Capitol Reef

Capitol Reef National Park is located at the junction of two very different environments: sprawling red rock desert and lush green valleys. The park stretches across 100 kilometres and, of its three areas, Fruita is the most accessible and the most visited.

The other two areas, Cathedral Valley and the Waterpocket District (Strike Valley), are more remote and difficult to access. Capitol Reef was named a national monument by President Roosevelt in 1937, and a national park in 1971.

The area was first inhabited by the Fremont people before being settled by Mormons in 1875.
 

The Fruita Historic District could be considered the heart of Capitol Reef National Park. Mormons settled the Fremont River valley in the 1880s and established Junction, later renamed Fruita. From the turn of the century until 1937, the little settlement was home to a Mormon community that never exceeded ten families at a time.

The pioneer families planted thousands of fruit trees in this fertile valley, which became known for the quality of its fruit. Today the historic orchards contain about 2,000 trees and visitors can pick fruit for a small contribution.

Fruita is home to the park's only Visitor Center, along Utah Highway 24, which cuts across the Fruita Area from east to west, winding its way through brightly coloured mountains and cliffs. Here are the sights in Fruita that you won't want to miss:

TWIN ROCKS

Along Highway 24, after entering the park from Torrey, you will see two massive mushroom-shaped rocks standing side by side. These are the Twin Rocks, one of the many curiosities you will find in the park.

CHIMMEY ROCK

This chimney-shaped rock certainly lives up to its name!

CHIMNEY ROCK LOOP TRAIL
Distance (round-trip): 5.9 km
Time (round-trip): About 5 hours
Level: Intermediate to difficult
Elevation gain: 180 metres

Chimney Rock Trail leads to spectacular views of the valley. This 5.9-kilometre trail is ranked intermediate to difficult and climbs quite steeply with an elevation gain of more than 180 metres. It will take about 5 hours to complete the loop.

PANORAMA POINT AND GOOSENECKS OVERLOOK

Panorama Point offers interesting views of the distant Henry Mountains, Capitol Dome, a 1820-metre white sandstone dome, and The Castle, a huge castle-shaped rock formation.

From Panorama Point, a short walk leads to Goosenecks Overlook and a dramatic view of Sulphur Creek and its canyon.

THE CASTLE

A massive sandstone peak can be seen from Highway 24 near the Visitor Center.

It towers over the Sulphur and Fremont Rivers, and is shaped like a castle.

PETROGLYPHS

These images were carved into stone more than 1,000 years ago by the Fremont people, who settled the area during the fourth century. They were hunter-gatherers who also grew corn and beans.

The Fremont disappeared in the 1250s, possibly due to a long drought, leaving behind many pictographs and petroglyphs. Those along Utah Highway 24 are accessible by two wooden boardwalks.

HICKMAN BRIDGE

Distance (round-trip): 2.8 km
Time (round-trip): About 1 hour
Level: Easy

Hickman Bridge is a natural arch carved by water out of the Kayenta formation. The impressive 38-metre tall natural bridge with a span of 40 metres was named in honour of Joseph Hickman, who advocated for the preservation of the park. 

An easy looped trail leads to Hickman Bridge. The trail is 2.8 kilometres long and will take about one hour (round-trip).

SCENIC DRIVE

This scenic route winds along the western side of the Waterpocket Fold, a geologic monocline (wrinkle) extending almost 100 miles, which contains the oldest rocks in the park. It is not a loop, so you must return by the same road.

A must-see when visiting Capitol Reef, Scenic Drive traverses magnificent landscapes dominated by immense multicoloured sandstone cliffs in bright shades of yellow, orange, red, brown and grey. There is an entrance fee of about $20 per vehicle to travel the park's Scenic Drive beyond the Fruita Campground. The road is suitable for passenger cars and RVs up to 27 feet long.

The pay station is on Scenic Drive just south of the Fruita Campground. If you have an America The Beautiful pass, you have nothing to pay. Scenic Drive leads to two dirt roads that enter narrow canyons, Grand Wash  and Capitol Gorge .

GRAND WASH

The first road on the left along Scenic Drive leads to Grand Wash, a narrow, steep-walled canyon in the heart of Waterpocket Fold, and the trailhead for two hiking trails:

GRAND WASH TRAIL
Distance (round-trip): 7.2 km
Time (round-trip): About 2 hours
Level: Easy

Grand Wash Trail is an easy trail that leads into the narrowest part of the canyon. It is 7.2 km long and will take about 2 hours.

CASSIDY ARCH TRAIL
Distance (round-trip): 5.6 km
Time (round-trip): 3-4 hours
Level: Difficult

Cassidy Arch Trail is a difficult 5.5-km trail (2 hours round-trip). But it is well worth the effort, as it leads up to Cassidy Arch, a magnificent natural arch on the canyon's north wall. The arch was named for turn of the century outlaw Butch Cassidy, who is thought to have hidden occasionally in Grand Wash.

CAPITOL GORGE

The Capitol Gorge spur road is longer and more winding than Grand Wash. It twists dramatically between the sheer white sandstone walls of Capitol Gorge. There are two trailheads at the end of the road:

CAPITOL GORGE TRAIL
Distance (round-trip): 3.2 km
Time (round-trip): About 1 hour
Level: Easy

Capitol Gorge Trail, an easy 3.2 km round-trip (1 hour) trail, leads to a set of waterpockets, natural cavities in the sandstone that fill up with rainwater.

GOLDEN THRONE TRAIL
Distance (round-trip): 6.4 km
Time (round-trip): 2 hours
Level: Difficult

Golden Throne Trail is a difficult trail, 6.4 km round-trip (2 hours). It leads to the top of the north wall of Capitol Gorge, where you will enjoy impressive views of Golden Throne, a 2,146-metre-high sandstone dome that shines a deep yellow in the sun.