How to See Capitol Reef National Park in One Day!
One of Utah’s best adventures is to explore Capitol Reef National Park in one day!
You will make your way through colossal rock formations, winding canyons, and stunning sandstone cliffs. Spending one day in Capitol Reef is a perfect addition to any Utah National Parks Road Trip!
We definitely think Capitol Reef is one of the most underrated parks in Utah.
From challenging hikes and beautiful drives, to tasty pies and clear skies (we tried really hard for that rhyme), this guide will tell you about everything this park has to offer!
Now let’s help you plan a visit to Capitol Reef National Park in one day!
Capitol Reef National Park Map
Capitol Reef is located in a very remote part of Utah. It gets its name from the various huge white domes throughout the park (Capitol) and the layered ridgers that surround the park (reef).
Capitol Reef has three primary sections:
- The northern Cathedral District
- The central Fruita Area
- The southern Waterpocket District
Most people visit the area of the park off UT 24 called the Fruita section of the park.
If you are feeling adventurous and want to see more of the park, you can explore the southern part of Capitol Reef. Here you can enjoy more primitive roads to the Strike Valley Overlook or Halls Creek Narrows. Or you can venture north to the Cathedral District and visit Cathedral Valley, and the Temples of the Sun and Moon.
We did not venture far north or far south – we stayed primarily in the heart of the park. We’d highly recommend this for a day trip to Capitol Reef.
Most interestingly, the boundaries of Capitol Reef National Park surround the Waterpocket Fold – a 100 mile long wrinkle in the earth’s crust. The fold exposes layers and layers of the earth and is a unique geological formation.
How to Get to Capitol Reef National Park
Torrey, UT is the closest major city near Capitol Reef. The park itself is directly between Moab and Bryce Canyon.
We suspect you are visiting every national park in Utah, and making this stop on your way from either Canyonlands and Arches National Park or Bryce Canyon.
Either way, let’s help you find the best way to get to Capitol Reef!
Moab to Capitol Reef
Capitol Reef National Park is located about 137 miles from Moab – about a 2 hour drive. From Moab you will take UT-191, I-70 West, and UT-24.
This drive takes you into the heart of the Utah desert. UT 24 in particular is a simple two lane highway, with orange dirt and rocks stretching as far as you can see. If you have time, you can stop by Goblin Valley State Park, which is directly between Moab and Capitol Reef.
Bryce Canyon to Capitol Reef
We cannot stress this enough – take Utah Scenic Byway 12 between Capitol Reef and Bryce Canyon National Park.
This 122-mile stretch of road connects Capitol Reef and Bryce Canyon National Park and was designated as a national scenic byway in 2002. The drive takes you through incredible desert landscapes and through a cute little town called Escalante, UT.
Utah Scenic Byway 12 is a designated All-American Road, of which only 25% of byway roads receive this distinction!
A local told us to take this route, otherwise we would have likely followed Google Maps and missed this road entirely!
Best Easy Things to do in Capitol Reef
As you get ready to visit the park, we want to highlight some of the easiest things to see and do. Each of the following locations will give you incredible views of the park!
Capitol Reef Scenic Drive
The Capitol Reef scenic drive was one of our favorite parts of the park! The drive is 8 miles and we recommend allotting about an hour and a half to complete. It will take you through some of the most spectacular areas of the park.
The drive is not a loop, so you will need to go back the way you came. A fee of $20 per vehicle is required to access this road. The self-payment entrance station is located just south of the campground along the Scenic Drive. But if you have an “America the Beautiful” national park pass, you do not need to pay an entrance fee.
The most beautiful feature of this road are the tilting cliffs of the Waterpocket Fold that reveal thousands of years of the earth’s layers. We promise you will fall in love with the scenery!
Fruita Orchards
The Fruita Orchards are located about 1 mile east from the visitor center off UT 24. There are 19 different orchards in the park with a variety of fruit and nut trees throughout.
This charming area within the park showcases the remains of the pioneer community of Fruita, settled in the 1880s.
You can harvest fruit from these trees under certain regulations. Notably, only harvest fruit that have “U-Pick Fruit” signs and pay for it at the self-pay station located near the entrance of the orchards.
