Is Life An Adventure Anymore? Reflections from Camping in Cathedral Valley in Capitol Reef National Park

Last Night I Accidentally Fell Asleep With The Jeep Door Wide Open…

It happened as I lay watching the nearly full moon rise and illuminate my world at over 7,000 ft. This was after driving my Jeep Wrangler over 13 miles of dicey fire road. The destination was free, dispersed camping in a campground overlooking Cathedral Valley in Capitol Reef National Park.

Honestly, other than knowing that the campground was there and that it was oddly in Capitol Reef National Park, I didn’t know much. I didn’t know how rough the road was or even much about Cathedral Valley or Capitol Reef. Hell, I didn’t even know Capitol Reef was a National Park a week prior! I knew it was cool based on some reviews, and I knew it was free camping, which is my jam.

Beyond that I was winging it!

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Free Camping In A National Park? Yep. Technically You Can In Capitol Reef National Park!

Camping in National Parks is almost never free, and boondocking and dispersed camping isn’t usually allowed. Most of the time free camping can be found in National Forests and roadside stops, but not with the kind of views Cathedral Valley camping offers! And most of those “easy” places to find are usually pretty full…well…since they’re so easy to find!

But there’s a good reason it’s able to be free at this spot in Capitol Reef National Park. There are only six campsites at Cathedral Valley, spread out by 100-300ft. It’s first-come-first-served, so you’re always taking a chance of driving 13+ miles and not getting a spot! And getting there takes some brass, let alone a decent rig with good clearance and 4WD, especially if it’s not dry.

Adventure Seems To Bring More Adventure

At this point, I had little plans, little expectations, and little inhibitions. Essentially the bar was low. For that reason, you can understand why I was elated when I finally made it in the 13 miles and first laid my eyes on Cathedral Valley. I got out my cameras and was like a kid in a candy store for a couple of hours before sundown. 

Around bedtime the weather at Cathedral Valley was perfect. And being a dry desert climate, no mosquitos meant I could just open the door and enjoy the nearly full moon. I turned off my devices and just took it in for a while. I accidentally fell asleep to the moonlight, later awoken by a bug who reminded me to lock up for the night.

The next morning I was greeted by an amazing sunrise. I had to remind myself to enjoy this amazing moment and not rush off to “what’s next” on the road trip or the day.

I took it slow and had a bowl of cereal and watched the light and shadow dance romantically across the plateaus and spires of Cathedral Valley.

On the drive out the skies changed from fiery red to cool blues and grays amidst new morning haze. I literally pulled over my Jeep and ran to the top of a peak to get this photo. I was so afraid that that moment was going to pass. I’ve seen sunrises and sunsets change so quickly…within seconds, that this one had me hustling.

Same “Adulting” Ups And Downs, But The Scenery Seems A Lot Better…

I think one of the things I notice most lately is that a lot more things feel like an adventure. Combine that with the fact that I’m spending less money than I did in my old, default life, it’s still kind of hard to comprehend. The swings between ups and downs are similar when compared. That said, they’ve all been elevated by the feeling of adventure that’s much more normal nowadays.

So what are you doing to make sure to keep adventure in your life on the regular? Or is it time to start planning…wait, acting on a life-change?

Cheers Friend.
— Jason

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