Visiting Capitol Reef National Park: The Complete Guide for 2024

Tucked away in the heart of Utah’s red rock country, Capitol Reef National Park is a hidden treasure waiting to be explored. With its dramatic cliffs, sweeping desert landscapes, and rich historical sites, this park offers a unique blend of natural beauty and cultural heritage. From hiking through colorful canyons and discovering ancient petroglyphs to exploring the park’s scenic drives and historic orchards, we’ll provide you with all the tips and insights you need for a memorable visit.

If you are planning a trip to Capitol Reef National Park and need some help planning your trip, this is our starter guide for visiting Capitol Reef National Park. We often have detailed, in-depth guides to Capitol Reef National Park trip planning and will link to these where appropriate to make your trip planning as easy as possible.

The article will discuss all aspects of visiting Capitol Reef National Park, including:

• Maps of Capitol Reef National Park
• General Information about Capitol Reef
• How to Make the Most of Your Visit
• Best Things to do in Capitol Reef
• Nearby National Parks

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Articles about Capitol Reef National Park

Capitol Reef National Park Lodging

• Best Salt Lake City RV Rentals

Itineraries for Capitol Reef National Park

• 1 Day in Capitol Reef National Park

Downloadable Itineraries for Capitol Reef National Park

• Mini 7-Day Utah National Park Itinerary
• All Access Pass, including all Current and Future Digital Downloads

Looking for an itinerary specially designed for you? Let National Park Obsessed’s founder design the perfect itineary just for you. Get a Custom National Park Itinerary Here. Or do you just want to chat 1-on-1 with a Natioanl Park planning expert? Book a National Park Travel Consultation.

Road Trips that Include Capitol Reef National Park

• Ultimate 7-Day Utah National Park Road Trip

Other Articles featuring Capitol Reef National Park

• Best National Park Day Hikes

Map of Capitol Reef National Park

Click on the Capitol Reef Map above to download the official brochure map. If you’d like a PDF copy of this Capitol Reef Map click here.

Capitol Reef National Park Basics

• Region: Southwest / West Coast
• State: Utah
• Park Size: 241,904 acres (377.96 sq miles) (978.95 sq km)
• Location: Wayne, Garfield, Sevier, and Emery Counties
• Closest Cities: Torrey, Utah
• Busy Season: May to October
• Visitation: 1,268,861 (in 2023)
• Funniest 1-Star Review: There are almost nothing fun in the park. An elementary school closed in 1940s can be labeled as a place of interest? Couple small paintings on rock are considered as an attraction? The creek is completely dried up, and a few extremely boring trails that can only be accessed by driving through 10+ miles of unpaved road. BTW, the roads are so narrow that you need to drive with great caution to avoid hitting other cars.
• Official Website: NPS.gov

How much does Capitol Reef National Park Cost?

Capitol Reef National Park costs the following:

• 7-day Passenger Vehicle Pass – $20
• 7-day Motorcycle Pass – $15
• 7-day Individual Pass – $10

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When is Capitol Reef National Park Open?

Capitol Reef National Park is open year-round.

Are dogs allowed in Capitol Reef National Park?

Yes, pets are welcome in Capitol Reef National Park but are limited to developed areas such as roads, parking areas, picnic areas, and campgrounds. Pets are not allowed on the trails in the park. Please review the Capitol Reef Pet Policy before bringing your dog to Capitol Reef. Pet Boarding can be found at Color Country Animal Welfare (It’s a rescue and boarding facility).

• Pets must be on leash at all times (6 feet or 1.8 meters or shorter). Pets are only allowed in the following areas of the park:
  • on the trail from the visitor center to the Fruita Campground
  • on the Fremont River Trail from the campground to the south end of Hattie’s Field (where there is a gate)
  • in unfenced and/or unlocked orchards
  • in the Chesnut and Doc Inglesby picnic areas
  • in campgrounds
  • within 50 feet of center line of roads (paved and dirt) open to public vehicle travel
  • parking areas open to public vehicle travel

Where are Capitol Reef National Park’s visitor centers?

• Capitol Reef National Park Visitor Center – Open Year Around
• Ripple Rock Nature Center – Open Summer
• Gifford House Store and Museum – Open March to October

Land Acknowledgment

The park, now known as Capitol Reef National Parks, is on Núu-agha-tʉvʉ-pʉ̱ (Ute), Southern Paiute, and Pueblos land.

Thank you to the Native Land Digital for making the Indigenous territories accessible to all. They have mapped the known territories to the best of the current knowledge and is a work in progress. If you have additional information on the Indigenous nations boundaries, please let them know.

