Exploring Capitol Reef feels like walking in uncharted territory. As massive as the park is, you feel as though time moves quicker. Around every twist and turn in the road is a new surprise. Dense vegetation and wildflowers breaks into light colored towers of sandstone rock eventually turning to red clay desert. Out of nowhere appears a homestead full of fruit orchards. Capitol Reef National Park is difficult to put into words because it’s microenvironments make it appear like a world of its own.
Capitol Reef is most known for being an International Dark Sky Park. The parks remoteness allows for little light pollution. If the moon is hidden and you can get away from the fires of the campground, you may be able to see the milky way with nothing but your eyes.
This park doesn’t draw the huge crowds like Zion or Bryce Canyon. It’s often a stopover or rest day if you’re road tripping through the Mighty Five. If you’re only going to spend a day here, let us make a few recommendations:
Hike to Hickman Bridge
Given your short on time and can only squeeze in one hike, go with Hickman Bridge. This massive natural bridge spans 133 ft across. Made of Navajo Sandstone and carved by flowing water, the bridge and the hike have unique characteristics that you won’t see in any of the other National Parks across Utah. For the trail guide click here.
Fruita Historic District
One of the strangest things to find inside a National Park is a town. As you enter Capitol Reef you may be surprised to find farmhouses, orchards, and a one-room schoolhouse. This can surely throw you for a loop and make you question if you’re in the right place. Fear not, this is another unique oddity of Capitol Reef. The Fruita Historic District has a still functional settlement complete with fruit orchards which you can pick from and a settlers house that sells delicious pies. Fruits consumed in the orchards are free but there is a charge if you take the fruit of there.
The small settlement dates back to the late 1800’s and was built by Mormon pioneers. The town never saw more than 10 families living within its boundaries and was far from a bustling metropolis. Although most of the buildings are gone you can still visit the restored schoolhouse, the Gifford house, and the nearby barn. The settlement lasted all the way up until 1937 when Capitol Reef became a National Monument.
Goosenecks Overlook & Sunset Point
As the day winds down and the sun begins to set do yourself a favor and head to Goosenecks Overlook. Take the brief trail up the red rocks and you will find yourself looking over Sulfur Creek Canyon. The creek folds itself so tightly while cutting through the canyon, that from a bird’s eye view it gives a brief resemblance of a goose’s neck.
As the sun starts casting long shadows and the sky lights up orange, take a walk to sunset Point which is a busy spot for photographers. You can see Sunset point from Goosenecks and it is recommended that you backtrack to find the trail rather than forging your own path along the canyon rim. The rim has several spots that seem like solid foot footing but as you pass over the boulders, your heart will skip a beat after catching a view through the thin cracking rock that you didn’t realize is actually overhanging the canyon.
Sunset Point offers gorgeous views of the desert valley. The massive rock formations change colors as the sun rips through the clouds. It makes a great spot to sit quietly and reflect on your fun-filled day.
If you are lucky enough to be at Capitol Reef during a New Moon come back to Sunset Point or hang out until it gets dark to try and get a glimpse of the Milky Way Galaxy.
Capitol Reef National Park
Capitol Reef offers things no other park does. With such a diverse terrain and unexpected history lessons, there is a lot to see and do within the park without having to physically exhaust yourself. Capitol Reef is an easy-going adventure and definitely worth visiting at least once in your lifetime.
Chad can be summed up by his idea of a perfect day: Waking up early to watch the sunrise over the mountains, warm cup of coffee in hand then grabbing his camera and fly rod, hitting the trail to explore some uncharted territory followed by cold beers and campfire steaks. Chad is often joined on his adventures by his wife, Tori, and their dog, Kona.