Things to Do in Capitol Reef National Park: 15 Epic Stops In Utah’s Quietest Park For Families

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Are you trying to decide which of Utah’s national parks to visit? You have probably heard a lot about Zion and Bryce Canyon, but Capitol Reef is generally the lesser known of the Mighty Five. But with so many unique things to do in Capitol Reef National Park, we think you should consider it if for your next family getaway!

When we drove through Utah while taking a road trip from Phoenix, Arizona to Rocky Mountain National Park, we chose Capitol Reef National Park because it was best lined up with our route. We didn’t know much about the park, but we were not disappointed!

From easily accessible scenic views, scenic drives, historic sites, a wide variety of hikes, and delicious treats, Capitol Reef is the perfect destination for an outdoor family getaway. We have compiled a list of the best things to do.

About Capitol Reef National Park

Capitol Reef National Park is located in South-Central Utah near the small town of Torrey. The park gets its name for the White Navajo Sandstone dome formations, which resemble the domes found on capitol buildings.

One of the main geological features of the park is the waterpocket fold, a nearly 100 mile long wrinkle in the Earth’s crust. Over 50-70 million years ago, a fault line was forced upward. 15 million years ago more uplift occurred along the Colorado Plateau. This led to water pockets forming between tilted sandstone layers, resulting in the formation of arches, canyons, cliffs, domes, and monoliths.

Capitol Reef National Park was once inhabited by Mormons, who planted orchards that provided food and income for the community. Many of these orchards are still there today.

Things to Do in Capitol Reef National Park For Families

Visit the Fruita Historic District

The Fruita Historic District is the main area of the park and the most accessible. It is home to amazing scenery, historic sites, family friendly hikes, and delicious treats, making it one of the best things to do in Capitol Reef National Park for families.

The Gifford Homestead is a historic home that operates as a shop today where you can purchase homemade items and baked goods including pies, cinnamon rolls, and jams. The Fruita Historic District is also home to close to 2,000 fruit and nut trees, which are open for u-pick at certain times of the year.

The part of the park is also home to some other historic buildings, including a historic schoolhouse and the Behunin House. The Historic Mail Tree is another spot of interest, which is a cottonwood tree that residents once retrieved their mail from.

The Petroglyph Panel is an easily accessible boardwalk that takes you to ancient petroglyphs carved into the side of Capitol Reef’s rock formations. The Capitol Reef Scenic Drive begins in the Fruita District and takes you past many scenic areas of the park and into canyons and towering cliffs.

Hikes accessible from the area include Hickman Bridge, Cohab Canyon, and the Fremont River Trail. More trails are accessible off the Capitol Reef Scenic Drive, which starts in the Fruita District.

Things to Do in Capitol Reef National Park: Pick Fruit at the Orchards

Historic orchards still stand today in the Fruita District and visitors are permitted to pick fruit as long as the orchard is labeled as open for U-pick. Any orchards that are unlocked can be strolled by visitors, which makes for a nice walk in itself. Fruit & nut trees include plums, apples, peaches, pears, quince, mulberry, grapes, cherries, apricots, walnuts, and almonds.

Thousands of trees were planted in the Fremont Valley by Latter-Day Saints pioneers, beginning in the 1880’s. These pioneers remained active in the area until the 1960’s, but the Orchards still remain today and continue to produce fruit that can be picked by visitors.

The orchards are maintained today by the National Park Service, using historic techniques, including irrigation practices, pruning, planting, mapping, and grafting. Only ripe fruit can be picked, and the orchard will be marked when it is ready for picking.

Fruit can be sampled in the orchard without charge, but if fruit is picked and removed from the orchard it must be paid for. There are self pay stations with scales near each open orchard, along with price lists.

Participate in the Junior Ranger Program

Participating in the Junior Ranger Program is one of the best things to do in Capitol Reef National Park for kids. It is a fun and educational activity for kids visiting the park, including a variety of activities designed to help children learn about the park’s geology, wildlife, history, and unique landscape. Kids complete puzzles, answer questions, and explore different areas of the park to find clues and information.

Families can pick up a free Junior Ranger activity booklet at the Capitol Reef Visitor Center. After completing the required activities, return the booklet to a park ranger at the visitor center, where they can be sworn in as a Capitol Reef Junior Ranger. They receive a Junior Ranger badge to take home as a souvenir.

