One of Utah’s Mighty 5. If you’re looking for a place to get away from crouds, but still be surrounded by beauty. Capitol Reef is your next destination.
Even considering Utah’s many impressive national parks and monuments, it is difficult to rival Capitol Reef National Park’s sense of expansiveness, of broad, sweeping vistas, of a tortured, twisted, seemingly endless landscape, or of limitless sky and desert rock.
Capitol Reef National Park, Utah USA
2-5 day ITINERARY
DAY 1: SLOW DOWN – DRIVE THE SCENIC DRIVE – GRAB A PIE AT GIFFORDS HOUSE – Capitol Reef isn’t the type of place that calls for a packed itinerary. Slow down a bit while you’re there – visit the Pioneer Register site to see the names of historic miners and settlers, or visit the small town of Fruita to pick fruit from its orchards in the fall, and eat the fresh fruit pies in the spring at Giffords House.
DAY 2: STROLL AND SEE PETROGLIFTS – HIKE HICKMAN BRIDGE Hike along the deepest canyon in the Rockies, and explore the cute mountain train town of Jasper.
DAY 3: HIKE THE GRAND WASH NARROWS & CASSIDY ARCH TRAILS: Take a boat ride into the Majestic Valley of the Gods as you glide past the jagged mountain peaks as you cruise to and experience to Spirit Island, a world-famous destination only accessible by boat.
DAY 4: SCENIC DRIVE DOWN CAPITOL GORGE ROAD – HIKE THE TANKS: View the sheer force of one of the most powerful waterfalls in the Canadian Rockies, and then take a nice picnic to the beaches of Pyramid Lake with beautiful views all to yourself.
DAY 5: DRIVE ALONG THE 60 MILE LOOP DIRT ROAD AND SEE THE ICONIC CATHEDRAL VALLEY: Travel on a massive Ice Explorer to a place where you can walk on, feel, and drink from the Athabasca Glacier, then take a jaw-dropping walk along the glass-floored skywalk at the cliff’s edge.
Full Posts are linked below under ADVENTURES.
THE GUIDE INCLUDES:
- TOTAL COST
- BEST TIME TO GO
- WEATHER
- WHERE TO CAMP
- WILDLIFE
- 9 ADVENTURES
- WHERE TO BOOK YOUR EXCURSIONS
- GEAR WE NEEDED
- PRINTABLE PACKING SHEETS & MEAL GUIDE
TOTAL COST:
This is a trip we have done a couple of times and with staying on some amazing BLM land (Wild camping) The total cost for a weekend trip was around $150.00 for 2.5 days so for 2 trips it was $300 total. It was mainly gas & food with a few extra dollars on some Gifford pies.
ENTRANCE FEE:
- The following entrance fees are charged for traveling the park’s Scenic Drive beyond the Fruita Campground. Passes are valid for 7 days. Holders of America the Beautiful passes are provided access into Capitol Reef and other federal fee areas.
- Individuals: $10.00
Admits one individual with no car. Typically used for bicyclists and pedestrians.
Private Vehicle: $20.00
Admits one private, non-commercial vehicle and all its occupants.
Motorcycles: $15.00
Admits one private, non-commercial motorcycle and its riders
For more information, visit the Capitol Reefs Website.
BEST TIME TO GO:
Capitol Reef is nice because it is at a higher elevation that the other parks down in Southern Utah, USA. The best time to go to the deserts of course is Spring and Fall, but since it is higher elevation the temperatures rarely get higher than 90 there, so that is very nice. However, the best months are May and October. With the very best month October for the Harvest Season!
WEATHER:
WHERE TO CAMP:
Every time we go to Capitol Reef we choose to stay on BLM Land West of Capitol Reef. The overlook was breathtaking, and we had this awesome site all to ourselves pretty much.
For those of you not familiar with BLM Land (Bureau of Land Management), it’s FREE and off the grid, no water, toilets, etc. You have what you bring. You can view our post on HOW TO WILD CAMP if your interested in doing this option.
