1.(5490ft,mile00) START-END NORTH:  turnoff from Ut24 to Capitol Reef NM visitor center, Fruita. 2.(5990ft,mile06) TOP: Slickrock Divide 3.(5650ft,mile08) START-END SOUTH: trailhead to Golden Throne and Capitol Wash

Approaches

From North. The scenic drive as seen from the Capitol Reef Visitor Center gives the impression of a shallow climb up into the Waterpocket Fold. This is a misconception, and traversing the road in a car, you may never get a chance to correct it. But cycling it will. The road actually crosses two low crests and ends up only 300 feet higher than the starting point. The first half mile past Fruita winds through a historic, now majestic arcade of trees before making its way up rocks turned on edge.

From South. Pavement on this side begins at the Capitol Gorge trailhead, the beginning of the profile. Here too, the start of the small climb is special. The road follows a trace just wide enough to be still experienced by motor RV. Any narrower and the vehicle wouldn't fit between the rock ledges. But take a bicycle anyway. Heading in the other direction, a dirt road leads to the South Draw road approach of the Ut12 summit: Capitol Reef - Boulder.

Tours

Dayrides. A 6 shaped ride, beginning in Capitol Reef National Park, continuing over the Slickrock Divide to pick up the South Draw Road approach to the Ut12 summit: Capitol Reef - Boulder, continuing up to the top of that summit, and then turning around to go back to the starting point via the principal approach of the Ut12 summit: Capitol Reef - Boulder, measured 68 miles with 6600ft of climbing in 6:36 hours (m3:06.09.22).

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