One of the less-visited parks in Utah -- and one of our favorites -- Capitol Reef is not to be missed. Truly a geological wonder, this park provides a density of activities within close proximity of the main road, giving you easy access to witness everything this park has to offer. Peer into vast canyons, step back in time with walls of petroglyphs, and hike through a towering gorge. Although the activities here are plentiful, these are our favorite 6 things to do in Capitol Reef National Park.
Hickman Bridge Hike
This 1.8 mile round trip hike leads you through a beautiful canyon with views of Capitol Dome and other interesting rock formations and to the 133-foot natural bridge (arch) that sits nestled inside of it. Due to the 400-feet of elevation gain, this hike gets a moderate rating and is a great hike for people of all ages.
Panorama Point, Sunset Point Trail & Goosenecks Overlook
For fantastic views of the many features in the park, like the Waterpocket Fold, you can easily access these points with just a short hike. We grouped these together because you can easily visit all three in one quick visit - Goosenecks Overlook and Sunset Point Trail share a parking lot (but are different trails), and the Panorama Point trailhead is just down the road.
Sunset Point is great for, you guessed it, sunset! The light shining off the rocks is perfect at this time of day. Goosenecks Overlook looks out over the gorge and although it is gorgeous, the cliffs can be a bit intimidating. There are guardrails but keep this in mind with young kids.
Historic Fruita
Settled in the 1880s by Mormon pioneers, this lush area of the park is home to a schoolhouse, an old homestead, and thousands of fruit trees, thanks to the Fremont River that runs through here. You can learn about the way of life of the settlers, peer into the schoolhouse, and stroll through the orchards – if you come at the right time of year, you can even pick some fruit! And as a bonus, there is delicious pie waiting for you to devour at the Gifford House.
Scenic Drive
Give your legs a break and drive this 8-mile road to get spectacular views of the park’s scenery. You’ll travel deeper into the Waterpocket Fold and learn more about the geology and history of the area as you go. Keep in mind this is the only area of the park that charges an entrance fee, and you’ll want to check with the visitor center before you go to make sure there are no flash flood warnings.
Cassidy Arch
Named after Butch Cassidy, a true American outlaw, due to the rumors that say this was part of his Utah hideout, this 3.4 mile round trip hike takes you to the only natural arch that you can stand on. This is a moderately strenuous hike, so make sure to bring lots of water with you. As you get closer to the arch, you will need to walk up and down slickrock and follow cairns (small stacks of rocks) to continue the right way.
Petroglyph Panel
Warriors, bighorn sheep, and other markings are beautifully etched into the stone here. Learn the stories of the people who inhabited this area long ago, and feel more connected to the ancestors of this land. There are two areas you can visit from the parking lot. The shorter boardwalk has binoculars and leads to the petroglyphs that are easier to find. The longer boardwalk to the right doesn’t provide any signs so you’ll need to hunt for them.