Hickman Bridge Trail

Route Description for Hickman Bridge Trail

The Hickman Bridge Trail is one of the most iconic hikes in Capitol Reef National Park. This hike is extremely popular, so we recommend heading out early in the morning to beat the crowds. This trail begins with a moderate incline up a sandy surface so bring along hiking poles if you’d like some support for that section.

Overall, the Hickman Bridge trail is a great, family-friendly hike with lots of opportunities to learn about Capitol Reef National Park. This hike takes you past the remains of a granary and a pithouse that were built by the Fremont people who inhabited this area between 300 and 1300 CE. It also brings you past a smaller natural bridge: the Nels Johnson Bridge, and sandstone formations filled with solution cavities: holes in the rock created by acidic groundwater. The Hickman Bridge trail then loops around at the main attraction: Hickman Bridge, an incredible sandstone formation that stands 38 m high and spans 41 m across. If you are looking for more info about this geology hike, you can pick up a highly informative trail brochure at the trailhead.

From the Hickman Bridge Trailhead, follow the path up for 0.3 km to the pithouse remains on the right side of the trail. After checking this out, continue up the trail to a divide, take a left and continue for another 0.6 km past the Nels Johnson Natural Bridge and the granary site to another divide. This divide marks the beginning and end of a loop past the Hickman Bridge. Take a right at this divide to follow the trail counterclockwise to the bridge and back.

Once you’ve completed the loop, simply follow the main trail back down to the trailhead. If you are looking for more to do in the area, check out the Rim Overlook Trail, a fantastic route that shares the same trailhead.

Trail Highlights

Hickman Bridge

The Hickman Bridge is an incredible natural formation that spans 214.0 km and stands 201.2 km high. This arch was formed by water eroding softer layers of Kayenta Sandstone. The Hickman Bridge is named after Joseph Hickman, a high school principal and local legislator who advocated for the protection of this area back in the early 1900s.

Fremont Ruins

The Fremont People were a culture of hunters and farmers who lived around the Fremont River and beyond in 300-1300 CE. Artifacts left by these ancient peoples include baskets and moccasins as well as pithouses and granaries such as the ones seen along the Hickman Bridge Trail.

Frequently Asked Questions

What type of rock is Hickman Bridge made of?

The Hickman bridge is made of Kayenta Sandstone.

Insider Hints for Hickman Bridge Trail

• This is a popular trail—arrive early in the morning to beat the crowds
• Pick up a brochure at the trailhead to learn more about the area’s natural and anthropological history