Introduction

Throughout this page I have included photographs of Pleasant Creek, which flows through a rather picturesque portion of Capitol Reef National Park. Please note that my impressions of this hike apply equally well to any of the streams that flow throughout the entire Colorado Plateau region.

Pleasant Creek flows through a section of Capitol Reef which primarily contains Navajo sandstone, which has an extremely light cream-colored appearance. Navajo sandstone is very common in Red Rock Country and normally appears in conjunction with many of the typical red sandstones of the region such as Entrada, Wingate, and Moenkopi. But as visitors to the Capitol Reef area will surely attest, Pleasant Creek lies in the very heart of Red Rock Country.

Things to Bring Along

• Suitable footwear - Since your feet will be in the water most of the time, you will need footwear designed specifically for that purpose. I personally prefer sport sandals, since they dry quickly and I find them extremely comfortable. Recently I have seen "wet hikers" becoming available from some of the popular hiking shoe manufacturers, but I have not yet tried them. I would guess that they work equally as well as sandals, and they may actually have a slight advantage if you are planning a stream hike for the cooler months of the year.
• Walking Stick - Strongly recommended! This can come in very handy when you are crossing a deep section of the stream. Not only does it serve as a helpful probe to test the depth of the water before you walk into it, but it can also offer physical support when the water is deep and the current is strong. I always have an assortment of camera gear along with me so I don’t want to take an unexpected tumble into the water. If you don’t bring your own stick, you can always find a suitable fallen tree branch.
• Food - I find that stream hikes always tend to be longer than anticipated. Walking through water will always slow down your pace. Additionally, I have found that because of the wonderful cooling effect of the water on a hot summer day, I tend to extend my water hikes because it’s just so comfortable. It can be very depressing to have to cut an enjoyable hike short because of hunger. Don’t forget to bring plenty of water too!
• Bug Spray - Bugs like the water too. This could be a problem particularly during the Spring and early Summer.

The Hike

The Waterpocket Fold is a mammoth geological feature that forms the backbone of Capitol Reef National Park. Spanning the distance from Thousand Lake Mountain to Lake Powell, it is nearly 100 miles in length yet only a few miles in width. Along its western side, the fold is marked by high, angular, red cliffs of Wingate Sandstone. Its eastern side consists of rounded domes of Navajo sandstone. Several canyons traverse the center section of the Waterpocket Fold such as those formed by Pleasant Creek, Burro Wash, Cottonwood Wash, Fivemile Wash, and Sheets Gulch. Pleasant Creek is probably the easiest and most accessible of these canyons, and also one of the most beautiful. The water is generally less than calf deep. There are two ways to access Pleasant Creek:

• Take the Scenic Drive in Capitol Reef National Park to the beginning of Capitol Gorge. Then take the gravel road labeled "Pleasant Creek" which branches off to the right. Drive approximately 2 miles until the road meets Pleasant Creek. Park in the valley below Sleeping Rainbow Ranch (private) and hike down into the creek. Head east to travel through the most spectacular portion of the gorge (about 3 miles). Retrace your steps to return to your car.
• Drive south of Highway U-24 (the main highway through Capitol Reef National Park) for about 1 mile on Notom Road to the bridge that passes over Pleasant Creek. Park off the side of the road and walk down into the creek. Hike west to head toward Capitol Reef. This scenery in this portion of Pleasant Creek is rather open, in contrast to the gorge of option #1. Retrace your steps to return to your car.

From my journal of September 1998...

"Rounded domes of light colored Navaho sandstone tower over my head as I follow the gentle meanders of Pleasant Creek. Reflections of color from the sun drenched sandstone walls flow over rounded boulders in the creek. As I walk through the cool, shallow water I feel the gentle force of the current pushing me along. Tall sturdy cottonwoods lean over the banks of the creek and reach toward the water. The sound of the water is everywhere. Like music, this hike seems to possess a continuous, unified, and evocative composition. A total integration of sensory information. The melody, harmony, rhythm, and timbre of this land stabs at my heart. I am propelled forward by the natural beauty of this place, a place so unique in erosional design and form that my mind struggles to fully grasp its meaning."

"Meaning in a pile of rock? Am I fooling myself? No. Such perfection in design is no accident. Such precise interplay of light, color, and form can be no accident. Artists struggle to capture that which already exists. They attempt to imitate, supplement, alter, or counteract the splendid work of nature. Some may come close, through words, colors, or sounds, but what can ever touch the true esthetic perfection of this land?"

I am reminded of something I wrote a couple of years ago relating to music and Red Rock Country...

"Why do I go into this land? I go not to seek the obvious but to touch the ethereal, intangible qualities. What I see is in many ways the same things I see in fine music…"

• Brilliance of mind, spirit and artistic expression.
• Total mastery of control, emotion and presentation.
• Eloquence and perfection of execution

"The similarities are astounding. There is harmony of all elements and coordination on a truly grand scale. I see a supreme expression of art which easily stirs the emotions. Limitless diversity results in a striking contrast of textures, from smooth free-flowing contours to thunderous crescendos. I often ride an emotional roller coaster of wild and chaotic tempos, completely at the will of the creator. Yet often, beneath the surface lies a haunting melody which permeates the very foundation of the whole."

"A veritable feast awaits those who enter the performance hall of southern Utah. The passionate harmony, which is the spirit of southern Utah's Red Rock Country, sings out in a glorious expression of divine artistry."