The unyielding blue of Utah's desert sky can play tricks on the mind. Fall under its spell and you might begin to see that blue dome as an inverted sea through which the sun's refracted rays illuminate the hypnotic Waterpocket Fold. The Fold is the defining geologic formation that makes up Capitol Reef National Park, a 100-mile stretch of buckled earth characterized by crimson cliffs, soaring spires, massive domes, serpentine canyons, graceful arches, stark monoliths, and silence. Read More »
Capitol Reef National Park Highlights
- The park tends to attract hikers, rock climbers, mountain bikers, and equestrian explorers who prefer solitude to trendy social scenes. As the least visited of Utah's five national parks, this vast and wild frontier still offers a glimpse of America before it was settled by a civilization intent on paving the planet.
- The only developed campground in Capitol Reef National Park is the Fruita Campground. It has 71 sites and is located south of the visitor center in the Fruita Historic District. The campground is surrounded by historic orchards and sits next to the Fremont River. Backcountry camping is also an option.
- From the visitor center, head for the parks 25-mile scenic drive. On this route, you will have many stops. The first begins with the Fruita Historic District, which shows the remnants of an 1880s Mormon frontier community. You will also see Cassidy Arch, Capitol Gorge, an abundance of Fremont Indian petroglyphs, the Hickman Bridge, and the Behunin Cabin, a tiny stone cabin that once housed a family of ten.
- Explore Capitol Reef on horseback via the Old Wagon Trail, with access to Miners Mountain and good views of the famous Waterpocket Fold. Or try the South Draw, with access to Tantalus Flats and Boulder Mountain or return down Pleasant Creek.
- The Waterpocket Fold, a 100-mile-long wrinkle in the earth's crust, extends from nearby Thousand Lakes Mountain to the Colorado River (now Lake Powell). The park was established to protect this grand and colorful geologic feature, as well as the area around it.
- Fifteen day-hiking trails begin within a short drive of the visitor center.
- You can ascend 1,600 feet for a spectacular panorama of Capitol Reef and southeastern Utah by combining the Hickman Natural Bridge, Rim Overlook, and Navajo Knob Trails in about nine miles roundtrip.
- Experienced canyon-country hikers can explore the narrow slot canyons of Burro Wash, Cottonwood Wash, and Sheets Gulch off the Notom-Bullfrog Road.
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Capitol Reef National Park Travel Q&A
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What's your favorite hike? Where's the best campsite? Join the conversation! Ask Your Question
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What You Can Do in Capitol Reef National Park
- Biking
- Camping
- Climbing
- Hiking and Backpacking
- Horseback Riding
- Nature
- Paddling
- Road Trips
- Scenic Drives
Articles & Advice on Capitol Reef National Park
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- Top Ten National Parks for Rock Climbing
- Capitol Reef National Park, Utah
- Capitol Reef National Park
- Horseback Riding and Packing
- Not Exactly a Day at the Beach
- The Otherworldly Landscapes of America's Sand Dunes
- Capitol Reef National Park
- Sheets Gulch, Cottonwood Wash, and Burro Wash
- Canyon Craziness
- The state of Utah is proof that Mother Nature has a surreal streak--hoodoos, arches, deep canyons, and vertigo-inducing overlooks just brush the surface of this weeklong foray into the wonderfully odd world of canyons and national parks.
Package Trips:
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from $ 525 USDfor 7 daysEnquire and Book
Operated by Sierra Club Outings -
from $ 1895 USDfor 6 daysEnquire and Book
Operated by Timberline Adventures -
from $ 3000 USDfor 10 daysEnquire and Book
Operated by Timberline Adventures
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Parks Near Capitol Reef National Park
- Dixie National Forest, UT (19 mi.)
- Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, UT (36 mi.)
- Colorado River Cataract Canyon, UT (51 mi.)
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