Capitol Reef's Scenic Drive follows the dramatic western escarpment of the Waterpocket Fold, a nearly 100-mile-long wrinkle in the earth's crust. The road began as a wagon trail in the late 1800s, giving early travelers access to remote places and a passage through the rugged fold by way of Capitol Gorge. After automobiles arrived, it became the only drivable route through the heart of Capitol Reef, and for many years travelers endured rough conditions in Capitol Gorge, where rocks, sand, and mud in the canyon streambed caused breakdowns and vehicles to get stuck. In 1962, completion of the last segment of Utah State Highway 24 through the Fremont River canyon linked both sides of Capitol Reef and created an important transportation corridor through a formidable geographic barrier. Today the route is paved but still narrow, with sharp corners and blind curves, and unpaved spur roads lead to trailheads in Grand Wash and Capitol Gorge.