Capitol Reef National Park, Utah

From the trailhead, the trek starts off pretty step. You will reach a fork near the top of the plateau which starts the official loop. At the junction go left (counterclockwise). The trail offers wonderful views along the way. The loop will bring you on top of "chimney rock" for views over Hwy 24...

This is a point-to-point hike that either requires a shuttle or 3 mile walk along highway 24. The starting trailhead is the Chimney Rock Trailhead which has limited parking. The ending trailhead is the Capitol Reef National Park Visitors Center. We only had one car so I dropped everyone off at th...

Sunset Point Trail is an quick and easy 0.4 mile hike near the entrance of the park that provides you with beautiful views of the Capital Reef rim from the opposite side of the park. As the evening descends the setting sun illuminates the red rim rock formations giving them the best photographic ...

Now most of the pictures you see from Capitol Reef are from cathedral valley. But not many take the time to get above the most photographed area of the park. Off of Hartnet Road, at mile 17.6 you will find a small dirt parking lot for the trailhead (were talking middle of nowhere, so no pit toile...

Starting at 5350' in elevation, the hike to Hickman natural bridge is one of the best hikes in Capitol Reef National Park for families with small children. The hike is just under two miles round trip and doesn't include any steep or exposed sections. You'll begin your hike next to the Fremont Ri...

Navajo Knobs is one of Capital Reef’s most spectacular hikes. It brings you, moderately, to one of Capital Reef’s most spectacular viewpoints of the main park’s viewpoints. (Tip: Upon arriving at the park the Ranger recommended this as her favorite hike, and it lived up to the hype! If you’re lo...

Inside Capitol Reef National Park, you’ll find a wonderful treasure. There are acres of orchards inside the park, all of which you are welcome to roam around and explore, you’ll see old farms buildings from the Mormon settlers that came through that are still kept up! Not to mention they have ho...

Inside Capitol Reed National Park there is a scenic drive. The drive you do have to pay for ($15 bucks a car) but considering the park is free, you may as well!  The drive is about 8 miles long, with pull offs for ideal picture taking, the landscape is vast and ever changing with every turn, incl...

These set of roads are classified as 4x4 high clearance vehical roads. Not to mention this part of the park is remote and only about 10% of visitors access it. To get to Cathedral Valley, we were recommended to drive a “loop” by the park ranger, that entailed about 60 miles of high clearance dirt...

Follow the scenic road just past the Fruita Campground to the first dirt road on the left. The dirt road meanders through cool rock formations (great for night photography) and eventually dramatic cliffs that you will be climbing up. The parking area is obvious and there are primitive restrooms. ...

The Grand Wash is a canyon in Capitol Reef National Park featuring several-hundred-foot-tall sandstone walls. The canyon walls are, for the most part, widely spaced, except for a half mile long section of scenic "narrows". Hike to nearby Cassidy Arch if you have extra time. Beware of potentiall...

The temple of the sun and moon are accessed from Cathedral Rd. in Capitol Reef National Park, the road is a 4x4 high clearance vehical road. Upon arriving at the Temples which are called “monoliths”, the giant rocks protrude from the earth, and are something like a fine piece of art. This is a po...

Cathedral Valley is a scenic backcountry area in Capitol Reef National Park. It is a remote, stark desert, characterized by amazingly beautiful sandstone monoliths that some say resemble cathedrals. Many of the valleys structures have interesting, highly descriptive names: Temple of the Sun, Temp...

From Interstate 70, the road can be accessed from the west just a few miles from Highway 6, and from the east just near the town of Richfield. It also meets up at the north end of Highway 12 at the town of Teasdale. There is a major campsite at Capitol Reef National Park, but also many RV sites a...

First let me preface that a high clearance vehicle is needed for this adventure. Provided that, prepare for a journey into some very remote and beautiful desert in the middle of Capitol Reef National Park.In total the scenic loop is 57 miles of washboard riddled roads that lead to the spectacular...

Drive along Scenic Drive in Capitol Reef National Park and you'll find this trailhead at the end of the road. After 7 miles of driving, you'll arrive at the Pleasant Creek Road turnout and parking area. From here, the road continues to Capitol Gorge, but is unpaved. We had to park at a small p...