Plan Your Visit to Capitol Reef National Park
This Capitol Reef National Park travel guide helps you plan a first visit without spending hours figuring out what is actually worth your vacation time. Capitol Reef feels different from Utah’s other national parks, with the Waterpocket Fold cutting across the desert, colorful cliffs rising behind historic orchards, and quiet roads leading into narrow canyons.
You will find what not to miss, where to stay, when to visit, and the practical details you need before you arrive. I’ve also included the experiences that make Capitol Reef memorable, from hiking to Hickman Bridge and seeing ancient petroglyphs to picking fruit in the Fruita orchards, buying a pie at Gifford House, and watching the cliffs change color near sunset.
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Capitol Reef National Park at a Glance
Location: South-central Utah near Torrey
How many days: 1 day for Fruita and the main highlights; 2–3 days to explore farther into the park
Best time to visit: Spring and fall
Best place to stay: Torrey
Don’t miss: Hickman Bridge, Fruita, Gifford House, the petroglyphs, Scenic Drive, and Grand Wash
Best scenic drive: Capitol Reef Scenic Drive
Best first hike: Hickman Bridge
Best easy walk: Grand Wash
Best sunset: Sunset Point
Best local treat: Pie at Gifford House
Good to know: Many backcountry roads are unpaved and road conditions can change quickly after rain or snow
Plan ahead: Check current road conditions before driving Cathedral Valley, Notom-Bullfrog Road, or other backcountry roads
Capitol Reef National Park Travel Guide
Top 10 Things to Do in Capitol Reef National Park
1. Hike to Hickman Bridge
2. Drive Capitol Reef Scenic Drive
3. Buy a pie at Gifford House
4. See the Fremont Culture petroglyphs along Highway 24
5. Walk through Grand Wash
6. Pick fruit in the Fruita orchards when it’s in season
7. Hike to Cassidy Arch
8. Watch the sunset from Sunset Point
9. Explore Cathedral Valley if you have the right vehicle and road conditions are good
10. Stay after dark to see the Milky Way
Where is Capitol Reef National Park
Capitol Reef National Park is located in south-central Utah. This park is bordered by Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument and Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. The closest city is Torrey Utah. The closest major airport is in Grand Junction Colorado (196 miles). Salt Lake City is 229 miles away and Las Vegas is 341 miles. Capitol Reef is 115 miles northeast of Bryce Canyon National Park and 130 miles southeast of Arches National Park. Many roads are unpaved and may require a high-clearance vehicle. There is no public transportation in this park.
Facts About Capitol Reef National Park
- The area was called Wayne’s Wonderland in the 1920s. Pioneers began calling it Capitol Reef. They believed the Waterpocket Fold looked like a reef and the large white domes looked like the Capitol.
- Capitol Reef became a national monument in 1937 to protect the 100-mile Waterpocket Fold.
- It was not open to the public until 1950.
- The area was designated a national park in 1971.
- The area was designated an International Dark Sky Park in 2015.
- The Waterpocket Fold is a 65 million-year-old fold in the earth’s crust.
- Hickman Bridge is a 125 feet tall natural bridge.
- The Fremont petroglyphs are 1000 years old.
- Mormon settlers planted orchards still maintained today.
Best Time of Year to Visit Capitol Reef National Park
Spring temperatures are in the ’70s and wildflowers bloom late April through early June. The high season in Capitol Reef is May through September. Summer temperatures reach 100+ with little shade in the park. Monsoons are common in July and August. Temperatures fall below zero in the winter and snow is common.
Accommodation in Capitol Reef National Park
The Fruita Campground has 71 sites and accepts reservations year-round. There are 2 undeveloped campgrounds in Capitol Reef: Cathedral Valley and Cedar Mesa. Both are primitive with pit toilets and no running water. Backcountry hiking requires a permit. National Forest campgrounds are available on Boulder Mountain. Additional campgrounds and hotels are located in nearby Torrey, Blanding, and Hanksville.
Things to Do at Capitol Reef National Park
- Drive the 15.8 mile RT Capitol Reef Country Scenic Byway stooping at the viewpoints on Hwy 24.
- Let the children explore the educational activities at the Ripple Rock Nature Center.
- Photograph Behunin Cabin, Capitol Dome, Chimney Rock, the Cathedral Valley monoliths, and Goosenecks Overlook.
- View the petroglyphs along Hwy 24.
- Pick fruit at the Fruita Orchards and check out the schoolhouse.
- Buy a pie at the historic Gifford Homestead, cherry is amazing.
- View the petroglyphs from Panorama Point.
- Watch the sunset from Sunset Point.
- Drive Capitol Gorge Road to view the names on the Pioneer Registry.
- Go for a swim in the Sulphur Creek Waterfalls.
