Planning a trip to Utah and wondering what the best things to do in Capitol Reef National Park are?
Most people just breeze through Capitol Reef on their way to Moab or Bryce Canyon, which is a shame because there is a lot to see and do here! It’s the least visited of the Utah Mighty 5 National Parks, which means crowd levels are much lower than it’s more popular neighbors.
There are a ton of great hiking opportunities, off road trails, scenic drives, and history to explore in this part of Utah.
My husband and I spent an entire week exploring this part of Utah in May of 2021. We returned to Utah to visit Moab in October of 2024, and couldn’t resist coming back to Capitol Reef for an extra couple of days to check even more things off our list.
This post has the 15 best things to do in Capitol Reef National Park to help you plan your time here (And check out my Capitol Reef itinerary if you want a more structured list of these things!).
Capitol Reef National Park Overview
Capitol Reef is a very long and narrow National Park in southern Utah. It preserves the 100-mile long Waterpocket Fold, a north-south wrinkle in Earth’s crust that runs all the way to Lake Powell in Arizona.
Along the fold, erosion has exposed the layers of the Earth and rocks have been pushed upward, making for a very unique landscape.
Utah Highway 24 is the main road that travels east-west through the park. Most of the attractions in Capitol Reef National Park are located here: the Visitor’s Center, Fruita Historic District, and a lot of the trailheads.
Capitol Reef also has a ton of back-country roads in Cathedral Valley and the Waterpocket Fold District with some amazing hikes and views, but you will need a high-clearance 4×4 vehicle to access them.
I’ve annotated the map below with major points of interest, but you can download a high-resolution map here.
Related: 15 Can’t-Miss Things to Do at Canyonlands Island in the Sky District
The Best Time to Visit Capitol Reef National Park
The best time to visit Capitol Reef National Park is in the spring or fall when temperatures are pleasant. It gets brutally hot in Utah during the summer, with highs over 100 degrees. Summer is also the busiest time to visit since kids are out of school and people are taking their summer vacations.
In Utah, most hikes don’t have treecover to shade the trails, so you get full sun exposure most of the time. It’s important to prioritize hiking early or late in the day because of this.
October is another busy time to visit since you get all the fall breakers, but the weather is perfect. Capitol Reef doesn’t get as many visitors as its more popular neighbors, Arches and Bryce Canyon, but still expect some crowds midday here. If you really want to avoid the crowds, try visiting the last week of October or early November instead.
When we visited in May, it got hot during the middle of the day. In October, we had a day of 80 degree highs and then it snowed overnight! Visiting during shoulder season means that there is more variation in the weather.
Related: Capitol Reef to Bryce Canyon Road Trip: Epic 9 Days on Utah Scenic Byway 12
How to Get to Capitol Reef National Park
Capitol Reef National Park is located in south central Utah. If you’re looking at the Utah Mighty 5 National Parks in a line, Capitol Reef is situated between Bryce Canyon and Canyonlands National Parks.
There are no major nearby airports, so your best option is flying into Las Vegas or Salt Lake City and renting a car.
Las Vegas is a 5 hour drive to Capitol Reef, but is more convenient to the Grand Canyon and Zion National Park. Salt Lake City is a 3.5 hour drive to Capitol Reef and is more convenient to the Moab area.
From Salt Lake, you’ll take I-15 south to US-50 south, and then head east on UT-24. From Las Vegas, you’ll take I-15 north and then wind along some two lane highways until you reach UT-24.
You really can’t go wrong with either airport, so choose the one that is most convenient for the trip you are planning. We flew into Las Vegas the first time we visited and then Salt Lake the second time. We much preferred the Salt Lake City Airport, as it was much cleaner and easier to navigate than Las Vegas.
Here are driving times to Capitol Reef National Park from nearby popular destinations:
- Salt Lake City, UT: 217 miles / 3.5 hours
- Las Vegas, NV: 327 miles / 5 hours
- Moab, UT: 136 miles / 2 hours
- Bryce Canyon National Park: 111 miles / 2.5 hours
- Zion National Park: 175 miles / 3 hours
- Grand Canyon South Rim: 355 miles / 6.5 hours
- Phoenix, AZ: 495 miles / 8.5 hours
Fees & Passes Information
Admission to Capitol Reef National Park costs $20 per vehicle and is good for 7 days, unless you have the America the Beautiful National Park Pass.
