Capitol Reef Trail & Visitor Guide
Capitol Reef · United States · About 241,904 acres (roughly 378 square miles) in south-central Utah
Why Visit Capitol Reef
Capitol Reef protects a 100-mile-long wrinkle in the Earth's crust called the Waterpocket Fold, a geologic monocline where rock layers have been tilted, folded, and eroded into a landscape of colorful cliffs, domes, and narrow canyons. The park is the least visited of Utah's five national parks, offering solitude among formations that rival any in the state. The historic Fruita district preserves orchards planted by Mormon settlers in the 1880s.
Free Capitol Reef Audio Guide with Roamee Pro
Roamee Pro offers a free, self-guided Capitol Reef audio guide. It narrates trails, viewpoints, geology, and wildlife as you explore — Capitol Gorge Trail, Hickman Bridge Trail, Scenic Drive, plus quieter spots like Fruita orchards and Strike Valley Overlook. No guide, no schedule, works offline.
explore by interest
Signature Trails
- Hickman Bridge1.7 miles round trip · Moderate
A natural rock bridge with a 133-foot span; some uphill at the start, trailhead is on Highway 24 east of the visitor center
- Cassidy Arch3.4 miles round trip · Strenuous
Climbs about 670 feet to an arch you can walk on top of; starts from the Grand Wash trailhead off the Scenic Drive
- Cohab Canyon3.4 miles round trip · Moderate
Switchbacks up from the Fruita campground area to a canyon with side spurs to Fruita overlooks
- Grand Wash4.4 miles round trip · Easy
Flat walk through a canyon that narrows to a slot with walls hundreds of feet high; do not enter if storms threaten due to flash flood risk
- Chimney Rock Loop3.6 miles round trip · Moderate
Climbs about 590 feet for views of the cliffs and the red Moenkopi spire of Chimney Rock; trailhead on Highway 24 west of the visitor center
Must-See in Capitol Reef
- •Capitol Gorge Trail — a 2-mile round trip through a narrow canyon with pioneer register inscriptions and natural water tanks
- •Hickman Bridge Trail — a 1.8-mile round trip to a 133-foot natural bridge spanning a canyon
- •Scenic Drive — a 7.9-mile paved road through the heart of the Waterpocket Fold with towering red cliffs
- •Cassidy Arch — a 3.4-mile round trip to a massive natural arch named after Butch Cassidy, who reportedly hid nearby
Best Viewpoints
- •Goosenecks Point overlook off Highway 24, reached by a short gravel road and brief walk
- •Sunset Point, a 0.8-mile round-trip walk from the Goosenecks parking area
- •Panorama Point on Highway 24 west of the visitor center
- •Capitol Reef Scenic Drive turnouts toward Capitol Gorge
- •Hickman Bridge trail high points overlooking the Fremont River valley
Quieter Corners of Capitol Reef
- •Fruita orchards — historic orchards where visitors can pick cherries, apricots, peaches, and apples in season
- •Strike Valley Overlook — a viewpoint on the park's remote southern end revealing the full extent of the Waterpocket Fold
Wildlife You May See
Entrance Fee
Scenic Drive fee is $20 per vehicle, valid 7 days. Motorcycle $15, individual on foot or bike $10. The America the Beautiful annual pass ($80) is accepted. The Highway 24 corridor and visitor center are free; the fee applies only past the Fruita campground on the Scenic Drive.
Getting There
The visitor center is on Highway 24 near Fruita, about 11 miles east of Torrey, Utah. From Salt Lake City it is roughly 3.5 hours (about 220 miles) via I-15 and Highway 24. The nearest commercial airports are in Salt Lake City and Grand Junction, Colorado (about 3.5-4 hours each). There is no public transit; a private vehicle is required. Highway 24 runs through the park and is open year-round.
Where to Stay
Fruita Campground inside the park has 71 sites, is open year-round, and takes reservations for the main season (roughly March through October); it has flush toilets and potable water but no hookups. The gateway town of Torrey (11 miles west) has motels, lodges, and restaurants. Dispersed and primitive camping is available on surrounding BLM and Forest Service land; the park also has two free primitive campgrounds, Cathedral Valley and Cedar Mesa, reached by high-clearance roads.
Best Time
Spring (April-May) and fall (September-October) have the most comfortable temperatures. The Fruita orchards offer pick-your-own fruit when in season, roughly June (cherries, apricots) through October (apples). Summer brings heat and monsoon flash-flood risk; winter is quiet with occasional snow and some unpaved roads impassable.
Safety
Flash floods are the top hazard. Washes and slot canyons such as Grand Wash and Capitol Gorge can flood without warning during summer monsoon storms (July through September), even from rain falling miles away; check the forecast and never enter a narrow canyon when storms are possible. Summer temperatures regularly exceed 95 F, so carry at least one gallon of water per person per day. Unpaved backcountry roads like Cathedral Valley require high clearance and can become impassable when wet.
Scenic Drives
- •Capitol Reef Scenic Drive: about 8 miles paved one-way south from the visitor center, ending near Capitol Gorge (fee area)
- •Highway 24: the free paved route through the park between Torrey and Hanksville
- •Cathedral Valley Loop: roughly 58 miles of high-clearance dirt road requiring a Fremont River ford
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