What's not to love about Capitol Reef National Park? It's got awesome hikes, stunning scenic drives, breathtaking scenery, a fascinating history... and it's comparatively less crowded than Zion National Park or Arches National Park to boot! Heck, there's even a orchard stuffed with snacks free for the taking-- how many National Parks can say that? Most might overlook Capitol Reef entirely, or give it less time than it deserves, but get ready to reconsider. Here are some of the things that make the park worth a stop!
Some tips for visiting Capitol Reef National Park:
-The orchards planted by the pioneers who originally settled here have been maintained and you can pick the fruit for yourself! Help yourself to as much as you can eat in the orchard for free, or take some home with you for a relatively cheap price. There are almost 3,000 fruit-bearing trees in the orchards, including cherries, apricots, peaches, pears, and apples, and you can usually find something to pick between mid-June and late September. -Other than occasional summer thunderstorms, the weather here is ideal for camping. There are three in the park, but only one, Fruita Campground, is developed. It only costs $10 for a spot, and backcountry permits to the other sites are free! -There's the park's Scenic Drive, which is about 8 miles long and provides incredible views of the park, but don't overlook the Capitol Gorge Road, a dirt road that spurs off of the scenic drive. -There's also the utterly incredible Burr Trail Road. The half-paved route is an intense 68-mile journey that will take you from Boulder to Bullfrog, through Capitol Reef National Park, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, and Glen Canyon National Recreation Area before ending right near Lake Powell. You'll drive through canyons, past incredible rock formations, near some of the state's best hikes, and up (or down) one extremely wild set of switchbacks that rise over 800 feet in less than a mile.
More in the mood for a hike? Head out to Cassidy Arch. The short but strenuous hike up some intense switchbacks offers views you'll only find in Utah. The Cassidy Arch Trail is a fork off of the Grand Wash Trail, and isn't too long. The arch itself is named after Butch Cassidy. There's no proof that Butch Cassidy ever visited the rock formation, but as you hike to it, it's not hard to picture Cassidy and his pals hiding out among the nooks and crannies of the rocks!
Finding places to eat near National Parks can be a challenge, especially in more remote areas like Southern Utah. Café Diablo in Torrey might have you coming back repeatedly, though, because finding a menu as diverse and innovative as theirs is quite rare. Lamb shanks, tuna, beef sirloin, and more, all cooked with locally-inspired flavors and ingredients make up a delicious menu. If you're feeling really brave, try the rattlesnake cakes!
There are loads of stunning red rocks formations in Capitol Reef. Another one that you can explore is Hickman Bridge. The trail here is about two miles out and back, and along the way you'll see arches, native ruins, and loads of stunning views. Remember to sunscreen up and bring plenty of water!
If you want to see the best of Capitol Reef in a short amount of time, head to Cathedral Valley. You'll get views of massive eroded cliffs, bright colors, and unusual sandstone formations. It's criss-crossed by hikes and drives that take you to various features, like Glass Mountain, the Walls of Jericho, the Temple of the Sun, Moon and Stars, the Gypsum Sinkhole, and more. It's also relatively less crowded, which makes it the perfect spot to really experience just how majestic Capitol Reef actually can be.
If you're familiar with Butch Cassidy and the Wild Bunch, then you'll know that the notorious gang of outlaws made camp at Robber's Roost, which is only about 70 miles away from the park. Cassidy was a Utah native, and he and his band of outlaws were notorious across the state. They didn't cause trouble 24/7, though-- they took the occasional night off from train robberies and shootouts to enjoy dinner at Elijah Cutler Behunin's cabin in Fruita-- the cabin has been preserved by the NPS.
The best time of year to visit Capitol Reef is pretty much whenever. It does snow in winter and some roads close, but it's open year-round. Summer is always popular, but keep in mind that it can get intensely hot, and that summer thunderstorms are very common (although they don't last too long).
