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Capitol Reef National Park is often overshadowed by Utah’s more popular parks like Arches, Zion, and Bryce Canyon National Park which is such a shame because Capitol Reef offers amazing landscapes, rock formations, and hiking trails.

On the other hand, it’s a good thing that this park isn’t as popular because you don’t have to deal with the massive crowds like the other parks. When we visited in August 2020, we pretty much had the park to ourselves.

It’s also the perfect place to spend one day here. Since this park is less frequented by visitors, you’ll have more time to explore things without having to wait for a parking spot or getting to certain places at specific times to beat the crowd. You can fully enjoy Capitol Reef National Park at a leisurely pace in one day.

MORNING

Visitor Center

Stop by the visitor center and pick up a guide and map. Park rangers are on-site and can answer your questions or give you advice on the best sites to visit within the park. In our experience, the park ranger we talked to didn’t have much to say, but at least we got our questions answered.

Fruita

Before getting started on your adventures, stop by Fruita’s gift shop to enjoy homemade pies and learn about the history of the Mormon pioneers. The small settlement also has more than 2,500 fruit trees and visitors can stroll trough the orchards and eat fruit fresh off the trees.

Scenic Drive

After satisfying your tummy and absorbing the history of the area, start your adventure on the Scenic Drive. It’s an 8-mile drive that offers breathtaking views of the Waterpocket Fold which is what Capitol Reef is known for. It’s a gorgeous drive and along the way, you can stop at designated pullout areas to take photos.

Capitol Gorge

We were a bit hesitant to drive down Capitol Gorge since it’s a 2.4-mile unpaved road, but the park ranger at the visitor center reassured us that passenger cars are completely fine on these roads and he was right.

We drove our Ford Escape SUV down this road and even saw normal sedans like a Toyota Camry driving through with no problems.

We absolutely loved this drive and it felt like such an adventure as each corner we turned had amazing views and magnificent tall rocks.

We were completely alone most of the time and there were no ambient sounds. There was complete silence here, which is something we rarely experience.

Just a couple of minutes into our drive near the Tapestry Wall, we spotted a family of bighorn sheep and watched them slowly graze their way across the fields. We got out of the car here for a bit to observe the wildlife and also take some awesome pictures.

After spending about 30 minutes here, we hopped back into the car and continued our drive through Capitol Gorge admiring the stunning rocks.

We stopped in an area where we were surrounded by a gigantic white sandstone structure that was covered with air pockets. This area also echoed a ton that when a car drove by, it sounded like we were approaching a massive waterfall.

The entire drive through Capitol Gorge was so beautiful that we didn’t want it to end. When we arrived at the end of the road, there was a parking lot and a bathroom, which was also the start of the Golden Throne Trail.

It’s considered an easy trail and in the course of one mile, you’ll pass through a petroglyph panel, a small natural arch and a sequence of water-filled potholes called the Tanks.

AFTERNOON

Grand Wash and Cassidy Arch Trail

Grand Wash is one of the most popular hikes at Capitol Reef National Park since it is very easy. This trail is known for its narrow valley with steep rocky walls.

The hike to the narrows was about 1.2 miles and the wash is pretty level throughout the entire route; however, it was full of streambed sediment so it’s wise to wear athletic shoes or hiking boots.

Once we approached the narrows, we turned around and headed back to our starting point, but you can keep on going for another mile or so if you’d like. You’ve reached the end when you hit another parking lot by Scenic Highway 24.

You can also choose to do the Cassidy Arch Trail here, which is a 3-mile hike considered to be moderate to strenuous. We did not do this hike; however, we have heard that its climb is steep, but worth the visit.

EVENING

Sunset Views

For sunset views, head to Panorama Point and/or Goosenecks Overlook. We stopped by Panorama Point and had the most amazing 360-degree views of the park while the sun set beautifully. We especially loved looking down at the windy roads leading up to Goosenecks Overlook.

Goosenecks Overlook is a one-mile drive from Panorama Point and you’ll get a view of the winding bends of Sulphur Creek Canyon hundreds of feet below. 

There’s also the Sunset Point Trail you can do after taking in the views at Goosenecks. It’s an easy, family-friendly trail and only a half-mile one way.

Stargazing

Capitol Reef is recognized by the International Dark-Sky Association as a Gold-tier park, which means it’s an excellent place for stargazing and night photography. This was perfect since Crystal wanted to test out some astro photography shots.

Panorama Point is one of the best places to grab some night photography shots of the stars and the Milky Way.

We were hoping to capture images of the Milky Way, but unfortunately, the moon was shining so bright that the skies weren’t completely pitch black.

Regardless, we did enjoy having the night skies to ourselves and were able to see a ton of bright stars.

WHERE TO STAY

Torrey is the closest town and is about 5 miles away from the park entrance. We stayed at the Red Sands Hotel in Torrey and enjoyed our stay here at a great price.

You can also stay even closer to the park at Capitol Reef Resort or The Noor Hotel, which has some great reviews.

TIPS

• There is no Wi-Fi access inside the park, so make sure to make calls or download any information you need beforehand.

• Bring water and snacks with you. There are snacks available at the visitor center and at the Gifford House store, but there aren’t any restaurants or cafes.

• You will need a car as shuttle services are not available in the park.

• The entrance fee is based on an honor system and located just past the Visitor Center at the north end of Scenic Drive. We placed cash in one of the envelopes and dropped it in the box.

• Pets are only permitted in developed park areas, not on hiking trails.

FINAL THOUGHTS

We visited at the end of August and pretty much had the entire park to ourselves and only ran into a handful of people the entire time.

We felt like it is the most underrated park out of Utah's Mighty 5 National Parks. The geology of this area is unsurpassed, there are numerous hiking trails, and we even learned some interesting history of uranium mining here.

CAPITOL REEF NATIONAL PARK
@capitolreefnps
Address: Capitol Reef National Park, UT 84775
Phone: +1 435-425-3791