Native Land Digital is a registered Canadian not-for-profit organization with the goal to creates spaces where non-Indigenous people can be invited and challenged to learn more about the lands they inhabit, the history of those lands, and how to actively be part of a better future going forward together.

How Much Time Should I Spend Visiting Capitol Reef National Park?

If you have a couple of hours in Capitol Reef National Park, drive the Scenic Drive and eat pie.

If you have one day in Capitol Reef National Park, hike to Cassidy Arch.

If you have two days in Capitol Reef National Park, hike to Golden Throne and Goosenecks Overlook.

If you have three or more days in Capitol Reef National Park, rent a 4×4 and drive to Cathedral Valley.

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Things to do in Capitol Reef National Park

Hiking in Capitol Reef National Park

• Hickman Bridge Trail – 1.7 miles (round trip) – 420 ft elevation gain – Hike out to a 133 ft. natural bridge and enjoy canyon views.
• Cohab Canyon Trail – 3 miles (round trip) – 790 ft elevation gain – Enjoy a hike past hidden canyons, and scenic views of Fruita.
• Cassidy Arch Trail – 3.1 miles (round trip) – 670 ft elevation gain – The trail start steeps but levels out as you pass some interesting rock formations and canyon views.
• Chimney Rock Loop Trail – 3.3 mile (round trip)-800 ft elevation gain – This trail provides panoramic views of Waterpocket Fold Cliffs.

Best Things to Do in Capitol Reef National Park

• Eat Pie
• Pick Fruit at the Orchard
• Junior Ranger Badge
• Scenic Drive
• Jeep Rental for Cathedral Valley
• Historic Tour

Best Things to See in Capitol Reef National Park

• Petroglyph Panel
• Gifford House
• Chimney Rock
• Behunin Cabin
• Ferns Nipple
• Twin Rock

Best Guided Tours of Capitol Reef National Park

Capitol Reef National Park Wildlife

• Pinyon Jay
• Bullock’s Oriole
• Desert Bighorn Sheep
• Ringtail
• Yellow-bellied Marmot
• Rock Squirrel

Where to stamp your National Parks Passport Book in Capitol Reef National Park?

The National Park Passport Book is the BEST and cheapest National Park souvenir. Every National Park Obsessed person should have one of these books.

IMPORTANT: Do NOT stamp your government-issued passport.

There is one official stamp for Capitol Reef National Park. Here is the list of National Park Passport Stamps you can get in Capitol Reef National Park:

• Torrey, UT

Bonus Stamps

• Junior Ranger

Capitol Reef National Park Passport Stamp Locations

Here are all the locations to find the Capitol Reef National Park Passport Stamps.

• Visitor Center

National Parks Near Capitol Reef National Park

National Park Service units within a 4 hours drive

• Arches National Park
• Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
• Bryce Canyon National Park
• Canyonlands National Park
• Cedar Breaks National Monument
• Colorado National Monument
• Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
• Great Basin National Park
• Hovenweep National Monument
• Natural Bridges National Monument
• Pipe Spring National Monument
• Timpanogos Cave National Monument
• Zion National Park

National Park Service units within an 8 hours drive

• Aztec Ruins National Monument
• Bandelier National Monument
• Castle Mountains National Monument
• Chaco Culture National Historical Park
• City of Rocks National Reserve
• Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve
• Death Valley National Park
• Dinosaur National Monument
• El Malpais National Monument
• El Morro National Monument
• Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument
• Fossil Butte National Monument
• Golden Spike National Historical Park
• Grand Canyon National Park
• Grand Teton National Park
• Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve
• Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument
• Hubbell Trading Post National Historic Site
• Lake Mead National Recreation Area
• Mesa Verde National Park
• Minidoka National Historic Site
• Mojave National Preserve
• Montezuma Castle National Monument
• Navajo National Monument
• Petrified Forest National Park
• Petroglyph National Monument
• Rainbow Bridge National Monument
• Rocky Mountain National Park
• Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument
• Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument
• Tuzigoot National Monument
• Valles Caldera National Preserve
• Walnut Canyon National Monument
• Wupatki National Monument
• Yellowstone National Park
• Yucca House National Monument

Final Thoughts on Capitol Reef National Park

Do you have any questions about Capitol Reef National Park, let us know in the comments below or need help planning your National Park trips. Let me know in the comments or join me in my National Park Trip Planning Community!

Pin for Later: The Complete Guide to Visiting Capitol Reef National Park in 2024