Since Utah Highway 24 runs through the park and it is the only highway in the area, there aren’t entrance stations located at each end of the park like you’ll find at other parks. Capitol Reef uses the honor system, so please don’t abuse this policy! You can pay the entrance fee at the Visitor’s Center or purchase a pass online at the recreation.gov website here.
If you plan to visit 3 or more National Parks or Monuments on your trip to Utah (or within one year), getting the America the Beautiful National Park Pass will save you money vs. paying the separate fees at each park. It costs $80 and you must order ahead of time as they will ship you a physical pass.
Related: Top 16 Things to Do in Arches National Park
How Many Days Do You Need in Capitol Reef National Park?
The time needed in Capitol Reef National Park depends on what you like to do.
If you enjoy hiking and/or off-road driving, you can easily spend 4 days here and not get bored. There are two incredible off-road drives that will take almost a full day each to complete and tons of incredible moderate hiking trails to explore. The more nights you can fit in here on your Utah road trip, the better!
If hiking or off-road adventuring isn’t your thing, 1 day is all you need to visit the highlights and do the Scenic Drive.
We have spent a collective 5 days in Capitol Reef and we still haven’t gotten to everything on our list. If you are visiting Capitol Reef on a Utah road trip and have limited time, check out the end of this post for my suggestions on things to do.
Related: 10 Best Day Hikes in Capitol Reef National Park
15 Best Things to Do in Capitol Reef National Park
1. Capitol Reef Scenic Drive
The Capitol Reef Scenic Drive is an 8-mile paved road with gorgeous, otherworldly scenery. This is a must-do when visiting Capitol Reef!
There are also 2 dirt roads that spur off the Scenic Drive with trailheads to some popular hikes (Grand Wash and Capitol Gorge). You can easily combine the Scenic Drive with a hiking trail for a great afternoon in Capitol Reef!
The NPS also has an accompanying virtual tour so you can learn about the geology and different rock layers found in Capitol Reef National Park.
The road is accessible to any passenger car and RV’s up to 27 feet in length.
Note: The Scenic Drive is currently closed due to a large construction project and is expected to reopen in December of 2024. Most of the park remains open, but you will not be able to do the Scenic Drive or hike the trails that begin at the Capitol Gorge or Grand Wash trailheads. Check the NPS website here for the most up-to-date information before planning your trip.
2. Visit the Fruita Historic District & Gifford Homestead
The Gifford House is one of the only buildings left from the Mormon settlers in the early 1900s. It’s located in the Fruita district, right off Highway 24.
The house is now a museum and gift shop where you can buy handmade soaps, jams, and other crafts.
But the real reason you want to stop by here is for the homemade ice cream and fruit pies! The Fruita district is scattered with 19 orchards planted by the Mormon settlers, and the fruit from these trees are used to make the pies.
The Gifford House is open from 9 – 4:30, but they often sell out of the ice cream and pies before noon during peak season. It’s a great excuse to grab a post-breakfast treat before or after hiking!
3. Hike the Hickman Bridge Trail
The Hickman Bridge Trail is one of the best things to do in Capitol Reef National Park. It’s a short, 1.7-mile trail to a gorgeous natural bridge.
The trailhead is located off of Highway 24. You’ll see amazing views over Fruita at the beginning of the trail and wind along a well-marked path to the Hickman Bridge.
4. Loop the Waterpocket Fold
“Looping the Fold” in Capitol Reef is a 124-mile driving tour of the Waterpocket Fold district. It’s one of the most unique things to do in Capitol Reef National Park.
A high-clearance 4×4 vehicle is recommended, but not necessary for this drive. The roads are unpaved, rough, and sandy, so be prepared!
Looping the Fold can take anywhere from 4 hours to all day depending on how often you stop for photos and hiking (there are some cool, short hikes along the way).
You can grab a map of this drive at the Visitor’s Center for a few dollars. Make sure to check the weather, start with a full tank of gas, and bring plenty of food and water with you. If you don’t feel comfortable doing this drive in your rental car, Capitol Reef Jeep Rentals has Jeep Wranglers available for daily rentals.
On our second visit to Capitol Reef, we rented a Jeep Grand Cherokee specifically to do the Waterpocket Fold Loop. Mother Nature had other plans though, and we had some rain and snow on that day and were unable to do the loop. Dirt roads in Utah become impassable when wet, even in a 4WD vehicle.
