National Park Trekkers
Cathedral Valley, Capitol Reef National Park
All parks
Utah. Established 1971.

Capitol Reef

A 100-mile wrinkle in the earth with cliffs, petroglyphs and historic Fruita orchards

Cathedral Valley.Photo by Brady Stoeltzing on Unsplash
Hours
Open 24 hours, all year
Entry
$20 per car
Reservations
Not required
Size
241,904 acres

Capitol Reef Weather Now

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Capitol Reef protects the Waterpocket Fold, a nearly 100-mile-long buckle in the earth's crust where rock layers tilt sharply upward. Early settlers called the cliffs a reef because they blocked travel, and white Navajo Sandstone domes reminded them of capitol buildings. Fremont people lived here roughly 1,000 years ago and left petroglyphs along the Fremont River. The area became a national monument in 1937 and a national park in 1971.

The heart of the park is Fruita, a green valley where Mormon pioneers planted orchards that the park still maintains. In season you can pick cherries, apricots, peaches, pears and apples and pay by the pound. Beyond Fruita, rough roads lead to the eroded monoliths of Cathedral Valley and the remote southern fold. Capitol Reef sees far fewer visitors than Arches or Zion, and it is a certified International Dark Sky Park.

The park and surrounding area

Glen Canyon National Recreation AreaTorreyBicknellHanksvilleCapitol Reef
  • Park boundary
  • Other parks
  • Major highway
  • Road
  • Rivers and lakes
  • Town

Plan your trip

Best time to go
April to May and September to October bring mild temperatures, and early fall adds apple harvest and changing cottonwoods.
How long to stay
One day covers Fruita and the Scenic Drive; two to three days lets you explore backroads and longer hikes.
Getting there
Salt Lake City (SLC) is about 3.5 hours away and Grand Junction (GJT) about 3 hours; Las Vegas (LAS) is about 5 hours by car.
Wildlife
Look for mule deer in the orchards, desert bighorn sheep, yellow-bellied marmots, ravens and collared lizards.

Plan and book

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Where to stay

Tours and activities

What to pack for Capitol Reef

A first day, start to finish

  1. Visitor center and Petroglyph Panel
  2. Hickman Bridge hike
  3. Gifford House for pie
  4. Scenic Drive to Capitol Gorge
  5. Sunset at Panorama Point

Don't miss

  • Scenic DriveA 7.9-mile paved road south from Fruita along the Waterpocket Fold, with dirt spurs into Grand Wash and Capitol Gorge.
  • Hickman BridgeA 1.8-mile round-trip hike to a 133-foot natural bridge, starting from Highway 24.
  • Fruita Historic DistrictPioneer-era orchards, a one-room schoolhouse and the Gifford House, where you can buy fresh-baked pies.
  • Petroglyph PanelA short boardwalk on Highway 24 leads to Fremont-culture rock art figures carved into the canyon wall.
  • Cassidy ArchA 3.4-mile round-trip climb from Grand Wash to a big arch named for outlaw Butch Cassidy.

Know before you go

Do

  • Carry plenty of water, since services are few and shade is scarce.
  • Stop by the Gifford House early, because the pies often sell out.
  • Check the forecast before entering slot canyons or washes, which can flash flood.

Don't

  • Take dirt roads like Cathedral Valley without a high-clearance vehicle and dry weather.
  • Touch the petroglyphs or the historic Pioneer Register signatures.
  • Pick fruit outside posted, open orchards.

The park and its campgrounds are open year-round, 24 hours a day, and Highway 24 through the park is always open. The visitor center is open daily except major holidays with seasonal hours, and the Gifford House store runs from mid-March to late November. Dirt roads and backcountry routes can close after snow or heavy rain.

Highway 24 through the park is free, but pay the fee to drive the Scenic Drive, the best part of the park.Trekker's tip