Drive the Notom Road: A Spring Travel Guide

The Notom Road takes visitors deep into the southern area of Capitol Reef National Park. In the summer, it can be a hot, dusty drive rewarded by impressive craggy ridges and a good supply of slot canyons. For a few short weeks in the spring, however, the rugged desert views are joined by a vibrant variety of flowering delights.

Whether you are seeking dramatic desert geology or fleeting wildflower blooms, here is what you need to know about driving the Notom Road in the spring.

Sunrise on the Notom Road

The rising sun sets the red rocks of the Waterpocket Fold glowing in brilliant shades of orange and gold. The eastern side of the “Reef” is penetrated by numerous slot canyons cutting deep into the cliffs—Burro Wash, Cottonwood Wash, and Sheets Gulch, for instance. Each is a mile or two hike from the road up the wash before you enter the narrow, towering confines of the slot itself.

Desert Blooms & Changing Geology

Delicate flowers are widely spread across this rugged landscape. As you drive down into the Waterpocket Fold, the road is lined by the sharply tilted remnants of the fold, where many different geologic layers are present. Because of this, the type of flowers changes seamlessly along with the geology:

• Mule’s Ear Oasis: Giant clumps of bright yellow Mule’s Ear grow in the shelter of the twisted rock shapes just off the road.

• Steep Surfaces: Brilliant yellow Prince’s Plume and blue Showy Four O’Clock thrive along the steep, rocky inclines.

• Vibrant Variety: Look closely and you will find Scarlet Gilia, Indian Paintbrush, daisies, blue and red Penstemon, fields of rice grass, and occasionally Sego Lilies (the state flower of Utah).

Of course, the local flora is accompanied by plenty of desert wildlife, including many unique cacti, lizards, coyotes, and rabbits.

Route Conditions & Safety

Further south, climbing to the top of the ridges next to the road provides spectacular, sweeping views of the reef stretching out to the north. However, the terrain demands your attention:

• Road Surfaces: The road surface changes from dusty dirt and gravel at the north end to deep sand patches at the south end.

• Bentonite Clay: In between are sections of bentonite clay, which become incredibly slick and impassable with even the slightest bit of rain.
  
  Important Safety Rules:

• Check Conditions: Normally, the Notom Road can be driven in almost any vehicle during dry weather, but always check at the BLM Information Center or the National Park Visitor Center for up-to-date road conditions before heading out.

• Flash Flood Danger: Never enter a slot canyon if rain is forecast or if storm clouds are building anywhere in sight. Flash floods occur regularly and rapidly in Capitol Reef Country.