Capitol Reef National Park, United States

Capitol Reef National Park Travel Guide

Trek Zone

National park

Facts and practical information

Nestled in the heart of Utah's stunning red rock country, Capitol Reef National Park offers a captivating blend of rugged landscapes, rich history, and unparalleled outdoor adventures. This hidden gem is a must-visit destination for nature enthusiasts and history buffs alike.

One of the park's most iconic features is the Waterpocket Fold, a massive geological monocline that stretches for nearly 100 miles. As you explore this unique rock formation, you'll be treated to awe-inspiring views of towering cliffs, colorful canyons, and surreal rock formations. Hiking trails wind through the park, leading you to hidden arches, ancient petroglyphs, and tranquil oasis-like pockets of greenery.

For those seeking a more thrilling experience, Capitol Reef offers world-class rock climbing opportunities. The towering sandstone walls provide a challenging playground for climbers of all skill levels. As you scale the cliffs, you'll be rewarded with breathtaking vistas of the surrounding desert landscape.

History buffs will delight in Capitol Reef's rich cultural heritage. The park takes its name from the white domes of Navajo Sandstone that resemble the United States Capitol building. The area was once home to the Fremont culture, and remnants of their ancient dwellings can still be seen today. Be sure to visit the historic Fruita District, where you can explore the preserved orchards, barns, and schoolhouse of a 19th-century Mormon settlement.

Capitol Reef is also a paradise for stargazers. With its remote location and minimal light pollution, the park offers some of the darkest skies in the country. On a clear night, you can witness a dazzling display of stars, planets, and even the Milky Way.

Alternative names: Area: 377.97 mi²Visitors per year: 1.23 mil.Elevation: 6509 ft a.s.l.Coordinates: 38°10'38"N, 111°10'34"W

Location

UtahUnited States

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Capitol Reef National Park Top Attractions

Capitol Reef National Park Attractions - What to See and Explore

Capitol Reef National Park offers many attractions and places to visit. Here are the most important ones: EPH Hanks Tower, Capitol Dome, Ferns Nipple, Pectols Pyramid. Below you will find a complete list of places worth visiting.

Mountain
EPH Hanks Tower
Eph Hanks Tower is a 6,540-foot elevation summit located in Capitol Reef National Park, in Wayne County of Utah, United States. This landmark is situated 8 mi southeast of the park's visitor center, 3.5 mi south-southeast of Ferns Nipple, and 1.4 mi south-southwest of Golden...
Mountain
Capitol Dome
Capitol Dome is a 6,120-foot-elevation summit located in Capitol Reef National Park, in Wayne County, Utah, United States. This iconic landmark is situated 2.5 miles east of the park's visitor center, and 0.85 mi southeast of Navajo Dome.
Mountain
Ferns Nipple
Ferns Nipple is a 7,065-foot elevation summit located in Capitol Reef National Park, in Wayne County of Utah, United States. This iconic landmark is situated 4 mi southeast of the park's visitor center.

Mountain
Pectols Pyramid
Pectols Pyramid is a 6,211-foot elevation summit located in Capitol Reef National Park, in Wayne County of Utah, United States. This iconic landmark is situated 2 mi southeast of the park's visitor center, 1 mi south of Navajo Dome, and 0.5 mi southwest of Capitol Dome.
Mountain
Jailhouse Rock
Jailhouse Rock is a 6,123-foot elevation summit located in Capitol Reef National Park, in Wayne County of Utah, United States. This remote iconic monolith is situated 9 mi north of the park's visitor center, and 4 mi south of Temples of the Sun and Moon, in the South Desert of the park's North District.
Mountain
Navajo Dome
Navajo Dome is a 6,489-foot elevation summit located in Capitol Reef National Park, in Wayne County of Utah, United States. This iconic landmark is situated 2 mi east of the park's visitor center, and 0.85 mi northwest of Capitol Dome.
38°29'2"N • 111°21'54"W
Morrell Cabin
The Leslie Morrell Line Cabin and Corral are located in the Cathedral Valley section of northern Capitol Reef National Park in Utah.
Nature • Natural attraction • Mountain
Golden Throne Mountain
The Golden Throne is a 7,041-foot mountain in Capitol Reef National Park in Wayne County, Utah, United States. It is a rock formation dome made of a gold color stained Navajo Sandstone, which is particularly special because normally the sandstone is creamy white or red.
38°16'33"N • 111°15'4"W
Civilian Conservation Corps Powder Magazine
The Civilian Conservation Corps Powder Magazine in Capitol Reef National Park, Utah, was used in the 1930s to store explosives for use by Civilian Conservation Corps laborers in the construction of improvements to the park.
38°16'56"N • 111°10'12"W
Elijah Cutler Behunin Cabin
The Elijah Cutler Behunin Cabin was built to house Elijah Cutler Behunin's family in 1883–84 in what is now Capitol Reef National Park in Wayne County, Utah, United States.
38°29'5"N • 111°20'56"W
Cathedral Valley Corral
The Cathedral Valley Corral was constructed around 1900 by local cattlemen in the northern portion of what is now Capitol Reef National Park in Utah. It is one of the oldest examples of ranching use in the park.
Vernacular architecture • Universities and schools
Fruita Schoolhouse
The Fruita Schoolhouse is a historic school building located in Fruita, Utah, United States.
38°17'6"N • 111°15'7"W
Fruita Rural Historic District
The Fruita Rural Historic District is a historic district in the Capitol Reef National Park in Wayne County, Utah, United States, that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Day trips

Capitol Reef National Park – popular in the area (distance from the center)

In the vicinity of Capitol Reef National Park, it's worth seeing attractions such as: Calf Creek Falls (Escalante), Anasazi State Park Museum (Boulder), Torrey Log Church–Schoolhouse (Torrey).

27 milesSW
Natural attraction, Waterfall, Vernacular architecture
Calf Creek Falls, Escalante
Calf Creek Falls refers to a pair of perennial waterfalls on the Calf Creek in the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in central Garfield County, Utah, United States, that total 214 feet.
23 milesSW
State park, Historical place, Ruins
Anasazi State Park Museum, Boulder
Anasazi State Park Museum is a state park and museum in Southern Utah, United States, featuring the ruins of an ancient Anasazi village referred to as the Coombs Village Site.
16 milesNW
Church, Vernacular architecture, Greek Revival architecture
Torrey Log Church–Schoolhouse, Torrey
The Torrey Log Church–Schoolhouse was built in Torrey, Utah in 1898 as a LDS meetinghouse and schoolhouse. The one story log structure served as the school until 1917, and as a meetinghouse until 1928.
43 milesS
Natural attraction, Protected area
Devils Garden
The Devils Garden of the Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument in south central Utah, United States, is a protected area featuring hoodoos, natural arches and other sandstone formations. The area is also known as the Devils Garden Outstanding Natural Area within the National Landscape Conservation System.
36 milesSW
Locality
Escalante Petrified Forest State Park
Escalante Petrified Forest State Park is a state park of Utah, USA, located a half-mile north of the town of Escalante. A visitor center was built in 1991, and features displays of plant and marine fossils, petrified wood and fossilized dinosaur bones over 150 million years old.