Capitol Reef is part of Utah's famous "Mighty Five" national parks.
Across its nearly 1,000 square kilometers, Capitol Reef awaits with endless outdoor activities, stunning vistas, and breathtaking red rock formations. The park offers a vibrant palette of colors, constantly shifting with the light and the effects of erosion.
🛣️THE ROUTE:
As you drive or walk, you can enjoy imposing cliffs, huge domes, arches, bridges, and rugged canyons.
If your journey is for several days, we recommend camping at sites such as the Fruita Campground in the town of Fruita, the Primitive Campground in Cathedral Valley, or the Group Campsite, near Fruita.
Fruita Campground: one of the options for camping, but keep in mind there are no showers or phone signal (you can use wifi if you go to the visitor center.)
If you are into backpacking and hiking, there are many accessible trails along highway 24, but if you are looking for a challenge or to isolate yourself a bit, the north and south ends of the park hide the most remote and complicated trails, but also very rewarding ones.
We wanted to explore a bit and took a moderate hike to enjoy with the whole family.
We decided on the Hickman Bridge Trail (1.7 Miles round trip). A challenging route, which can take you about 1 hour to complete. This is a very popular area for hiking and running, so you will likely encounter other people while exploring. The best times to visit this trail are from March to November. Unfortunately, dogs are not allowed on this trail.
Do not forget to hydrate at all times, the high temperatures can dehydrate you quickly.
If you drive an all-terrain vehicle and want to get off the path, the Waterpocket Fold, which runs a good part of the park from north to south, offers several unpaved roads to go off-road. In fact, you can get from Fruita to the south of the park following this geological formation without ever stepping on pavement.
Capitol Reef has its magic both during the day and at night. In addition to the multiple walks you can do, this park is famous for being the perfect place to enjoy a show of bright stars during the night, due to its dark sky and how far away it is from the city.
PARKING/ENTRY PASS.
Get your entry pass before you arrive! Visit recreation.gov
to get a digital site pass. You must be able to show your site pass to NPS staff upon request. After purchasing, download the pass to your mobile device (the park has extremely limited connectivity) or simply carry it printed.
If you left in a hurry or simply forgot, don't worry, they are also available at the Capitol Reef Visitor Center. For more information and fees click here.
Vehicle entry is $20, but you can pay $10 if you park at the Visitor Center and continue your excursion on foot. If you are someone who likes to travel and visit US parks regularly, we recommend that you buy the Annual pass which has a value of $80 but will allow you to enter all national parks in the country at no additional cost
☀️CURRENT WEATHER
⛰️MY RECOMMENDATIONS
- Check the weather before venturing out.
- If possible, try to visit them on weekdays, as you will be able to enjoy the park without so many people.
- Look for detailed maps of the tours at the Visitor Center.
- If you go in summer, bring comfortable, light clothing that allows you to cover yourself from the inclement sun characteristic of the season.
- Do not forget your cap or hat, sunglasses and apply sunscreen (you will need it).
- I recommend using the Alltrails app for digital maps (you can even use them without phone signal).