Petroglyph Panels
One of the most unique features of the park are the Fremont Culture Petroglyphs. They are located about 1 mile east of the visitor center. The petroglyphs are accessible via two wooden boardwalks that take you right up to the slab of rock with the petroglyphs.
This location is named after the Fremont Culture that lived in Utah for about 1,000 years from 300-3,300 CE (common era).
The petroglyphs show images of people, civilizations, animals, and signs of a formerly thriving culture. Getting to visualize the stories of an ancient culture is a pretty incredible feeling.
Pie at the Gifford Homestead
The Gifford House is located about 1 mile south of the visitor center along Capitol scenic drive. It is typically open from March 14 to late November – weather dependent.
The Gifford Homestead is one of the last remaining historic farms in central Utah. It perfectly preserves the spartan nature of rural Utah farm homes of the early 1900s.
Today, the homestead sells unique historical items such as utensils, household tools, and handmade items that Mormon pioneers would have used in their days. But famously, the Gifford House serves locally baked fruit pies and homemade ice cream. This is a real treat on hot summer days in between hikes and long drives.
There is a small parking lot off to the side of the Gifford House where you can easily find parking!
Panorama Point
About 2.5 miles west of the visitor center is a very small parking loop for Panorama Point. This area has several branching walking paths leading to incredible panoramic views of Capitol Reef.
Just a few hundred feet up from the lot, you’ll be able to see the expansive Waterpocket Fold and rainbow cliffs rising from east to west. It’s lovely.
From Panorama Point, you can take a gravel road called Goosenecks Rd up to Goosenecks Overlook. At the end of the small gravel parking lot are access points to Goosenecks Overlook and Sunset Point.
Sunset Point is a short 1/3 mile hike, following the rim of the 500 foot-deep Sulphur Creek Canyon. It ends at the spectacular Sunset Point overlooking the domes and red rocks of Capitol Reef.
Both Goosenecks Overlook and Sunset Point can easily be walked in under an hour.
Stargazing
One of the best things to do at the park is to go stargazing! Capitol Reef National Park was designated an International Dark Sky Park in 2015. With pristine dark sky conditions, Capitol Reef is one of the last remaining dark sky areas in the world!
Some of the best places to stargaze are at Panorama Point, the Fruita Campground, and any pull out along the Scenic Drive. These are the easiest to access off of UT 24 highway.
Stay safe while attempting to see the night sky. Do your best to scout the location in the daytime, so you know what to look out for in the dark. Consider using a red light to preserve your night vision. And, if possible, don’t go alone!
Best Hikes in Capitol Reef
Capitol Gorge Road
Capitol Gorge Road begins where the Scenic Drive ends. At the end of the road, you will find a small parking lot with some signage and a picnic area. Here you can stop for a snack or admire the views before you drive onto the more primitive path.
The road is a 2.25 mile, winding dirt path, leading you into the Capitol Reef backcountry. It leads to popular trailheads such as the Golden Throne Trail and the longer Capitol Gorge Trail.
This road is famous for its high canyon walls and the feeling of hiking through a slot canyon (without getting out of your car!). Most normal cars can travel without any trouble, but be sure to check weather conditions with the National Park Service before driving in!
Grand Wash
Just a few miles south of the Fruita Campground on the Scenic Highway is a dirt path called Grand Wash road. This road leads to the trailheads for some of the best hikes in Capitol Reef National Park.
The Grand Wash Trail is a 2.2 mile one way hike through deep canyons and narrows. The Cassidy Arch Trail is a 3.4 mile round trip hike. Cassidy Arch is one of the more popular trails in the park for hiking and rock climbing.
If you are planning to hike the Grand Wash Trail, you either have to hike out and back to highway 24 or have a friend pick you up on the other side at highway 24. The highlight of Grand Wash is getting to hike through the narrow slots and peer up at the towering red sandstone cliffs.
Hickman Bridge
The Hickman Bridge is one of our favorite hikes in the park!
The trailhead is located 2 miles east of the visitor center, right off UT 24. There is a small parking lot with trails leading up to Hickman Bridge, the Rim Overlook Trail (longer), and the Cohab Canyon Trail (across the road).
The Hickman Bridge Trail is a 1.7 mile out-and-back moderate trail. There are various portions with significant incline, but it is paired with areas that are relatively flat. If hiking in the middle of the day, bring water, shades, and something to keep cool as there are portions of the trail with no coverage.