- Drive the Waterpocket Fold Loop: Notom-Bullfrog Road, Burr Trail Road, Hwy 12.
- View the Milky Way with the naked eye.
- Check the Capitol Reef National Park Service for current events.
Hikes in Capitol Reef National Park
- Hike 1.8 miles RT on the Hickman Bridge Trail to a natural bridge.
- Hike 2 miles RT on the Capitol Reef Gorge Trail through a narrow gorge to the Pioneer Registry.
- Check out Surprise Canyon on an easy 2-mile RT trail.
- Take the steep 3.5 miles RT hike through Grand Wash to an overlook of Cassidy Arch.
- Explore Chimney Rock on the 3.6-mile loop.
- Hike 4.4 miles RT through a slot canyon on Grand Wash.
- Hike 4.5 miles RT on the strenuous Brimhall Natural Bridge Trail through a canyon to a natural bridge.
- Take the 8.8 miles RT Frying Pan Trail past Cassidy Arch, Grand Wash, and Cohad Canyon.
- Hike 12.4 miles RT on the Sulphur Creek Trail past waterfalls and through a slot canyon.
- Take 22 mile Halls Creek Narrows backcountry hike.
Visiting Capitol Reef’s Cathedral Valley
Cathedral Valley’s 58-mile scenic loop is in Capitol Reef’s backcountry. Less than 1% of visitors to Capitol Reef see Cathedral Valley. There are no services in this area. Begin the trip with a full tank of gas, plenty of water and food, and emergency supplies including a shovel. A high-clearance vehicle is needed to drive sections of this road with thick sand and to cross the Fremont River. Storms in the Spring and Summer can make the road impassable and it is not plowed in the winter.
Plan to spend 6 hours exploring Cathedral Valley. Must-see sites include Bentonite Hills, Lower South Desert Overlook, Upper South Desert Overlook, Upper Cathedral Valley Overlook, Gypsum Sinkhole, Temples of the Sun and Moon, and Glass Mountain.
One Day in Capitol Reef National Park
Early Morning: Hickman Bridge
Start with the Hickman Bridge Trail, a moderate 1.8-mile round-trip hike to a 133-foot natural bridge. Starting early gives you cooler temperatures and a better chance of finding parking.
Morning: Petroglyphs and Fruita
Stop at the Fremont Culture petroglyphs along Highway 24, then continue into the Fruita Historic District. Walk through the orchards and stop at the historic schoolhouse.
Late Morning: Gifford House
Stop at Gifford House for a pie when it is open for the season. If fruit is ripe and an orchard is marked open for picking, this is also a good time to pick your own.
Lunch: Picnic in Fruita
Bring lunch and eat at one of the park’s picnic areas. There are no restaurants inside Capitol Reef.
Early Afternoon: Scenic Drive
Drive the 7.9-mile Scenic Drive, stopping wherever the cliffs or side canyons catch your attention. Allow about 90 minutes round trip without a long hike.
Afternoon: Grand Wash
Drive the Grand Wash spur road when conditions allow and walk into the narrow canyon. Turn around whenever you’re ready rather than feeling like you need to hike the entire route.
Late Afternoon: Panorama Point and Goosenecks
Return to Highway 24 and stop at Panorama Point and Goosenecks Overlook.
Sunset: Sunset Point
Finish at Sunset Point, an easy 0.8-mile round-trip walk with a wide view across the Waterpocket Fold.
After Dark: Stargazing
If you still have energy, stay until the sky gets completely dark. Capitol Reef’s remote location makes it a wonderful place to see the Milky Way.
If you have another day: Hike Cassidy Arch, explore more of Grand Wash, drive the Waterpocket District, or spend a full day exploring Cathedral Valley.
Tips for Visiting Capitol Reef National Park
- The nearest gas stations are in Torrey and Hanksville.
- There is limited cell service in the park.
- Temperatures vary through the day, dress in layers.
- Bring water shoes if you plan to hike Sulphur Creek.
- The desert sun is harsh, bring sunscreen, lip balm, sunglasses, and a brimmed hat.
- Do not enter slot canyons if there is a chance of rain.
- Download a Dark Sky App or a Star Map.
- Leashed pets and bicycles are allowed only on paved roads.
- Be on the lookout for rattlesnakes
- Many roads are unpaved, washboard, and remote with no cell service.
- Bring twice the water you think you will need and stay hydrated.
- The Visitor Center and Gifford House close for lunch between 12 and 1.
- There is a picnic area next to Gifford House.
- There is no charge for U-Pick fruit consumed in the orchard. Call 435-425-3791 to find what fruit is in season in Fruita Orchards.
- Practice Leave No Trace Principles.
- Purchase an America the Beautiful Pass and keep exploring National Parks.
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