Capitol Reef National Park » More than a century ago, Mormon settler Ephraim Hanks established a ranch on Pleasant Creek in what is now one of Utah's famed redrock parks. Surrounded by towering cliffs of Kayenta and Wingate sandstone, the place has a mesmerizing beauty.

But Hanks' first winter was so daunting that he rolled a boulder in front of his cabin door to keep his wife, suffering delusions from the isolation and harsh weather, from wandering away as he tended to what became known as Floral Ranch.

That was 1882. Today, a new $2 million educational facility sits on a knoll overlooking the river bottom where the family grew fruit and grazed cattle. And wanderers are encouraged to apply.

Utah Valley University opened its Capitol Reef Field Station in the fall. This spring, sciences classes have gathered there for retreats ranging from two to five days.

"It's a phenomenal facility and a rare opportunity for students," says Allen Hill, a returning UVU undergraduate who already holds degrees in philosophy and literature from the Orem school. He was among 15 students who participated in a recent science excursion led by botany and geology professors.

"It gives a whole new meaning to 'engaged learning,' " says Hill, referring to UVU's signature catch prase. "There's nothing better than to go on a long hike with professors and learn about the geology and indigenous plants. We got to see ancient sea beds and see what it was like hundreds of thousands of years ago."

The University of Utah recently established its Entrada Field Station on 400 acres, owned by a U. benefactor, on the Dolores River, eight miles upstream from the Colorado River confluence. It too sits on the site of a historic ranch, whose buildings accommodate small groups on research forays.

"We want to make it a state-of-the-art research and education facility. It's rustic now but we anticipate building a state-of-the-art dorm that can handle 24 people," says U. biologist Kevin Hultine, Entrada's science manager.

UVU earth sciences professor Paul Tayler hatched the idea for a field station several years ago after leading students on trips to southern Utah. He and his colleagues believed a base would allow them to conduct regular classes in the field, handle larger groups and accomplish more.

"It allows the students to interact with their environment and gain an appreciation of the wonders we have here in our state," Tayler says. "You can talk about theory in the classroom, but there's no substitute for being out in nature."

A rare opportunity arose to develop a national park base in the mid-1990s, when the Knee family, who had operated the Sleeping Rainbow guest ranch on the old Hanks property, deeded the in-holding to the National Park Service. Tayler worked with park officials and navigated reams of red tape to win approval for the field station. The bulk of the funding came from a congressional earmark delivered by Sen. Bob Bennett; UVU ponied up another $500,000.

Santa Fe architect Mark Chalom designed the four-building facility to nestle seamlessly into a flat rise. Visitors can gaze down Pleasant Creek where it cuts across Waterpocket Fold on its way to the Fremont River. Two 12-bed dorms and a classroom-dining hall are arranged around a patio.

Chalom incorporated ancient juniper and pinyon pine trees into the layout and designed the structures to take advantage of the sun for heat and light. The facility is completely off the grid, powering electrical needs with a solar array that doubles as a carport.

The park won't allow fires, but Chalom incorporated a visual firepit into the patio, complete with petrified logs and a gnarled juniper bough.

"It's an invaluable resource. I see this expanding. What's exciting is the potential for use goes way beyond science," says botany professor Jim Harris, who led the recent excursion. "We would eat breakfast, hit the road early and would be gone till 8 in the evening. We had lots of late dinners."

Upcoming trips focus on wilderness first aid, writing, and science pedagogy. Station manager Hau Truong coaches students in Leave No Trace ethics and wilderness conservation.

"My hopes are for it to be a vehicle to change people's awareness and behavior," Truong says.

bmaffly@sltrib.com