains. Free sites have tables and grills; there’s an outhouse but no drinking water. Red Canyon Trail begins here, heads west into a huge box canyon in Waterpocket Fold, and is four miles round-trip.
• Mile 26.0: Bitter Creek Divide; streams to the north flow to the Fremont River; Halls Creek on the south side runs through Strike Valley to Lake Powell, 40 miles away.
• Mile 34.1: Burr Trail Road Junction; turn west up the steep switchbacks to ascend Waterpocket Fold and continue to Boulder and Hwy. 12 (36 miles). Burr Trail is the only road that actually crosses the top of the fold, and it’s one of the most scenic in the park. Driving conditions are similar to the Notom-Bullfrog Road—okay for cars when dry. The section of road through Long Canyon has especially pretty scenery.
• Mile 36.0: Surprise Canyon Trailhead; a hike into this narrow, usually shaded canyon takes 1–2 hours.
• Mile 36.6: The Post; a small trading post here once served sheepherders and some cattlemen, but today this spot is just a reference point. Park here to hike to Headquarters Canyon. A trailhead for Lower Muley Twist Canyon via Halls Creek lies at the end of a half-mile-long road to the south.
• Mile 37.5: Leaving Capitol Reef National Park; a small box has information sheets. Much of the road between here and Glen Canyon National Recreation Area has been paved.
• Mile 45.5: Road junction; turn right (south) to continue to Bullfrog Marina (25 miles) or go straight (east) for Starr Springs Campground (23 miles) in the Henry Mountains.
• Mile 46.4: The road to the right (west) goes to Halls Creek Overlook. This turn-off is poorly signed and easy to miss; look for it 0.9 mile south of the previous junction. Turn in and follow the road three miles, then turn right at a fork 0.4 mile to the viewpoint. The last 0.3 mile may be too rough for low-clearance cars. A picnic table is the only “facility” here. Far below in Grand Gulch, Halls Creek flows south to Lake Powell. Look across the valley for the double Brimhall Bridge in the red sandstone of Waterpocket Fold.
• A steep trail descends to Halls Creek (1.2 miles one-way), and it’s possible to continue another 1.1 miles up Brimhall Canyon to the bridge. A register box at the overlook has information sheets on this route. Note, however, that the last part of the hike to the bridge requires difficult rock-scrambling and wading or swimming through pools. Hikers looking for another adventure might want to follow Halls Creek 10 miles downstream to the narrows. Here, convoluted walls as high as 700 feet narrow to little more than arm’s length apart. This beautiful area of water-sculpted rock sometimes has deep pools that require swimming.
• Mile 49.0: Colorful clay hills of deep reds, creams, and grays rise beside the road. This clay turns to goo when wet, providing all the traction of axle grease.
• Mile 54.0: Beautiful panorama of countless mesas, mountains, and canyons. Lake Powell and Navajo Mountain can be seen to the south.
• Mile 65.3: Junction with paved Hwy. 276; turn left (north) for Hanksville (59 miles) or right (south) to Bullfrog Marina (5.2 miles).
• Mile 70.5: Bullfrog Marina.