Capitol Reef National Park is the youngest of Utah’s five national parks, with its inception in 1971. The south-central desert park is home to an impressive, nearly 100-mile Waterpocket Fold. This wrinkle in the earth’s crust breathes life into high desert ecosystems and some enduring historic orchards. Whether you’re planning a Capitol Reef-only trip or hitting up all the parks in Utah, you won’t regret exploring the immense sandstone canyons and savoring breathtaking panoramic views that make this desert oasis unique. With so much to explore in this expansive yet underrated park, making the most of one day in Capitol Reef is a priority!
Not only does this area boast unique geography, but it’s also steeped in rich history. From historic farming practices to trails named after infamous outlaws, Capitol Reef remains intriguing.
Fast Facts About Capitol Reef National Park
Size: 243,921 acres
Visitors: 1,268,861 visitors annually (data from 2023)
Highest elevation: 8960 ft — in upper Deep Creek drainage near Billings Pass
Distance from Salt Lake City Airport: 220 miles — 3.5 hour drive
National Park Initiation: December 18th, 1971 by President Richard Nixon
How Long to Stay?
Capitol Reef is a beautiful national park with breathtaking vistas and amazing topography. It’s a less popular park than neighboring Bryce or Arches, which means there’s less people out in the park you have to contend with. If you are on a road trip visiting all five Utah parks, Capitol Reef is easiest to hit when driving between Bryce and Moab (Arches and Canyonlands nearby). A half-day to a single full day is enough time to appreciate the essence of Capitol Reef. If you have limitless time available, there’s always more exploration to be done, but plan to spend at least 3-5 hours here.
Sleeping under the Stars
For anyone keen to stay a full day, you might find yourself in need of a place to rest your weary eyes. Capitol Reef National Park does not have a lodge or restaurant, so if you want to eat, pack a lunch, and if you want to sleep, bring a tent! There are three campgrounds in the park: one developed and two primitive. The campgrounds are each found in a different district of the park.
If camping is not your style, Torrey, UT is the closest nearby town. There are some assorted hotel and Airbnb options there to chose from.
Fruita Campground
The Fruita Campground is located in the Fruita Historic district, and it is open year-round. It is the only developed campground in Capitol Reef National Park. This campground might just feel like a slice of heaven, surrounded by historic orchards, with the Fremont River running nearby. Campers visiting from March 1st to October 31st must make a reservation— up to 6 months in advance to ensure availability. For the remainder of the year, all campsites are available on a first come, first serve basis.
Cathedral Valley & CEDAR MESA Campgrounds
The Cedar Mesa Campground (Southern Waterpocket district) and Cathedral Valley Campground (Cathedral Valley district) are the two primitive campgrounds. There are five and six campsites, respectively, at each location. There is no cost or need for reservations. Campsites are available year-round on a first-come, first-serve basis.
No gatekeeping the best stargazing spots— a list, organized by district, can be found here.
The Sights & Sounds of Capitol Reef
The Waterpocket Fold—a massive geographical wrinkle—offers breathtaking views and hiking opportunities. With its combination of natural beauty and cultural history, Capitol Reef provides a memorable experience for outdoor enthusiasts and history buffs alike. Below we have detailed our favorite hike, a beautiful drive, a couple stargazing walks, where to bunk down, and an unexpected spot to grab a snack— as well as all the tips and tricks that will ensure you have the best time.
Mission 66 Visitor Center
The Mission 66 Visitor Center is home to engaging exhibits about the park’s geology, history, and cultural significance and the stories of early settlers in the Fruita district. It’s the perfect spot to ask more questions about what exactly a Waterpocket Fold is. The visitor center offers a plethora of resources, such as maps, brochures, and ranger-led programs, making it an ideal starting point for any visit. Its opportune location makes it easy to stop by before heading out to the nearby park attractions, including the scenic drive and nearby hiking trails.
Boots on the Ground
What’s a visit to a national park without a hike? Capitol Reef has dozens of hikes to choose from in the various regions of the park. That being said, if you only do one hike, it should be the Cassidy Arch Trail. Hiking to a viewpoint is always rewarding, but this hike showcases dramatic views the whole time! It offers gorgeous views of not only the Cassidy Arch but of the waterpocket fold as well. A few spots along the trail can be a little hard to follow, but the cairns placed throughout ensure no one wanders too far from the trail.
*if you only do one thing in the park, this should be it*
Scenic drive
Taking it low and slow! Capitol Reef offers a virtual “guide” of sorts, available on their website. This 8 mile drive takes about an hour and a half and takes visitors through some of the park’s highlights. Be sure to pull the webpage up before you leave the visitor center (service can get spotty), so you can read a little background information and history on various spots along your drive.
Perhaps you don’t have time for the full scenic drive but want to sneak in one last view before you leave? Two miles west of the Visitor Center, Panorama Point and Gooseneck Point stand 800 feet above the Sulphur River. These viewpoints showcase the millions of years of erosion it took to carve out the canyon.
As a note: if you are planning to rent a car, you won’t be disappointed to have a higher clearance vehicle. We were able to get by with a sedan, but if we were to do it again, we would have a higher clearance car/SUV— especially for this park! Of the five parks in Utah, we found Capitol Reef to be the most rural.
Berry Picking
Capitol Reef is home to a few gorgeous orchards, bearing cherries, apricots, peaches, pears, and apples. Trees in bloom are always beautiful but in the middle of the desert, these fruit trees feel like an oasis. In the late 1800s, Latter-Day Saints planted thousands of trees in the fertile Fremont River Valley. The remaining trees are remnants of this pioneer community in Fruita, making these historic orchards the bearers of heirloom fruits.
When the trees are bearing fruit, park visitors are allowed and encouraged to pick the fruit. You will know an orchard has ripe fruit, ready for harvest when you see a “U-Pick Fruit” sign. Fruit pick from the orchard must be paid for, but this done with ease with a self-pay station, scale, and fruit price list located near the entrance of the orchard.
Capitol Reef is visited less than some of Utah’s other illustrious parks, but that’s what makes it a perfect spot. With over 1 million people visiting annually, you will certainly see other visitors exploring, but the more remote location limits the crowds. A day in Capitol Reef is a day well spent! Be sure to add this technicolor desert escape to your bucket list!
If you’re planning to visit all Utah’s national parks, check out our guided itineraries for Zion, Bryce, Canyonlands, and Arches! Happy travels!
written by Hannah
Hannah traded the warm beaches of southwest FL for the outdoor adventure locale that is Bend, OR. Despite the distance, Hannah maintains her bossy big sister role with regular phone calls to keep up with all the little sister shenanigans. Notoriously chatty with her patients as well, Hannah stays busy as a physical therapist, but loves making time to explore newfound hikes. These days she has some extra pack weight; however, Xavier is notorious for being unimpressed by sweeping vistas.