Oh well, it’s just another excuse to come back again in the future!
5. Drive Utah Highway 24
Utah Highway 24 is the main road that runs east-west through the park. Even though this isn’t an “official” scenic drive, it is very scenic!
Drive through the park to/from Torrey in the west to Caineville in the east and admire the scenery. There are lots of trailheads, the Gifford Homestead, and more attractions located right off this road.
6. Drive the Cathedral Valley Loop
The Cathedral Valley Loop is another off-roading tour similar to Looping the Fold, but it is more remote and you probably won’t see any other cars. Stop by the Visitor’s Center and pick up a map before venturing out.
All of the tips for Looping the Fold apply to driving in Cathedral Valley. This area is very remote with no cell signal, so it’s important to be prepared. You’ll explore Capitol Reef’s northern district full of sandstone monoliths and wide-open deserts.
Driving the 57-mile Cathedral Valley Loop will take you between 6 hours and one full day, depending on how often you stop for sightseeing and hiking.
You will have to cross the Fremont River, so you WILL need a high-clearance 4×4. The water level at this part of the river is usually less than a foot deep and the riverbed is rocky and hard-packed so you shouldn’t get stuck.
Do this loop in the clockwise direction so you get the river crossing over with first. You DO NOT want to save this part for last, find out the water level is too high, and then have to turn around and redo the entire 6-hour loop to get back to civilization.
There are a ton of awesome hikes and scenic spots in Cathedral Valley. Some of them are pointed out on the map below, but you can find more details on the NPS website here.
This loop is still on our list of things to do in Capitol Reef National Park!
7. Walk the Capitol Gorge Trail
The Capitol Gorge Trail is a flat trail through a wide canyon for about a mile before a steep scramble up some rocks to the “tanks.” These “tanks” are hollowed out sandstone that are a result of millions of years of erosion from rain and snowmelt. We had a blast scrambling up the rocks and taking pictures.
The trailhead begins where Scenic Drive ends. You’ll follow a dirt road down the gorge for about 2 miles before reaching the trailhead parking lot. This road is fine for regular cars if it’s dry outside (there will be a gate closing off the road if conditions are bad).
The entire trail is about 2 miles round trip with minimal elevation gain. You can hike in the canyon and skip the scramble up to the tanks if you want an easier hike.
Note: The Capitol Gorge Trail is currently closed due to the Scenic Drive construction project. It is expected reopen in December of 2024. Check the NPS website here for the most up-to-date information before planning your trip.
8. Visit Panorama Point
Panorama Point is a great viewpoint with sweeping views of the incredible, colorful, sandstone cliffs. This is one of the first things we did in Capitol Reef and it did not disappoint!
You’ll find this viewpoint on the west end of the park off of Highway 24. It is a great place to watch the sunset.
9. Hike to the Cassidy Arch
The Cassidy Arch Trail is one of the most popular and best things to do in Capitol Reef National Park. You’ll hike up through some red rocks to the Cassidy Arch. The total distance is 3.1 miles with 685 feet of elevation gain. The trailhead is located off of Scenic Drive Road.
This is the only trail in Capitol Reef National Park where you’ll get to actually stand ON a natural arch (this makes a great photo opportunity!). The first part of this hike is pretty steep and strenuous, but it does get easier after that. You’ll see some great views of the Grand Wash on your way to the arch.
Bring plenty of sunscreen and water for this hike. We did this one midday in late May and it was hot! I’d recommend getting an early start, especially if you plan to visit in the summer.
Note: The Cassidy Arch Trailhead is currently closed due to the Scenic Drive construction project and expected to ropen in December of 2024. Check the NPS website here for the most up-to-date information before planning your trip.
There is another way to hike to the Cassidy Arch while the trailhead is closed. Hike the Cohab Canyon trail until it intersects with the Frying Pan Trail. Take the Frying Pan Trail to the Cassidy Arch Trail, which will take you to the Cassidy Arch.
Doing the hike this way results in a total round-trip distance of 5 miles with 1459 feet of elevation gain. It is a challenging hike, but this is the only way to see the Cassidy Arch until the Scenic Drive is open again.
10. Hike the Cohab Canyon Trail
The Cohab Canyon Trail is a moderately strenuous hike up to and through an incredible hidden canyon. The first part of the hike is very steep up some switchbacks and the rest of the hike is relatively level after that. We were blown away by the scenery of the canyon once we reached the top of the switchbacks!