The trail brings you to an enormous natural bridge – Hickman Bridge. You can walk right up to and through the bridge, truly getting to grasp its full size. The Hickman Natural Bridge measures 133 feet in length and 125 feet in height.
This trail offers a great vantage point to see the Capitol Dome, a famous landmark in Capitol Reef.
One Day in Capitol Reef National Park Itinerary
Capitol Reef’s best attractions and sites can definitely be seen in one day (we’ve done it!). And while we aren’t even touching on the northernmost Cathedral District or the southernmost backcountry area, you can get the most out of Capitol Reef in just one day!
Here’s how we’d create an ideal one day itinerary if we were visiting again!
Morning Itinerary at Capitol Reef
We recommend spending the first part of the day enjoying the scenic drive and various vistas along the Waterpocket Fold. While the drive is only 16 miles round trip, you can spend a few hours pulling off the road, taking spectacular photos of the landscape, and enjoying the most visually beautiful spots in the park.
Your first stop should definitely be the dirt path toward Grand Wash. Hike the Cassidy Arch Trail first (since it’s a round trip hike) and then consider hiking Grand Wash Trail. This should take you a few hours.
Then continue your drive and have lunch at the entrance to Capitol Gorge Road. There is a nice picnic area there with shaded covering.
Drive Capitol Gorge Road and enjoy the narrow slots and pull out for any interesting things that catch your eye. If you’re up for it, consider hiking the Golden Throne Trail, which is a 3.5 mile out-and-back hike that is moderately challenging.
Afternoon Itinerary at Capitol Reef
Now that you’ve gotten some of the more strenuous hikes completed, you can enjoy the Fruita area, which is generally more relaxed!
Pay a visit to the Gifford House to enjoy a freshly baked pie. If the Fruita Orchards are open, meander through. Finally, stop by the Petroglyph Panel to enjoy ancient carvings.
The last hike you can consider is the Hickman Bridge Trail. This 1.7 mile out-and-back hike is moderately strenuous, and can be done in about an hour!
End your day with dinner in Torrey, UT and then head back into the park for sunset at Panorama Point. If you are able to stay up late, you can hang around Panorama Point and wait for nighttime stargazing!
At this point, you’ve perfectly spent one day in Capitol Reef! You should be proud and ready to move onto your next national park!
Best Time to Visit Capitol Reef National Park
The best time to visit Capitol Reef National Park is during the spring and fall seasons. In the spring, from March to May, the weather is mild with temperatures ranging from 50 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
In the fall, from September to October, the temperature cools down to a comfortable range of 60 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
Summertime is the hottest time in the park. The temperature from June to August hover in the upper 80s and lower 90s, with record highs well over 100 degrees.
We visited in early Spring (May) and had the best time in Capitol Reef!
Capitol Reef is the least visited national park in Utah. Capitol Reef National Park last year (2022) received about 1.2 million visitors (compared to Zion which received over 4.5 million visitors in 2022).
Where to Stay Near Capitol Reef National Park
The biggest town near the park is Torrey, UT. There are plenty of hotels, BnBs, and restaurants in the area.
Our favorite coffee shop was Dark Sky Coffee, a small drive thru location with great staff. They even told us about the best burger in Torrey – Capitol Burger. What’s cool about this food truck is they announce where they’re going to be parked day-of! So it’s a bit of an adventure to find it!
We personally stayed at Thousand Lakes RV Park, just 12 miles outside the park. This was our favorite RV park during our travels in Utah – the staff were incredibly friendly and kind!
Another popular stay is the Capitol Reef Resort with unique accommodations and incredible views away from the park.
Spend One Perfect Day in Capitol Reef
Capitol Reef National Park is one of the most out-of-this-world places we’ve ever been. From the towering sandstone cliffs to the winding canyons, this perfect Capitol Reef one day itinerary will help you explore the park! It is a hidden gem.
With great day hikes like the Hickman Bridge Trail and captivating drives like the Capitol Reef Scenic Drive, we know that you will have an incredible time at the park.
As you start preparing for your trip, we hope you’re getting excited to spend one day in Capitol Reef National Park!
