Capitol Reef National Park Itinerary: 7 Best Things To Do in Capitol Reef National Park
Capitol Reef National Park is one of the least visited national parks in Utah but is just as beautiful as the other parks! I like to think Capitol Reef National Park is underrated and, in a sense, a hidden gem!
Driving around in Capitol Reef National Park was one of those experiences where you are constantly saying “WOW”. Everything is SO BIG in the park, so the drive is incredible! If you have a day to spare, I highly recommend visiting this beautiful park. This guide reviews everything you need to know to create a Capitol Reef National Park itinerary, including travel tips, where to stay, the best hikes in Capitol Reef National Park, and the best things to do in Capitol Reef National Park.
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Travel Tips for Creating a Capitol Reef National Park Itinerary
Time needed to explore
Realistically, you don’t need a lot of time in Capitol Reef National Park, so I recommend only allocating a day. Alex and I saw and did everything on our list, including a few hikes, in a day! However, if you plan on doing some off-roading, I would plan another day or two!
Things to know before you go
Hiking is, in my opinion, necessary in Capitol Reef National Park if you want to experience the park. Most of our favorite things to do in the Capitol Reef National Park had to be hiked to, so I recommend giving yourself some time to hike.
With that being said, the hikes in Capitol Reef National Park, similar to other hikes in Southern Utah, do not have shade. You will be in direct sunlight for most of the hikes, so make sure to bring plenty of water and snacks with you!
Tips and Tricks
There are two things to know. 1. You only need to pay the park entrance fee if you want to drive and explore the Capitol Reef Scenic Drive (which I highly recommend). 2. Be prepared for any kind of weather. The weather in Capitol Reef National Park can change instantly. At the beginning of our day in the park, it was a beautiful, 80° day with a cloudless sky.
During one of our longer hikes, the wind picked up quickly and brought in rain clouds. We were heading down when they rolled in, so we were lucky! Everything happened so fast, and it suddenly down poured! Then it was back to a beautiful day! THEN the clouds rolled back in as we approached sunset, and it rained AGAIN. The changes happened so quickly, so be mindful of that when in Capitol Reef National Park!
Always remember to leave no trace.
It’s crucial to pack out what you pack in and leave no trash. Some of these spots have trash bins, so you can easily throw your trash away. If they don’t have trash bins, you can throw your trash away at a nearby gas station or convenience store.
And don’t forget to visit the Gifford House Store! They are known for their cinnamon buns!
Closest Airport to Capitol Reef National Park
Capitol Reef National Park is located in the southwest of Utah. The easiest way to get to Capitol Reef National Park is to fly into Salt Lake City International Airport. The Salt Lake City International Airport is the closest airport to Capitol Reef National Park and is a 3.5-hour drive down I-15S to the park. It is also possible to fly into Harry Reid International Airport, but it is a long drive of five hours.
I highly recommend renting a car to visit Capitol Reef National park because there is not a bus that connects the park to either airport. There also is not a shuttle in the park, so having a car is essential.
Best Capitol Reef National Park Lodging
If you plan on spending a night near Capitol Reef National Park, I recommend staying in Torrey. It is a short drive from the park entrance and has a few hotels. The grocery store is relatively small, but it is what you would expect in a small town! There are also a few good restaurant options, so you won’t starve!
If you have or can rent camping gear or a campervan, I highly recommend it because there are campgrounds close to Capitol Reef National Park. If you are interested in renting a campervan, I highly recommend renting from Escape Campervans!
Best Hotels Near Capitol Reef National Park:
Best Campgrounds Near Capitol Reef National Park:
Capitol Reef National Park Itinerary: 7 Best Things To Do in Capitol Reef National Park
Hickman Natural Bridge
Hickman Natural Bridge is one of the first attractions in Capitol Reef National Park and is one of the best hikes in Capitol Reef National Park. The bridge is 125 feet tall and 133 feet long, making it one of the largest spans of rock in Capitol Reef National Park! The trailhead is east of the entrance, so you don’t have to pay to experience this beautiful trail.
With the trail being relatively easy and short, the hike to Hickman Bridge is one of the best things to do in Capitol Reef National Park. With that being said, the parking lot is very small at the trailhead, so keep that in mind when planning your hike here. This isn’t a hike where people stay at the viewpoint for very long, so you should be able to find a spot, but you never know!
