Capitol Reef
National Park
Capitol Reef National Park is named for its white sandstone domes that resemble capitol buildings and the rugged “reef” of mountains that once blocked pioneer travel.
The park’s standout feature is the Waterpocket Fold—a nearly 100-mile-long wrinkle in the Earth’s crust. Formed by ancient fault movement and uplift on the Colorado Plateau, this unique formation led to the creation of arches, canyons, cliffs, domes, and monoliths over millions of years.
In addition to its geology, the park has a rich human history. Mormon pioneers once lived here, planting orchards for food and income—many of which still grow in the park today.
Capitol Reef At a Glance
$20 per vehicle for 7 days. Or FREE with the America the Beautiful Pass.
Capitol Reef National Park is located in a remote area of south-central Utah near the small town of Torrey. The three best airport options for this park are Salt Lake City International Airport (3.5 hours), Denver International Airport (7 hours) or Las Vegas’ Harry Reid International Airport (5 hours).
Summer is a great time to visit Capitol Reef National Park because everything is open and accessible (including the Gifford Homestead), the weather is warm and the crowds are slightly lower than the spring. Plus, during the summer you can pick your own fruit from the orchards! Just note that monsoon season is from July to September.
Different Areas of the Park
Bryce Canyon National Park has two main sections that visitors typically explore. Those are Bryce Amphitheater and Southern Scenic Drive. This park is fairly small and everything is easy to get to. You can drive the entire length of the park in about 45 minutes.
The 20 Best Things to do in Capitol Reef
With incredible beauty, unique history, delicious pies, and fun hikes, we enjoyed every second of our time at Capitol Reef National Park. And in this guide we’re sharing the best things to do at Capitol Reef National Park. Plus information about the park, where to stay, when to visit, and more!
How to Spend 1-4 Days in Capitol Reef
Curious how to plan the best trip to Capitol Reef National Park and see all of the best sites? This Capitol Reef National Park itinerary has you covered, whether you have one day or four days to spend in the park!
11 Best Hikes in Capitol Reef
While there are so many hikes to choose from in Capitol Reef National Park, we think these 11 trails offer a great mix of sights, accessibility, and views. Fill your Capitol Reef itinerary with as many of these as you can fit and you will have an incredible time and see the best scenery!
Utah National Park Road Trip
Capitol Reef VIDEO
We only had 24 hours to spend at Capitol Reef National Park (our 35th National Park! Woo! 🎉) and while we originally thought that would be enough, we quickly learned that this park deserves so much more time. But we didn’t let our limited time stop us from squeezing in as much as humanly possible into our 24 hours, including multiple hikes, historical sights, delicious treats, and more!
