red · Confirmation required
The Cathedral Valley Loop is a remote high-clearance route with a Fremont River ford; rain, snow, bentonite mud and washouts can make it impassable even to high-clearance 4WD vehicles.
An unsuitable vehicle, unsafe ford or recent weather can prevent completion of the loop and leave the party without rapid assistance.
Planning response: Confirm the river depth and every loop segment with Capitol Reef, begin at the ford if completing the full loop, and do not enter when the current classification exceeds the vehicle or rider's capability.