Guide to Capitol Reef National Park

Dave and I took a road trip through the American Southwest desert in October 2017, visiting six national parks and one national monument. Capitol Reef National Park is a 100-mile Waterpocket Fold, basically a massive geologic wrinkle on the earth. It’s not as well known as some of the other nationals parks in Utah, but it is not one to be overlooked. Inside are a labyrinth of canyons, ruins of early Mormon settlements, and an unexpected green oasis of fruit trees. We put together a guide of our favorite hiking trails, along with where we ate/slept nearby.




HICKMAN BRIDGE | 1.8-mile roundtrip hike to the park’s most popular 133ft natural bridge. There is also a viewpoint overlooking the canyon, where trees perfectly outline the river’s path, soaking up one of the only water sources around.

FRUITA | A farming area established by early settlers with over 3,000 fruit trees. You can pick ripe fruit right off the tree if in season. One of our favorite memories from the entire road trip was our evening in Fruita. We were one of the few people still left in the park. There was a subtle smell of campfire in the air from the nearby campground. As the sun set the rocky ridge along the road started to glow. Deer and wild turkeys came out to graze in the neighboring pasture. It was one of those perfect moments that reminded us why we love national parks so much.

CAPITOL GORGE | Reaching the trailhead is as scenic as the trail itself. A dirt road takes you over large desert washes before winding through a very narrow canyon. Where the road ends, the hiking trail begins and allows you to explore the rest of the gorge (roughly 2-miles roundtrip). Don’t miss the old Pioneer Register, carvings of early travelers’ names and dates going all the way back to 1871.

HWY 12 | Just south of the national park is one of Utah’s most diverse and stunning scenic roads. Colorful plateaus, dense forest, aspen groves and a mountain summit at 9,200ft are just a few of the landscapes you will see along the way.  Pro tip: In and around the town of Boulder look out for cattle and deer grazing by the road.






There are no restaurants inside the national park, so bring your own food or plan to eat in Torrey (located west of the park)

GIFFORD HOUSE | A small store in Fruita that sells ice cream, breads, pies and preserves made from the orchard’s fruit. 

BOULDER MOUNTAIN LODGE
Capitol Reef offers one developed campground in Fruita, and two primitive campgrounds in its backcountry. There are also hotels in the town of Torrey, located just west of the park. We actually stayed in Boulder, Utah, a small ranching community nestled in the mountains about an hour south. The Boulder Mountain Lodge is a beautiful rustic escape. Our room was so cozy, with a large balcony overlooking a lake. Next door is a James Beard semi-finalist restaurant, Hell’s Backbone Grill & Farm. And after a full day of hiking, it was nice to treat our weary legs to a dip in the lodge’s hot tub under the stars.