Cohab Canyon is one of the few trails in Capitol Reef that has some shade, which was a nice surprise on the warm October day we hiked this trail.
There is an optional hike up to 2 overlooks over Fruita as well. We thought the North Overlook was better than the South, but both were pretty incredible. Hiking the Cohab Canyon Trail to the overlooks will result in a total hike of 3.2 miles with 764 feet of elevation gain.
The trailhead is located in Fruita and there is a large parking lot.
11. See the Petroglyphs
Capitol Reef National Park preserves petroglyphs dating back to the Native American tribes that inhabited the area. They are located right off of Highway 24 and have boardwalks that go up to them.
This should go without saying, but DO NOT write on the walls– the NPS monitors this area and the fine is up to $20,000 if you are caught vandalizing.
12. Visit the Goosenecks Overlook
The Goosenecks Overlook is a short trail to an overlook of 2 horsehoe bends that the Sulphur Creek carved out from the sandstone. They form a deep canyon and the view is incredible!
To get here, turn off of Highway 24 on Panorama Point road. Follow this road all the way to the end where it turns into Goosenecks Road. There are short trails for the Goosenecks Overlook and Sunset Point from the parking lot.
13. Explore Sunset Point
Sunset Point is located in the same area as the Goosenecks Overlook. There is a short, 0.8-mile trail with views of the otherworldly scenery in Capitol Reef National Park. You can see the Henry Mountains off in the distance as well.
This is a great place to visit in the late afternoon or evening as the sun is setting. Since you’ll be looking east on this trail, the lighting is spectacular as the sun sets behind the scenery. We visited here on an overcast day so we didn’t really get a full on sunset, but the views were still amazing!
14. Go Stargazing
Capitol Reef National Park became an official International Dark Sky Park in 2015. This is an excellent place to stargaze without all the light pollution of populated areas.
Park rangers will occasionally host stargazing events as well. Check out the calendar on the NPS website here for more information.
Panorama Point and the Fruita campground make great places to stargaze inside the park.
15. Go Hiking
Are you tired of hiking yet? I told you Capitol Reef has a ton of great day hikes!
I know I’ve mentioned the Hickman Bridge, Cassidy Arch, Cohab Canyon, and Capitol Gorge trails on this list already, but there are a lot of other great trails as well.
Here are my other hiking suggestions:
- Grand Wash: 4.7-mile, easy walk through a large slot canyon
- Rim Overlook: 4.3-mile, out-and-back trail with 1066 feet of elevation gain with jaw-dropping panoramic views over the park
- Navajo Knobs: 9.1-mile, challenging trail with over 2000 feet of elevation gain with the best views of the park
- Chimney Rock: 3.3-mile, moderately challenging loop trail along the Waterpocket Fold
Related: 10 Best Day Hikes in Capitol Reef National Park
Bonus: Eat at Hell’s Backbone Grill
I highly recommend grabbing dinner at Hell’s Backbone Grill just south of Boulder, Utah. It’s about an hour south of the Capitol Reef Visitor’s Center, but the drive there on Utah Scenic Byway 12 is absolutely gorgeous!
Hell’s Backbone Grill is a world-famous, farm-to-table restaurant that features a regional cuisine. It is a bit pricey, but was definitely worth the splurge for us. We ate here on both of our trips because the food is really that good.
The hours change every season, so make sure it’s open when you plan to go. Try to time your trip so that you’re not driving back on Highway 12 in the dark, as it is quite twisty and there are large drop offs on both sides in some places.
Best Things to Do in Capitol Reef With Limited Time
Let’s be honest: you could easily spend an entire week exploring every nook and cranny in Capitol Reef National Park.
But with the rest of the Utah Mighty 5, your trip probably includes multiple stops through southern Utah. It’s unlikely you’ll get to do everything in Capitol Reef on this list unless you have 5+ days.
So what are the best things to do in Capitol Reef with limited time? Here are my recommendations:
HALF DAY IN CAPITOL REEF:
Drive Highway 24 through the park, stop at the Gifford Homestead, Panorama Point, Sunset Point, and the Goosenecks Overlook and visit the petroglyphs. Do the Capitol Reef Scenic Drive and hike the Hickman Bridge Trail if you have time.
