Capitol Reef National Park: Hiking, Camping & Scenic Drives

Capitol Reef National Park is tucked into south-central Utah near the little town of Torrey on Scenic Byway 24, which can be accessed from Interstate 70. While it’s not especially close to other national parks in Utah, it is certainly worth a visit as part of Utah’s Mighty Five.

Bryce Canyon is about two hours to the southeast of Capitol Reef, and Canyonlands is about 2.5 hours to the east. The park is about a 3.5-hour drive from Salt Lake City along Interstate 15 South to US Highway 50 and from there to Utah Highway 24.

Here’s an overview of the distance to Capitol Reef from the other of Utah’s Mighty Five parks.

When planning your Utah adventure, you may wonder, “What makes Capitol Reef National Park unique?” You’ll also want to know what to do in Capitol Reef National Park. Some of the points to consider include its distinctive red-rock geology, iconic landmarks, the historic Fruita District, and prehistoric petroglyphs.

The Four Corners area is renowned for its unique geology, and Capitol Reef delivers, especially with the 100-mile-long Waterpocket Fold, a massive monocline formed 50 to 70 million years ago. You can also see geologic features like the imposing Capitol Dome and The Castle, and the 125-foot-tall and 133-foot-wide Hickman Bridge, which can be reached by hiking.

You can even pick fruit in season in the Fruita orchards, which were planted by 19^th-century settlers. Go back farther in time when you explore the Fremont culture petroglyph panel along Highway 24.

Capitol Reef blends geological wonders with human history, offering both natural and cultural discovery.

While the geologic history of Capitol Reef spans millennia, human history began when the Fremont people inhabited the area from about 700 to 1300 CE. You can see the petroglyphs they left behind, including at the panel along Highway 24.

Mormon pioneers came to the area in the early 1900s and established the Fruita settlement. Explore the remaining homes and farms, and enjoy fruit you can pick yourself or get a pie from the shop in the park.

In 1937, Capitol Reef was designated a national monument and was elevated to a national park in 1971. Today, it is a popular place to visit, but it is not as crowded as some of the other Utah national parks.

Capitol Reef’s human history is as layered as its sandstone, spanning ancient cultures to modern conservation.

As part of the high desert in Utah, Capitol Reef National Park sits between 3,880 and 8,960 feet in elevation. You can expect the weather to be cooler at the parts of the park at higher elevations, like Cathedral Valley, and warmer at relatively lower elevation points like Fruita and the Fremont River.

Weather can help you decide when to visit the park and guide your packing list. The National Park Service notes that the most popular times to visit the park are March to June and September through October. Like any high-elevation destination, layers are recommended so you can add or remove them to match your activity and the temperature.

You can call 435-425-3791 for automated weather (press 1, then 3) and road condition (press 1, then 4) information. Weather information is updated daily.

With so many hikes from which to choose, you may wonder which are the best hikes in Capitol Reef National Park to try during your visit. Your choice will depend on your fitness level, comfort with rugged trails, the ages and abilities of family members in your group, and what you’d like to see and explore.

Remember that due to the high elevation of Capitol Reef, hikes that may be within your ability level at a lower elevation may be too strenuous here. Take plenty of water, snacks, sun protection, and clothing layers on any hike, and make sure you know the route.

Here are a few of the most popular hiking trails in Capitol Reef National Park, which, between them, include natural arches, gorges, canyons, and ancient history.

Reserving a campsite at Fruita Campground creates the perfect base from which to enjoy Capitol Reef. It is the park’s only developed campground and has 71 sites, picnic tables, fire rings, restrooms, water, and a dump station.

There are no sites with electric hookups, and while there is internet connectivity, there is no cell phone reception. The campsite is surrounded by mature fruit orchards, from which you can pick fruit in season.

Reservations can be made up to six months in advance and are necessary during the busy season from mid-March through October. The campground is open year-round, and it is easiest to get a campground in winter.

Other places to camp at or near Capitol Reef include the primitive Cathedral Valley Campground, for which high-clearance vehicles are required, and dispersed camping on the BLM land that surrounds the park.

Takeaway: The Fruita Campground combines convenience and scenery, making it the most popular base for visitors.

How long you should spend in Capitol Reef National Park depends on your Utah road trip planning and how much you’d like to do in this vast park. Here are some suggested itineraries to help you determine how many days to spend at Capitol Reef.

• 1 day: Explore Fruita and the Scenic Drive, hike to Hickman Bridge, and visit the petroglyphs.
• 2 Days: Add rugged Cathedral Valley or the easy 2.2-mile each way Grand Wash hike.
• 3+ Days: Explore remote canyons or connect to Bryce or Canyonlands national parks.

Summary: A full weekend (two or three days) lets you experience Capitol Reef’s major highlights without rushing. You’ll have time to explore verdant Fruita as well as the park’s dramatic rock formations.

Spring and fall offer the best weather for visiting Capitol Reef. Summers can be hot and there may be rainstorms. Winter can bring snow and some roads close in winter.

Mid-March through October is the busiest time at the park and campground reservations are required to ensure you get a spot at the popular Fruita Campground.

Reservations may be made up to six months in advance and all sites are reservation only.

Yes, a seasonal waterfall flows on Fremont River near the Fruita area after rain or snowmelt and there are small waterfalls along Sulphur Creek.

Note that swimming is not allowed due to health and safety reasons at the Fremont River Waterfall, which is accessible from the road.

The smaller waterfalls along Sulphur Creek require a hike to see and may include river crossings. Be sure not to ingest water at any of the rivers or creeks in the park.

Capitol Reef National Park does not require reservations or timed entry passes. There is a fee to visit unless you have an annual pass or an America the Beautiful pass, for example.

If you plan to camp or explore the backcountry, you will need campground reservations or backcountry permits. The campground fee is $25 per night, discounted for America the Beautiful pass holders.

Pets are allowed in developed areas and on certain trails but not in backcountry zones. Pets must be on six-foot or shorter leashes at all times. Your dog can be a B.A.R.K. ranger by following these guidelines:

• Bag your pet’s waste and dispose of it properly
• Always leash your pet
• Respect wildlife
• Know where you can go

Leashed pets are only allowed in the following areas:

• Public parking areas
• On the trail from the visitor center to Fruita Campground
• On the Fremont River Trail from the campground to the south end of Hattie’s Field
• In unfenced or unlocked orchards
• In the Chestnut and Doc Inglesby picnic areas
• In the campgrounds
• Within 50 feet of the center line of public roads