Capitol Reef National Park is one of five national parks in Utah. Even though it is not as frequently visited as Zion, Bryce, or Arches, it is equally amazing. Capitol Reef received a status of a national park in December 1971, after the other 4 Utah parks already had that designation. The most prominent geological feature of the park is the Waterpocket Fold, a fold in the earth’s crust that acts as a barrier and traps water in the slickrock canyons. I have visited the park three times, last time in January of 2020 on our trip across the Southwest. Here are my suggestions on how to best explore Capitol Reef National Park. For suggestions on two beautiful hikes, click here.
How to best explore Capitol Reef National Park?
Fruita Historic District
We entered the park on UT- 24 from the east and soon after passing Behunin Cabin, we stopped to admire Capitol Dome. It is a beautiful Navajo Sandstone formation that resembles the Capitol Building of the Untied States.
We then drove to the trailhead for the Rim Overlook and the Hickman Bridge. As we had hiked the Rim Overlook Trail in the past, we opted to see the Hickman Bridge this time. The trek to the bridge is incredibly beautiful. There is a bit of an elevation gain but, all in all, the hike is not difficult. Both the bridge and the scenery are breathtaking! We were lucky to be there with nobody else around and had the whole area to ourselves. What a magnificent place! In addition to the surrounding white domes and canyons, you will have beautiful views of the Fremont River Valley from right behind the bridge.
Further down the road, on the way to the Visitor Center, it’s worth stopping by the Petroglyph Panel. The petroglyphs are attributed to the Fremont People who lived in the area about a 1,000 years ago.
Finally, right by the Visitor Center, clearly visible from the road, is the Castle. The rugged rock formation, which is a landmark of Capitol Reef, is certainly impressive. Stop by and admire it for a while.
Scenic Drive - Grand Wash
I absolutely recommend doing the Scenic Drive, an 8 mile long drive south of Fruita along with two dirt spur roads – Grand Wash and Capital Gorge. The Grand Wash Drive takes you past amazing, massive walls of a magnificent canyon. We did part of the Grand Wash Trail– a beautiful stroll along the canyon floor with spectacular views.
Scenic Drive - Capitol Gorge
The Capitol Gorge drive offers fantastic views of a narrow canyon with towering cliffs. The Capitol Gorge Trail, which originates at the end of the road, is also beautiful. You basically hike through a slot canyon and since it’s not a loop, you can go as far as you want to. Because it was incredibly cold when we were exploring Capitol Reef National Park, we only hiked in for about half a mile. Still, the views were truly astounding!
I absolutely recommend visiting Capitol Reef National Park. You will not be disappointed!
