Planning a trip to southern Utah and wondering what the best things to do in Capitol Reef National Park are?
My husband and I spent an entire week exploring this part of Utah (Capitol Reef, Bryce Canyon, and Escalante- check out this post for our Utah road trip itinerary), and we were blown away at how unique the landscape was here.
There are a ton of great hiking opportunities, off road trails, scenic drives, and history to explore in this part of Utah.
Capitol Reef is (unfortunately) often overlooked in favor of Zion, Bryce Canyon, and Arches National Parks, but it’s no less unique and beautiful! You’ll enjoy much lower crowds on a visit to Capitol Reef.
This post has the 15 best things to do in Capitol Reef National Park.
And if you’re wondering how to string these things together into the ultimate Capitol Reef itinerary for 1-4 days, check out this post!
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 most 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.
When we visited, we rented a truck but didn’t have 4×4. The Cathedral Valley loop was washed out when we tried to do it and we didn’t feel comfortable taking the 2WD rental truck through high waters!
Best Time to Visit Capitol Reef National Park
The best time to visit Capitol Reef National Park is in the fall or spring.
You’ll avoid the heat and summer crowds by traveling when school is in session, plus prices are a bit lower.
Utah gets HOT in the summer and there isn’t much shade on the hiking trails. We went in late May and the weather was pleasant, but it did get hot in the middle of the day!
How to Get to Capitol Reef National Park
Capitol Reef National Park is located in south central Utah. There are no major nearby airports, so your best option is flying into Las Vegas or Salt Lake City. You will have to rent a car, as there isn’t any other way to get around in Utah.
Vegas is a 5 hour drive to Capitol Reef, but is more convenient to the Grand Canyon and Zion National Park, if those areas are also on your list.
Salt Lake City is a 3.5 hour drive to Capitol Reef.
You really can’t go wrong with either airport, so choose the one that is cheapest and/or most convenient for you!
Related: How to Visit the Grand Canyon in Winter (Weather, Hiking, & More!)
How Many Days Do You Need in Capitol Reef National Park?
If you enjoy hiking, 2-3 days in Capitol Reef National Park is a must. You’ll be able to do the Scenic Drive, visit the Gifford homestead, and do a lot of the things on this list!
If you’re not a big hiker, you really only need 1 day in Capitol Reef to do the Scenic Drive, Gifford Homestead, and visit some of the overlooks.
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 scenery. This is a must-do when visiting Capitol Reef!
There are also 2 dirt roads that spur off the Scenic Drive (Grand Wash and Capitol Gorge) with trailheads to some popular hikes. You can easily combine the Scenic Drive with a hiking trail for a great afternoon in Capitol Reef!
The Scenic Drive costs $20 (good for 7 days) unless you have the America the Beautiful Pass. The road is accessible to any passenger car and RV’s up to 27 feet in length.
2. 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!
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. Make sure to check the weather, start with a full tank of gas, and bring plenty of food and water with you.
And if you don’t feel comfortable doing this drive in your “normal” rental car, Capitol Reef Jeep Rentals has Jeep Wranglers available for daily rentals.
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.
Driving through the park on UT-24 is also completely free!
6. Drive the Cathedral Valley Loop
The Cathedral Valley Loop is another off-roading tour similar to Looping the Fold, but it’s 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. You can download a zoomed-in map of the river ford area here.
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 (length of hikes, etc) on the NPS website here.
7. Walk the Capitol Gorge Trail
Hiking the Capitol Gorge Trail is one of the best things to do in Capitol Reef.
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).
Capitol Gorge 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.
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’re worried about that portion of the trail!
8. 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 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!
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.
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.
This is the only trail where you’ll get to actually stand ON a natural arch (this makes a great photo opportunity!).
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.
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 and hike to the Cassidy Arch.
The trailhead is located off of Scenic Drive Road.
10. 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.
11. Watch the Sunset at Sunset/Goosenecks Point
One of the best things to do at Capitol Reef National Park is watching the afternoon sun at Sunset or Goosenecks Point.
Turn off of Highway 24 on the Panorama Point road. There is an awesome scenic overlook here on the way to the Goosenecks and Sunset Point trails.
Keep heading down this road and it will turn into Sunset Point Road. Take the right side for the Goosenecks Trail and the left side for the Sunset Point Trail (these are really just short walks, not hikes).
Sunset Point gives you one of the best areas in the park to watch the sunset and Goosenecks gives you an awesome overlook of where the Sulfur Creek carved out a canyon.
12. Have a Picnic
Capitol Reef National Park doesn’t have any restaurants inside the park boundary (there are plenty in Torrey though), so it is a great idea to pack a picnic lunch and enjoy the scenery.
There are grab-and-go sandwiches at the General Store in Torrey or you can grab some supplies and assemble your own.
There are tons of picnic tables in Fruita and near the Gifford House. Or have your picnic lunch on one of the many hiking trails.
13. Drive Utah Scenic Byway 12
Utah Scenic Byway 12 connects Capitol Reef National Park, Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument, and Bryce Canyon National Park.
This road is hands-down one of the best scenic drives I have ever done (it even rivals the Beartooth Highway in Montana!).
You can drive this road to take a day trip to Bryce Canyon National Park and stop at Hell’s Backbone Grill for an early dinner on your way back to Torrey. It will take about 2.5 hours to drive all the way to Bryce Canyon, so it will be a big day but it’s doable.
