Campground Trailhead
To reach the trailhead, go past the Capitol Reef visitor center 1.3 miles on the scenic drive. The Cohab Canyon trail is signed. Find parking where you can. There are a few spots along the road.

Hickman Bridge Trailhead (if doing a through hike, leave a vehicle here)
From the Visitor Center, travel east on Highway 24 about 2 miles to the signed Hickman Bridge trailhead on the north (left) side of the road (mile post 81.2). There is a pit toilet here.

From the Fruita trailhead, climb the steep Cohab Canyon trail for about 25-30 minutes to where it tops out and drops into Cohab Canyon. The saddle here offers amazing views of Boulder Mountain, Fruita, and other areas west of the park.

The trail now begins descending the very colorful and featured Cohab Canyon. The Wives, a series of short technical canyons come in on the right-hand side. Wandering up any of the side canyons as far as possible can make a nice diversion.

15 or so minutes from the saddle, as Cohab Canyon becomes wide and open, is a trail junction. Left (north) makes a nice side trip to an overlook of Highway 24 and the Fruita area (20 minutes round trip) while right becomes the Frying Pan Trail and eventually reaches Cassidy Arch. Go straight, which reaches the Hickman Bridge Trailhead in 15-20 minutes. If not doing this as a through hike, the trail junction makes a good turn-around spot to return to the Fruita trailhead.