View the Burr Trail Switchbacks
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Drive this legendary route from Boulder to the Waterpocket Fold, descending dramatic hairpin turns carved into a sheer rock wall.
Itinerary tips
- 1Plan for at least three to four hours to complete the round trip from Boulder to the switchbacks and back.
- 2Ensure your vehicle has a full tank of gas and plenty of water, as there are zero services once you leave the town of Boulder.
- 3Check the National Park Service weather forecast before departing, as the unpaved switchbacks become impassable and dangerous when wet.
- 4Bring a high-clearance vehicle to safely navigate the steep, washboarded gravel sections within the Capitol Reef boundary.
- 5Stop at the 'Strike Valley Overlook' trailhead near the top of the switchbacks for a panoramic view of the Waterpocket Fold.
- 6Combine this drive with a visit to the Singing Canyon, a slotted alcove located about 11 miles east of Boulder.
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