The hike to Hickman Bridge is a very easy 2-mile loop. The first part of the hike is where you gain the most elevation, but there are switchbacks, so it is gradual. Once you get past the switchbacks, the rest of the hike is relatively flat. You will know when you reached Hickman Bridge because it is HUGE and hard to miss.
The trail goes under the bridge and loops you around back to the trail. Once you experience the epicness of the bridge and are hiking back to the car, make sure you take a pic of Capitol Dome (straight ahead once you are on the switchbacks) and Pectols Pyramid (across the street from the parking lot)!
Capitol Reef Scenic Drive
The Capitol Reef scenic drive is the only part of the park you have to pay to experience. The beautiful scenic drive is 8 miles one way and is one of the best things to do in Capitol Reef National Park.
NOTE: Most of this drive is prone to flash flooding, so PLEASE make sure you do your research on the weather before you explore here.
The first part of the Capitol Reef scenic drive brings you through the historic Fruita. The pioneers created the settlement and fruit orchards in the late 1800s! There are a few historic features here, so if you can, make sure to take a few minutes and explore Fruita! This is also where the Gifford Homestead is. If you like cinnamon buns, Gifford House is for you! People RAVE about their baked goods. After you have some yummy treats, you can continue on the drive to get to some hiking spots!
The first pull-off on the Capitol Reef scenic drive is Grand Wash. Grand Wash is a paved road that brings you to some of the best hikes in Capitol Reef National Park, including Cassidy Arch. Cassidy Arch is a beautiful arch located high on a canyon. It is EPIC. I gave Cassidy Arch its own section in this post, so keep reading to learn all about that hike!
The Capitol Reef scenic drive has endless picture opportunities. There is so much to see, so I recommend taking your time driving down this beautiful road.
Capitol Gorge
Capitol Gorge is at the very end of the Capitol Reef scenic drive and is one of the best things to do in Capitol Reef National Park. This is NOT a paved road, so you need a 4x4 to explore this. The road used to lead to Capitol Gorge, however, the road now comes to an end and requires a short hike.
The 2-mile road leads to the Capitol Gorge trailhead where you can hike 2 miles to the gorge! On the way to the gorge, the trail passes the Pioneer Register which has 150-year-old inscriptions made by Pioneers. Pretty cool!
You then pass through Water Tanks which are natural water basins essential to the desert ecosystem. This is where the trail usually ends for most hikers making it 2 miles roundtrip. The trail does continue further into the canyon, if you are feeling adventurous, to the park boundary tacking on another 3 miles roundtrip.
There is another trail at the beginning of the Capitol Gorge trail called the Golden Throne Trail. The Golden Throne is a 7,000-foot sandstone dome that is an incredible sight, especially when it is in the sunlight! The 4-mile roundtrip trail is moderately difficult and gains over 700 feet of elevation. It’s a fun side hike if you have the time!
Cassidy Arch
The hike to Cassidy Arch is INCREDIBLE and one of the best hikes in Capitol Reef National Park. It is hands down my favorite thing to do in Capitol Reef National Park. It was our most difficult hike as well but very rewarding.
The trailhead is at the end of Grand Wash which is a beautiful road bringing you through huge canyons. There is a viewpoint of Cassidy Arch along the road, and it will make it seem like the arch is super high. And… it is! BUT don’t let that deter you from hiking to it! I swear the hike is worth every step because it is one of the best things to do in Capitol Reef National Park!
Cassidy Arch’s hike is 3.5 miles roundtrip and gains almost 700 feet of elevation. You gain the elevation along the entire trail, so it never becomes too steep, but it is a moderately difficult hike. Ascending the trail felt so much longer than it actually was. The heat does that to you, so lots of water is essential.
The trail is very easy to follow except when you approach Cassidy Arch. There were a few times when we knew where to go but didn’t know the best route to get there. The rock cairns are very helpful, so I recommend keeping an eye out for them. The trail is also sort of… sketchy lol. I felt completely safe hiking it, however, there are a few points where the drop-off on one side is long. Just don’t look down lol!
