Capitol Reef National Park
Expert Guide to Visiting Southern Utah’s Least Visited National Park
Tucked away in Southern Utah, away from the crowds of Arches and Zion National Parks, is Utah’s least visited National Park - Capitol Reef National Park. Located just outside the small town of Torrey, Utah and about 45 minutes west of the even smaller town of Hanksville. Capitol Reef may be the least visited but it’s certainly not lacking in geologic wonder or amazing experiences. We’ll share some tips by local experts for making your trip to Capitol Reef National Park stand out on your southern Utah vacation.
How to Get Here
Capitol Reef National Park is located between Arches & Canyonlands National Parks and Bryce Canyon National Park. Many people miss Capitol Reef though because it’s not on the fastest route between Moab and Bryce Canyon. The route through Capitol Reef on the way to Arches or Bryce Canyon is one of the most scenic drives in the USA so be sure not to miss this one!
Where is Capitol Reef Located?
From Bryce Canyon National Park: Continue east on highway 12 through Escalante, Boulder and to Torrey, UT. Total drive time from Bryce Canyon to Torrey, UT: 2H 0M
From Arches/Moab: Return to I-70 West and exit for Hanksville on Highway 95. Turn West onto Highway 24 in Hanksville (the only option) and continue to Torrey, UT. Total Drive time from Moab to Torrey: 2H 30M
EXPERT TIP: Both directions leading to Capitol Reef are incredibly scenic with many pull offs to take in the views. Highway 12 between Bryce and Capitol Reef is highlighted in our free guide to Southern Utah’s most scenic drives for more information. Highway 24 passes wild landscapes with Factory Butte near Caineville making a great photo opportunity. Allow at least an extra hour when driving each of these routes for slower vehicles and jaw dropping scenery.
Where to Stay
Lodging in Capitol Reef National Park has greatly improved over the past 10 years or so with many great options for hotels, Airbnb’s and lodges. Here’s a few of our expert recommendations:
Our Favorite - Lodge at Red River Ranch
This private lodge sits on a 2000 acre bison ranch with stunning red cliffs as a backdrop. This rustic, boutique luxury lodge features 15 rooms and suites with a private dining area for breakfast. Start your morning with a healthy homemade breakfast before setting off on your adventures for the day. Ask about sack lunches for those day-long adventures which Capitol Reef is known for! Reserve your room early because this boutique lodge attracts repeat visitors year after year for a reason.
Broken Spur Inn & Steakhouse is conveniently located at the edge of town and features breakfast with a restaurant onsite, which is a grea t amenity after a long day of exploring Capitol Reef.
Cougar Ridge Resort is a new resort property featuring luxury lodge rooms and private villas. This luxury resort offers convenience and comfort among the remote and wild Capitol Reef. Be sure to see their latest offerings on their website as it’s relatively new and growing. We’ve had clients stay here but have not stayed here for ourselves, yet:)
Many great Airbnb’s are available in Torrey and are conveniently located around the small town of Torrey.
Local tip: Plan on shopping for groceries prior to arriving in Torrey because there is no supermarket in Torrey. Royal’s Foodtown in Loa, UT is the nearest grocery store to Torrey other than limited options in Torrey, Hanksville.
Schedule a 20 minute trip consultation with a Capitol Reef Expert today!
Where to Play
Capitol Reef National Park is synonymous with outdoor adventures for all abilities, from a leisurely drive and picnic to a full day hiking adventure.
Here are three sample 1 day itineraries for playing in Capitol Reef in 2024:
Easy: Leisure Day and Scenic Drive
Moderate: 2 Hikes in 1 Day
Challenging: Adventure Day (Our Favorite)
Leisure Day - NOTICE for 2024, the scenic drive is scheduled to be closed due to improvement projects from Spring to Fall of 2024. With this in mind, begin your leisure day after breakfast by driving Highway 12 towards the town of Boulder, UT. Stop at the many pull offs and lookouts as the road climbs to over 9000’ above sea level, affording grand vistas over the Waterpocket Fold. Boulder features a great lunch option at Burr Trail Grill and you’re right in time for a wonderful lunch! After lunch, return to Torrey and make as many stops as you wish in the afternoon light of the desert vistas. If you’re up for a short sunset walk, the Goosenecks and Sunset Point between Fruita and Torrey offer a dramatic sunset view.
Picnic Option - Return early from your morning scenic drive and enjoy a peaceful picnic. There’s a shaded grassy park in Fruita adjacent to the Gifford House, which features famous pies. Pies in the park? Yes please!
Morning and Afternoon Hike Day - Two hikes in one day is a great way to play in Capitol Reef. For the morning, head up from the parking lot near the Gifford House in Fruita and climb several short switchbacks to Cohab Canyon. From here the trail passes through a narrow canyon with morning light making this a beautiful trail. You can turn around and come back the same way once you reach the junction with the Frying Pan trail for a total of 3.4 miles round trip. Treat yourself after your morning hike with a famous pie from the Gifford House, it’s right across the parking lot!
For the afternoon, head over to the Hickman Bridge trail for either a hike to a fantastic arch or continue on for an incredible panoramic view of Fruita along the Navajo Knobs trail through the early evening. These are both out and back so you’ll be back in time for dinner!
20 Minute Trip Consultation
Custom Capitol Reef Trip Planning
Our Favorite Experience
Adventure Day (Our Favorite) Here is an adventurous day and a little surprise at the end. Head out after an early breakfast and pack a lunch for the day. Drive east of Fruita and make your way south on the Nottom-Bullfrog road to the Burr Trail switchbacks. Head up the switchbacks (and stop a lot for pictures!) and reach the trailhead for Upper Muley Twist. Park in the designated lot or if you have a high clearance 4x4 (not a rental SUV) you can drive an additional 2 miles to the Strike Valley Overlook trail. Combine this with Upper Muley twist (see NPS map) and return to your vehicle 8 miles later. This is one of the best hikes in the park so allow plenty of time!
To finish your adventure day, treat yourself to the best meal around at the Hell’s Backbone Grill & Farm in Boulder, UT via the Burr Trail road. Reservations are available online and they’re open Thurs-Mon 4P-9P so plan ahead! You won’t forget this adventurous day anytime soon and may be the highlight of your Utah vacation! Return to Torrey via highway 12 (1 hour) and call it a day, the Utah way!
There are many other options and surprises in Capitol Reef National Park. We offer custom trip planning and consultation services to help you have the best experience designed for you.
Travel well,
Utahhhyeah - Eric
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