Go For a Hike

Hiking is one of the best things to do in Capitol Reef National Park for families. Whether you’re looking for a quick scenic walk or a longer adventure, hiking in Capitol Reef offers a chance to explore colorful cliffs, hidden canyons, and unique rock formations found throughout the park.

The park contains a wide range of trails, from short scenic walks to longer backcountry routes that explore the rugged terrain created by the Waterpocket Fold. Many of the most popular hikes are located near the Fruita area and along the Scenic Drive, making them easy to access for visitors who only have a day to explore the park.

Several short hikes provide big views with relatively little effort. Trails like the Hickman Bridge Trail lead to one of the park’s largest natural bridges, while canyon hikes such as Grand Wash and Capitol Gorge allow visitors to walk through towering sandstone walls and narrow passages. For those looking for more of a challenge, hikes like Cassidy Arch climb steep slickrock to sweeping views of the surrounding desert.

Capitol Reef Scenic Drive

The Capitol Reef Scenic Drive is a 7.9 mile road that is easily accessible for any vehicle type, making it one of the best things to do in Capitol Reef National Park. It begins in the Fruita area and takes you to the Capitol Gorge road, where you can turn around or continue on the dirt road to Capitol Gorge.

The Scenic Drive gives you access to two dirt roads, Capitol Gorge and Grand Wash. It also gives you access to hiking trails off the dirt roads, including Cassidy Arch, the Grand Wash Trail, the Capitol Gorge Trail, and The Tanks trail.

Highlights of the scenic drive itself include the Moenkopi Formation, the Waterpocket Fold, Grand Wash, Wingate Sandstone with solution pockets, Slickrock Divide, Goldren Throne viewpoint, Sunset Point, and Panorama Point.

Along the road there are plenty of pull-offs for you to stop and enjoy the views of Capitol Reef. You will want to plan for about an hour and a half for the drive, if you aren’t stopping and doing any hikes. A free is required to drive the Capitol Reef Scenic Drive, or the America is Beautiful Pass can be used.

Get Some Treats at the Gifford Homestead

The Gifford Homestead, sitting in the heart of the Fruita District, was built in 1908 by Calvin Pendleton, and was later sold to the Giffords, who lived there from 1929 to 1969. The property was then sold to the National Park Service.

Today the homestead is operated as a shop selling homemade items made by local artisans and craftsmen along with a variety of foods, including jams, jellies, cookbooks, sauces, homemade pies, and homemade ice cream.

The Gifford Homestead is typically open from mid-March (14th- Pi day) to November. It is located about 1 mile south of the visitor center and there is a small parking area nearby.

Take a Guided Off-Road Tour of the Park

A guided off-roading tour is one of the most unique things to do in Capitol Reef National Park and a great way to explore the area. The tours take you to more remote places of the park that you otherwise might be get to experience.

Tour Options in Capitol Reef National Park include:

• Backcountry Safari: Guided tours that follow the Burr Trail along the Waterpocket Fold and into the Cathedral Valley. Other highlights include the Temple of the Sun and Temple of the Moon. Tours are typically half day tours, lasting 5-7 hours. Children must be at least 3 years old to join the tour.
• Capitol Reef Outfitters: Offers guided tours in Cathedral Valley, the Waterpocket Fold, and Bentonite Hills. Tours typically last 3-6 hours and children 2 and older are permitted on the tour.
• Waterpocket Adventure Company: Guided tours include Temple of the Moon and Sun, Cathedral Valley, Bentonite Hills, and the Burr Trail/Waterpocket Fold. Tours range from 2 hours to full day tours.
• Meridian Tours: Guided private tours to Cathedral Valley, Bentonite Hills, Temple of the Moon and Temple of the Sun, the Waterpocket Fold, and some other remote Destinations.

Visit Hickman Bridge

Hickman Bridge is one of the most iconic natural formations in Capitol Reef National Park. The trail climbs gradually through colorful canyon terrain before reaching one of the park’s most impressive natural features. Along the way, you will pass scenic overlooks, rock formations, and sections of the rugged terrain shaped by the Waterpocket Fold.

The highlight of the hike is Hickman Natural Bridge, a massive natural bridge that spans roughly 133 feet across the canyon. A short spur trail leads beneath the bridge, allowing hikers to see just how large the formation really is.

The hike to the natural sandstone bridge is about 1.7 miles with an elevation gain of 416 feet. The trail head is located along Highway 24 near the Fruita area, making it easy to access during a visit to the park. With its relatively short distance and impressive payoff, the Hickman Bridge hike is one of the best trails in Capitol Reef for visitors looking for a scenic and rewarding adventure.

