Information
Landmark: Goosenecks OverlookCity: Torrey
Country: USA Utah
Continent: North America
Goosenecks Overlook, Torrey, USA Utah, North America
Overview
Along the southern Scenic Drive in Capitol Reef, Goosenecks Overlook delivers one of the park’s most striking views-a sweeping look at the Fremont River winding in deep, rust-red curves carved by time itself.Instead of winding through the canyon floor, this overlook lifts you high above it, where you can see the vast Waterpocket Fold and the rugged land around it, carved over ages by wind and water.You can reach the overlook by a short, smooth spur off the Scenic Drive, and there’s a small parking area waiting right at the edge of the view.From the parking lot, it’s a short, easy stroll to the rim, where the river winds below and the cliffs rise in rust-red layers against the sky.From Goosenecks Overlook, you can watch the Fremont River wind through the desert in sharp, curling loops-like a goose’s neck arched against the sun-earning the overlook its striking name.Far below the rim, the river winds through the canyon, its distance making the drop feel endless, while cliffs glow in sharp bands of red, orange, and soft cream.From this wide, open vantage, you can feel the immense power that shaped Capitol Reef, as mesas, ridges, and long, rippling folds reach toward a hazy horizon.The viewpoint draws plenty of visitors, yet it still feels calm; people linger quietly, eyes tracing the vast sweep of mountains and sky.Wind races along the rim, lifting the faint, dry scent of sagebrush and juniper into the cool air.Photographers love shooting at sunrise or in the late afternoon, when golden light catches every crease in the canyon walls and turns the winding river into a ribbon of silver.Tiny touches that bring the scene to life include the fine layers of sedimentary rock etched into the canyon walls, cliffs throwing long shadows that trace the river’s curves, and the shifting light and greenery that mark each season.Come spring, desert wildflowers scatter soft bursts of color across the sand, and in winter, frost traces the cliff edges in white, standing out sharply against the red rock.Now and then, a hawk wheels overhead, its shadow slipping across the wide, empty land.From Goosenecks Overlook, you can take in Capitol Reef’s raw, sculpted beauty-a sweeping view where the Fremont River snakes below and sunlit cliffs rise in stacked, rust-red layers.With its vast size, vivid hues, and fascinating rock formations, it’s a spot that sticks in your mind-like catching the glow of red stone under a late afternoon sun.