FULL DAY IN CAPITOL REEF:
Spend the morning hiking the Cassidy Arch Trail before it gets too hot. Grab lunch in Torrey and then spend the afternoon doing the scenic drive, visiting the petroglyphs, and grabbing pies and ice cream at the Gifford Homestead.
If you still have energy for another hike, hike the Hickman Bridge Trail.
Head to Boulder in the late afternoon for an early dinner at Hell’s Backbone Grill. Stop at Panorama Point, Sunset Point, and the Goosenecks Overlook on your way back to Torrey for sunset to conclude your day in Capitol Reef National Park.
Where to Stay at Capitol Reef National Park
Torrey is the best place to stay near Capitol Reef National Park. It’s a cute town located just 8 miles west of the park with restaurants, hotels, gas stations, gift shops, and a general store.
On our first trip, we actually stayed in an Airbnb in the neighboring town of Teasdale (there is literally nothing there, so we did all of our eating and shopping in Torrey). The second time, we stayed in Torrey at the Red Sands Hotel and Spa.
Here are some good lodging options in Torrey:
- Red Sands Hotel and Spa: We stayed here for 2 nights on our second trip and would recommend it. There is a pool, spa, rock garden, and a restaurant on-site.
- Capitol Reef Resort: You can stay in a luxury room, a glamping teepee, or a wagon with an amazing view of the red rock cliffs. There is also a restaurant, pool, and hot tub.
- Chuck Wagon Lodge: This is a great budget option with a convenient location above the general store with a bakery and deli.
- Broken Spur Inn: Simple, affordable accommodations 5 minutes from the park. They also have wagons you can stay in.
There are no restaurants inside Capitol Reef National Park except for the Gifford House, which only serves pie and ice cream. Plan to pack a lunch to bring into the park or eat in Torrey (there are some really good options here).
As far a restaurants go, we really loved the bakery and deli in the Chuck Wagon General Store for breakfast and ate here almost every morning! Our other favorite restaurants neaby are Chak Balam for Mexican, Hunt and Gather for a slightly more upscale dining experience, and Slackers for burgers.
And of course, Hell’s Backbone Grill takes the cake for our absolute favorite restaurant in the area.
What are you most excited for on your trip to Capitol Reef National Park? Let me know in the comments below!
-Megan
More Information On Southern Utah
MORE ON CAPITOL REEF NATIONAL PARK: Check out my 1-4 day Capitol Reef itinerary and the best day hikes in Capitol Reef National Park.
UTAH ROAD TRIP: Visit Capitol Reef, Bryce Canyon, Grand Staircase Escalante, and some incredible Utah State Parks with this epic 9-day Utah Scenic Byway 12 road trip itinerary.
GRAND STAIRCASE ESCALANTE NATIONAL MONUMENT: Nestled on one of the most scenic highways in the US, Grand Staircase is a massive National Monument that is home to incredible waterfalls, slot canyons, and remote outdoor adventures. It typically gets overshadowed by the Mighty 5 National Parks, but it is just as impressive.
HANKSVILLE, UTAH: Hanksville is a tiny town between Capitol Reef and Moab that is near some otherworldly landscapes similar to the surface of the moon. Here’s how to visit Factory Butte and the Moonscape Overlook, hike to the Long Dong Silver Spire, or check out Goblin Valley State Park.
CANYONLANDS NATIONAL PARK: Explore this incredible National Park while you’re in Moab, just 2 hours from Capitol Reef. Check out the best things to do in the Island in the Sky District, drive the Shafer Canyon-Potash Road loop, or get off the beaten path in the Needles District.
DEAD HORSE POINT STATE PARK: This state park provides an incredible panoramic vista over the Colorado River, and it’s on your way to Canyonlands Island in the Sky District.
ARCHES NATIONAL PARK: Explore over 2000 sandstone arches in this incredible National Park that neighbors Canyonlands in Moab. Check out my guide to the best things to do in Arches National Park.
BRYCE CANYON NATIONAL PARK: Bryce is a compact park, so you can thoroughly explore the hoodoos in just one day. It’s 2.5 hours from Capitol Reef, so it is possible to visit on a day trip. This post shows you how.
ZION NATIONAL PARK: Visit Utah’s most popular National Park. Hike the famous Angel’s Landing, the Narrows, and do the scenic drive. Zion is still on my list of parks to visit, and is currently experiencing lots of overcrowding issues. I plan to visit during the off season when we get a chance!