Visit Goosenecks and Sunset Point .

Two of the easiest and most scenic stops along the park’s main drive are Goosenecks Overlook and Sunset Point. Both viewpoints are located just off the Capitol Reef Scenic Drive and require only a very short walk from the parking area, making them great stops for families or visitors who want incredible views without a long hike.

Goosenecks Overlook provides a dramatic view of Sulphur Creek as it winds through a narrow canyon far below, creating a series of tight bends that resemble the curves of a goose’s neck.

Just a short distance away (0.5 miles) Sunset Point offers sweeping views of the colorful cliffs and rock formations that define the park’s landscape. The best time to visit the overlook is in late afternoon when the sun lights up the red and orange sandstone. Catching the sunset here is magical.

Visit the Petroglyph Panel

One of the most fascinating things to do in Capitol Reef National Park is the Petroglyph Panel, where visitors can view ancient rock art created by the Fremont culture. These petroglyphs were carved into the canyon walls more than 700 years ago and depict human-like figures, animals, and geometric shapes. The images provide a glimpse into the lives and beliefs of the Fremont people who once lived throughout this region of Utah.

The petroglyph panel is located along Highway 24 within the park and is easy to access via a short boardwalk trail from the parking area. It is about 1.5 miles from the visitor center in the Fruita District. Because the walk is very short and relatively flat, it’s a great stop for families and one of the easiest ways to experience the park’s cultural history during a visit.

Visit the Pioneer Register

The Pioneer Register is one of the most interesting historic things to do in Capitol Reef National Park. Located along the Capitol Gorge Trail, the register features dozens of names carved into the canyon walls by early settlers and travelers who passed through the area in the late 1800s and early 1900s. You can choose to do the whole Capitol Gorge Trail (about 1 mile), or just walk to the register and back.

Before modern roads were built, Capitol Gorge served as an important wagon route through the Waterpocket Fold, and travelers often stopped here to leave their mark in the soft sandstone. Some names date back to the 1870s and 1880s.

When visiting the Pioneer Register, it’s important to view the carvings from a distance and avoid touching the rock to help preserve these historic markings for future visitors.

Things to Do in Capitol Reef National Park: Go Camping

Camping is one of the best ways to experience the peaceful desert landscape of Capitol Reef National Park. The park’s main developed campground, Fruita Campground, is located in the historic Fruita area along the Fremont River. The campground includes sites for tents and RVs, picnic tables, fire pits, and restrooms, and it is located close to many of the park’s most popular attractions such as the Scenic Drive, Hickman Bridge Trail, and the Fruita Historic District.

For visitors looking for a more remote experience, the park also offers several primitive campgrounds and backcountry campsites located throughout the park. These smaller camp areas provide a quieter setting with fewer amenities but offer incredible views of the surrounding desert landscape and night sky. Whether staying at the developed Fruita Campground or a more secluded primitive site, camping allows visitors to fully experience the beauty and solitude of Capitol Reef.

Go Stargazing

Because of its remote location and minimal light pollution, Capitol Reef National Park is an incredible place for stargazing. The park has been designated an International Dark Sky Park, meaning the night skies here are among the darkest and clearest in the United States.

On a clear night, visitors can see thousands of stars, the Milky Way, and even distant planets with the naked eye. Rangers occasionally host astronomy programs where visitors can learn about the night sky through telescopes. Some 4X4 guided tours also offer night time star gazing tours.

Wildlife Watching

Wildlife viewing is another one of the best things to do in Capitol Reef National Park for families. Mule deer are commonly seen grazing in the orchards around Fruita, especially in the early morning and evening. The park is also home to Desert Bighorn Sheep, which are sometimes spotted navigating steep canyon walls and rocky cliffs.

Other animals that live in the park include foxes, coyotes, wild turkeys, and a variety of birds and reptiles. Areas near the Fremont River and the orchards in the Fruita Historic District are some of the best places to look for wildlife. Quiet observation and keeping a safe distance from animals will help protect both visitors and the wildlife that call Capitol Reef home.

Have a Picnic

Having a picnic is one of the best things to do in Capitol Reef National Park with kids. Several picnic areas are located throughout the park, many of them near the historic orchards and along the Fremont River in the Fruita area. Shaded by large cottonwood trees and surrounded by towering red cliffs, these picnic spots provide a peaceful place to take a break while exploring the park.

Frequently Asked Questions

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