OUR FAVORITE WILD CAMPING SPOT WAS BEA’S LEWIS FLAT: Here is a collection of pictures with details of how to get here listed below them. SEE DETAILS ON CAMPENDIUM
Bea's Lewis Flat
SWIPE RIGHT —> PICTURES + INFO
WILD CAMPING SPOTS: Capitol Reef has some amazing Wild/ BLM Camping spots on all sides of the park. Here are some of our favorites we have enjoyed during our stays there.
FRUITA CAMPGROUND: We have never stayed here, however it lFruita Campground: The 71-site Fruita campground is the only developed campground in the park, offering picnic tables, fire rings, restrooms, water, and a dump station. A $20 nightly fee is charged. Occupancy is limited to eight people per site. The majority of sites are reservable from March to October. Visit www.recreation.gov to make a reservation. A handful of sites remain first-come first-served year-round. A group campsite is open seasonally. Occupancy is limited to 40 people and 10 vehicles. A $100 nightly fee.
TORREY RV PARKS
Torrey also has some nice campgrounds with hook ups just right in town. Our family has stayed at some and said their all great.
FAVORITE CAMPGROUND APPS/ SITES
You can take a look at what is around you and choose a campground or wild camp for free. These 2 apps are great. (ioverlander is best for international and wild camp travel) Choose your own adventure!
WILDLIFE WE SAW:
LIZARDS 
PEREGRIN FALCON 
FAIRY SHRIMP
+ DEER & LOTS OF CATAPILLERS!
ADVENTURES:
- Here is a list of hikes, excursions, scenic drives, view points, and nature walks we did on our trip.
- SOME ADVENTURES ARE LINKED TO A FULL DETAILED POST.
State Route 24 runs right through the middle of Capitol Reef National Park, giving you easy access to a total of 15 good day-hikes and plenty of adventures. While these are considered front-country hikes, it doesn’t take long to feel like you’re in the middle of complete wilderness.
CAPITOL REEFS SCENIC DRIVE
Capitol Reef isn’t the type of place that calls for a packed itinerary. Slow down a bit while you’re there – visit the Pioneer Register site to see the names of historic miners and settlers, Picnic in the Park, and Stop by the Visitor Center.
GIFFORDS HOUSE & ORCHARDS
Visit the small town of Fruita to pick fruit from its orchards in the fall, and eat the fresh fruit pies in the spring at Giffords House. During harvest season (June–October, varies based on the fruit) pick your own fruit from the park’s orchards for free. You can take a bag of fruit to go for a nominal fee. After, definitely stop at the Gifford Homestead for a fresh, local pie.
STROLL TO SEE PETROGLYPHS & HIKE HICKMAN BRIDGE
A huge natural arch spanning 133 feet wide and 125 feet tall with only having to hike 1.8 miles.
HIKE THE GRAND WASH NARROWS & CASSIDY ARCH TRAILS
The narrows section of this canyon is short, only about half a mile long. But it is spectacular, and reminds many visitors of a miniature version of the famous Zion Narrows.
SCENIC DRIVE DOWN CAPITOL GORGE ROAD
The slot canyon for your car! Take in the spectacular views from the road itself as it hugs the canyon walls. These narrows twist through Wingate Sandstone, the formation that forms the sheer cliffs along the west face of Capitol Reef and the towering walls of Grand Wash.
THE TANKS HIKE
In the course of just one mile, the trail passes a petroglyph panel, several hundred historic signatures, a small natural arch and a sequence of water-filled potholes- The Tanks!
CATHEDRAL VALLEY
A 57 mile dirt road at the northern end of the park where enormous monoliths soar hundreds of feet high. It’s a vast adventure with a remote one of a kind beauty.
INTERNATIONAL DARK SKY
Capitol Reef is a certified International Dark Sky Park. Fit some stargazing into your itinerary.
SLOW DOWN AND SAVE ROOM:
There is so much more to do than what we have explored in the Northern and Fruita Regions of Capitol Reef NP. Remember to always leave space open for places you find when you arrive. Don’t plan everything. Beautiful places always leave you wanting more. Always have a reason to go back.
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NEED ADDITIONAL HELP?
PACKING AND PLANNING GUIDES
We have created 2 printable guides to help you get started camping.
