Hickman Bridge Trail Capitol Reef National Park (Best Hike)

When you want to hike the most popular trail at Capitol Reef National Park you get up early to avoid the crowds. Arriving at the trailhead around sunrise is the best way to enjoy some solitude while you hike Hickman Bridge Trail. And find a parking spot.

The Hickman natural bridge was named after Joseph Hickman, a local school administrator and a Utah legislator who offered public support for protecting the Capitol Reef area in the early 1900’s.

Hickman Bridge is 133 ft (40 m) long and 125 ft (37 m) high

Hiking the Hickman Bridge Trail is the perfect way to start your day at Capitol Reef National Park. After a lunch break I recommend hiking Grand Wash Trail and taking the Scenic Drive at Capitol Reef. Finish up your day with a sunset hike to Sunset Point Trail.

Find more fun things to do at Capitol Reef National Park

Capitol Reef National Park Fees

The entry fee covers you for a full 7 consecutive days visiting Capitol Reef park.

Personal vehicle: $20
Motorcycle: $15
Cyclist/Pedestrian: $10

If you plan on camping at Capitol Reef the campsites at Fruita Campground are $20 per night.

Backcountry permits are free, you can get one at the visitor center.

Beginning of the hike at Hickman Bridge Trail Canyonlands park features rocky terrain

Starting out on the Hickman Bridge hike

Also, if you plan to visit other national parks, or even if you only visit all the national parks in Utah, then you should buy the America the Beautiful annual park pass. It costs $80 and covers your entry fees to ALL the US national parks and monuments for a full 12 months from purchase date.

Over age 62? It only costs $20 for an annual pass or $80 for a LIFETIME pass.

Additionally, there are free passes for military, U.S. citizens or permanent residents with permanent disabilities, volunteers, and 4^th graders.

Visit the National Park website for more info on park passes and buy your pass online.

Rock formations along the Hickman Bridge Trail in Utah

Hickman Bridge Trail is an easy hike at Capitol Reef park

Hickman Bridge Hike Details

Trailhead with parking lot is 2 miles east of the Capitol Reef visitor center.

Distance: 2 miles (3.2 km) round trip

Type of Hike: Out and back

Elevation gain: 400 ft (122 m)

Difficulty: Easy

Duration: Allow about 1 hour

Dogs allowed on trail: No dogs allowed on the trail

For the modest fee of 50 cents, you can grab a brochure at the trailhead.

Additionally, before you travel to Capitol Reef National Park you can download and print this map of Fruita area in the park so you can get familiar with the layout.

Fruita Mormon settlement is a historic district in Capitol Reef National Park. After the surrounding area was designated a National Monument the government slowly began purchasing the land in Fruita from private owners.

Apparently the Fruita Mormons were Mormon-Lite, as in not particularly religious. They did not build a church in the settlement.

Early morning light on Hickman Bridge hiking trail Capitol Reef National Park

Getting up early to hike Hickman Bridge means you get the trail to yourself sometimes

Hickman Bridge Hike Description

From the trail head the hike begins with a slight incline and tracks along the Fremont River. You’ll have beautiful views from the beginning of the trail and all the way to Hickman natural bridge.

Some parts of the Hickman trail have stone stairs and other areas you will be walking on slick rock surfaces. Make sure you wear shoes with some gripping power.

Trekking poles are also a good idea when hiking, especially when there are uneven or slippery surfaces.

Hickman Bridge trail sign: Loop Trail info with basic map. Also info about yellow jacket wasps in the area

When you see this sign, you will know the Hickman Bridge is near

You’ll know that the Hickman Bridge is close by when you see the sign indicating the next section of trail is a loop to the natural bridge. The trail goes to the Hickman Bridge, then underneath it, and back around to the main trail.

When I hiked the trail there was also a notice posted about a yellow jacket wasp’s nest in the area. The wasps can get aggressive and sting without provocation.

Luckily, I did not see any wasps during my hike.

View of Hickman natural bridge from a distance

First view of Hickman Bridge during the hike

Bridge Versus Arch

Since Hickman Bridge looks like many of the arches that I hiked to in Arches National Park, I wondered what is the difference between a natural bridge and an arch?

I found out the difference between natural bridges and naturals arches is the process which they are formed.

Natural bridges are formed by flowing water, such as from a river or stream. Whereas arches are formed from weathering processes such as freezing, thawing, and wind erosion.

Hickman natural bridge against a bright blue sky on a sunny day at Capitol Reef National Park in Utah

Hickman natural bridge on a beautiful sunny morning

Petroglyphs and Apple Orchard

After hiking Hickman trail, you can drive a short distance to the petroglyphs and an apple orchard where you can pick your own apples for a post hike snack.

A short drive west of the Hickman Bridge trailhead on Hwy 24 there is parking lot and petroglyphs viewing area. There are info panels about the petroglyphs and a boardwalk along the canyon wall where you can look at the petroglyphs.

Across the highway from the petroglyphs, you’ll find the apple orchard, and there are many others along Hwy 24. The region is aptly named Fruita.

You can pick as many apples as you can eat while visiting the orchard. September and October are apple season. Other fruits, such as cherries, apricots, peaches, and pears are ready to pick in the summer months.