As you approach the Arch, the hike follows slabs of rock. If rain was in the forecast, I would NOT recommend hiking to Cassidy Arch. These rock slabs would be very slippery wet. The trail ends abruptly with no signage to the arch, but it is hard to miss! You can walk on the arch from the left. There is also an amazing view of the canyon if you follow the cliff to its end. It is a LONG DROP-OFF, so please be smart. I sound like a hovering parent, but I saw some people making risky moves up there and had slight anxiety watching them.
As Alex and I were enjoying the views at the top, we saw a massive storm approaching. And it was approaching FAST. The winds were picking up, so we made sure we had all of the pictures we wanted and then hustled our butts down the trail. We made it down the trail in a half-hour, and as we reached the bottom, we saw the storm completely changed directions, so we were safe. PHEW.
Goosenecks Overlook and Sunset Point
Goosenecks Overlook and Sunset Point are some of the last viewpoints in Capitol Reef National Park if driving from east to west. These viewpoints will not disappoint and are among the best things to do in Capitol Reef National Park! They provide some of the best views overlooking canyons and only require short hikes.
Goosenecks Overlook is a short hike from the parking lot and provides a beautiful view of Sulphur Creek running through the canyon. I wouldn’t even consider this a hike. It is only 600 feet from the parking lot to the viewpoint and is very easy. For anyone who doesn’t like to hike, this is the spot for you! Beautiful views don’t always require a strenuous hike.
After you finished admiring the multi-colored layers of Goosenecks Overlook, head back to the parking and continue to the right to Sunset Point’s trailhead. If you are looking for “the spot” for sunset, here it is! Sunset Point is what its name says it is!
From the parking lot, it is a short, 0.3-mile hike to the overlook. It is very easy to get to, so I highly recommend hiking to it if you are here! And the view is breathtaking! It features views of the Waterpocket Fold, which is a known feature of Capitol Reef National Park, and Sulphur Creek Gorge. This is the perfect spot to end your day and watch the golden light shine on this beautiful view. There is plenty of space at the lookout, so even on a crowded day, a peaceful spot can easily be found.
Cathedral Valley Road
Cathedral Valley Road is the one place Alex and I wanted to venture to but didn’t have the time or a 4x4 to do so. This road is in a remote part of Capitol Reef National Park and connects to High 24 in Caineville. I recommend taking an entire day if not more to explore this road since it is 60 miles long!
There is plenty to see and do along Cathedral Valley Road with the most well-known features being Temple of the Sun and Temple of the Moon. If you only want to see these beauties, you only have to drive 15 miles via Caineville Road.
The Temples are monoliths and are pretty epic because they stand alone in the valley. If you want to experience them in their prime, sunrise is the best time to see them. We have seen incredibly beautiful pictures of them during sunrise. It is well worth the early wake-up call!
If you have the time and a 4x4, I highly recommend driving through Cathedral Valley because it is one of the best things to do in Capitol Reef National Park. Because it is so remote and the road so long, we have heard it is a very peaceful and rewarding experience!
What to Pack for a Capitol Reef National Park Itinerary
Hiking Boots: If you want comfort and support on your trip, hiking boots are the go to.
Hiking Socks: Having moisture-wicking and comfortable hiking socks are just as important for exploring.
Hiking Backpack: You need something to carry all your food, clothes, and anything else you need while adventuring, so having a supportive hiking backpack is crucial.
Hydration Reservoir/Water Bottles: While hiking or just exploring, it is important to have enough water! I always pack a hydration reservoir.
Jackets: The weather is unpredictable, so I always pack a rain jacket and insulated jacket.
Ten Essentials: The Ten Essentials are crucial for hiking!
Microspikes: If you plan on winter hiking, you will need to bring microspikes.
Snowshoes: Also if you hike in the winter, you may need snowshoes.
Capitol Reef National Park should be on everyone’s Utah bucket list! This guide reviews everything you need to know to create the perfect Capitol Reef National Park itinerary, including travel tips, where to stay, the best hikes in Capitol Reef National Park, and the best things to do in Capitol Reef National Park.
Hey, I’m Nichole!
I am the creator behind Nichole the Nomad, the home of my explorations around the world, mountain hikes, and beautiful pictures taken along the way. I have a deep passion for capturing the world in a beautiful light and sharing my experiences.
I created this blog to share my travels, show how beautiful the world is, provide tips and tricks for traveling, and encourage you to explore. Whether you want to travel across the world or explore what’s in your backyard, I hope this blog inspires you to get outside and find your adventure!
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