The views and thrilling drive are 100% worth it though!
Or if you’re planning a longer road trip through Utah, I highly recommend the Scenic Byway 12 route on your way to Escalante or Bryce Canyon.
Related: How to See Bryce Canyon in a Day
14. Visit Factory Butte & Moonscape Overlook
Factory Butte Recreation Area and the Moonscape Overlook are located just outside of the Capitol Reef National Park boundary in Hanksville.
The Factory Butte Recreation Area is a BLM-owned OHV site named after the flat-topped sandstone mountain dubbed Factory Butte. The Moonscape Overlook is located 3 miles from Factory Butte and overlooks Utah’s Blue Valley and (you guessed it!) looks like the surface of the moon.
This area looks nothing like the rest of Utah. It’s characterized by pale yellow, purple, and grey clay moonscape, unlike the famous red and orange colors you’ll see in other parts of Utah.
This area sees hardly any visitors, so it’s a great place to ditch the crowds and feel like you’re on another planet.
There isn’t a ton to do here (no designated hiking trails) but it’s still worth a visit to take photos and explore!
It can be tricky navigating to Factory Butte, so I wrote a whole blog post on how to get to Factory Butte and the Moonscape Overlook.
15. Go Hiking
One of my favorite things to do in Capitol Reef National Park is hiking. I know I’ve mentioned the Hickman Bridge, Cassidy Arch, 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:
- Cohab Canyon: 3-mile, moderately challenging hike to a hidden canyon with scenic overlooks
- 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: 5 Best Day Hikes in Capitol Reef National Park
Where to Stay Near Capitol Reef National Park
Torrey is really your only option for lodging near Capitol Reef National Park. It’s a cute town located just 8 miles from the entrance and has a general store with a restaurant, some gift shops, and a few other restaurants.
We 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).
Here are some good lodging options if you don’t want to go with an Airbnb or VRBO:
- 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.
Capitol Reef also has 3 campgrounds:
- Fruita: This is the only developed campground in the park. There is potable water and toilets, but no showers or electrical/water/sewage hookups for RVs.
- Cathedral Valley: This is a free, primitive campground with pit toilets, but no potable water. You will need a 4×4 vehicle to get here.
- Cedar Mesa: Another free, primitive campground with pit toilets, but no water. You don’t need 4×4 to get to this campground, but a high-clearance vehicle helps.
Helpful Tips for Capitol Reef National Park
Capitol Reef National Park is the least visited of Utah’s Mighty 5, but that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t get crowded during the day. I recommend starting your hikes early to ensure you get a parking space at the trailheads.
Be prepared to hike! Most of the best views and attractions are accessed from hiking trails. Most of the trails are easy to moderate so it is possible to do multiple hikes in one day.
This goes without saying, but bring lots of sunscreen. Utah is in the desert and doesn’t have a lot of treecover, so you will be out in the sun while hiking and exploring.
There are no restaurants inside the 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).
There are so many opportunities to get off the beaten path at Capitol Reef National Park, so a high-clearance 4×4 is highly recommended. It is a non-negotiable for the Cathedral Valley Loop (you have to cross the Fremont River) and highly recommended for looping the Fold.
If your rental car doesn’t have 4×4 (or you didn’t want to spend the extra money on a 4×4 SUV for your entire trip), Capitol Reef Jeep Rentals has Jeep Wranglers available for daily rentals. It’s a bit expensive, but less expensive than upgrading your rental car if you only need 4×4 for one day of off roading.
If rain is in the forecast or it has rained recently, stay out of the canyons, gorges, and dirt roads as flash flooding can happen very quickly in these areas and it is very dangerous if you’re caught in a flood! Don’t even try Looping the Fold or driving the Cathedral Valley Loop under these conditions.
Which of these best things to do in Capitol Reef are you most excited about? Let me know in the comments below!
-Megan
More Things to Do in Southern Utah
There is no shortage of amazing things to do in Capitol Reef and other parts of Utah!
MORE ON CAPITOL REEF NATIONAL PARK: Check out this post for a 1-4 day Capitol Reef itinerary and this post for the top 5 hikes in Capitol Reef!
UTAH SCENIC BYWAY 12 ROAD TRIP ITINERARY: This itinerary has you spending a week exploring Capitol Reef, hiking to slot canyons and waterfalls in Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument, and seeing Bryce Canyon.
BRYCE CANYON NATIONAL PARK: One day is all you need to thoroughly explore Bryce Canyon, this post shows you how!
ZION NATIONAL PARK: The most famous of Utah’s Mighty 5. Zion is currently having intense overcrowding issues along with toxic bacteria in the Virgin River. You will need permits for the best hikes and scenic drive, which are really hard to get in the spring, summer, and fall. I would plan a visit for winter (the slower season) or skip Zion for now until the NPS figures out some of these issues!
ARCHES NATIONAL PARK: Arches is famous for having over 2000 natural sandstone arches and is located just north of Canyonlands National Park.
CANYONLANDS NATIONAL PARK: Canyonlands is known for its desert plateau landscape carved by the Colorado River.
GRAND STAIRCASE ESCALANTE NATIONAL MONUMENT: Insanely underrated National Monument with slot canyons and fantastic waterfalls.
GOBLIN VALLEY STATE PARK: This is a Utah State Park filled with sandstone “hoodoos” and other unique rock formations.
