Temple of the Sun and Moon
- Alex Cabrero
- 5 days ago
- 5 min read
(Cathedral Valley, Capitol Reef National Park) There’s a moment on this drive where the pavement disappears, you aren’t sure if your GPS is trustworthy, and you start to wonder if you’re still on the right road.
That’s usually when you know the adventure has started.
The Temple of the Sun and Temple of the Moon, out in Cathedral Valley near Capitol Reef National Park, are the kind of places you reach only after that moment. Getting here isn’t hard… but it takes commitment. You turn off Utah State Route 24 near Caineville, leave the pavement behind, and start heading into a wide, open stretch of desert on a dirt road that feels like it goes on forever.
I’ve been here before, so I knew what we were getting into. Kylie? Not so much. There were definitely a few moments where I could sense the question: “Are you sure this is the right way?” I promised her it was. Aspen, of course, didn’t question anything. She was just happy to be along for the ride.
As you enter Cathedral Valley, something changes. You can feel it. It gets quieter. More open. More… empty. In the best way possible. We only saw a handful of cars the entire time.
Eventually, you turn off Cathedral Valley Road onto a short dirt road (don’t worry, there are signs and you can see the Temples) that takes you right up to the formations. You’ll pass Temple of the Sun, which is huge and has an orange color to it.
Temple of the Moon, a tad smaller, comes next. The road stops at Temple of the Moon. That’s where we parked and got out. We had the place completely to ourselves. For an area as majestic as this, I couldn’t believe we were the only ones here.
These monoliths are massive. Tall, solid, and silent. They seem almost out of place in the middle of such a wide, open valley. We walked around Temple of the Moon, craning our necks to look up, and at one point I realized something.
You could hear… nothing.
No cars. No voices. No wind.
Just Aspen panting as she wandered around, sniffing the desert like she was trying to understand it. It’s the kind of quiet you don’t get very often.
Places like this have a way of reminding you how small you are. I don't mean that in a bad way, but more of in a grounding kind of way. You stand there looking up at these formations and start wondering what else is out there in those bluffs in the background? How much of this is still unseen? I’m guessing I’m not the first person to wonder that.
What’s interesting is how these formations sit just inside the boundary of Capitol Reef National Park. It’s almost like whoever drew the lines on the map knew this place needed to be protected. Since it’s part of a National Park, there is an entrance fee, but don’t expect a ranger station out here. You probably won’t even see a ranger. There’s a QR code to pay on a post, but there’s no cell service.
So… plan ahead. Or, you’ve been warned ;)
On your way out, there’s a quick stop you shouldn’t skip near Temple of the Sun. A small dirt road takes you maybe a quarter mile to Glass Mountain. It’s a small mound covered in shiny mineral deposits that sparkle in the sunlight. I could tell how it got its name almost immediately.
What it’s actually made of? I don’t know, but I bet a geologist or anyone who loves this sort of thing would have a great time checking it out. Plus, it’s a great spot to take pictures of Temple of the Sun and Temple of the Moon in the background.
From the Capitol Reef National Park Visitor Center, this is about a 3–4 hour round trip adventure, depending on how long you stay. The road is dirt, sometimes rough, with a few washes to cross. It takes longer than you think.
We saw some 2-wheel drive cars near the beginning of the dirt road after you turn off of Highway 24, but I’d still recommend taking it slow and being cautious. And if it’s raining? Don’t risk it. This is the kind of place where getting stuck is very possible. Also… if you’re in a rental car, just know they might not love where you’re taking it. And yes, some rental agencies have GPS ;)
As incredible as the Temples are, this trip reminded me that sometimes it’s not just about where you’re going. It’s about the time getting there. Know what I mean? The conversations and the randomness of those conversations.
Kylie and I talked about everything and nothing on that drive. It was great and even though I have satellite radio, there’s no station better than that. This is one of those adventures where the journey is just as memorable as the destination.
Just remember, the Temple of the Sun and the Temple of the Moon aren’t the easiest places to get to. But that’s also part of what makes them special. They’re quiet, remote, and they feel untouched.
When you leave and head back, it kind of feels like you discovered something… even though they’ve been there the whole time. And they’re still there, just waiting for the next person willing to make the drive.
LOCATION:
Temple of the Sun and Temple of the Moon (they're right next to each other)
Glass Mountain (right next to Temple of the Sun)
Turn off of Highway 24 onto the dirt road
National Park Service information page
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