Have you heard of Capitol Reef National Park? Named for the white domes from the Navajo Sandstone and the ocean reef-like cliffs, the Capitol Reef is located in south-central Utah. One of many hidden treasures, filled with many cliffs, canyons, domes, and Bridges! Extending around 100 miles, this 65 million-year-old Waterpocket fold is one of the largest exposed monoclines in North America.
This scenic beauty is filled with many activities for you to do. Some of these include driving the scenic routes, hiking a few of the local trails, visiting historic sites, and even exploring panorama and sunset points. Along with a few, there are many of many road trips or vacations to visit.
Driving “The Scenic Drive”
A 7.9-mile paved road, the Scenic Drive is suitable for many passenger vehicles. A roundtrip of about an hour and a half, the Scenic Drive consists of a couple of spurs of dirt roads, the Grand Wash, and lastly the Capitol Gorge. Entering canyons leading to trailheads, these dirt spur roads usually are suitable for passenger cars and RVs up to 27 feet long. During some seasons of the year, due to snow, ice, mud, or even flash floods, the roads can be closed to prevent accidents from happening. Always check the visitor center ahead of traveling through for possible road closures and weather conditions.
Popular Hiking Spots Within Capitol Reef
Within the Capitol Reef, there are many hiking opportunities for those who love the hidden gems. Hiking offers a chance to connect with nature. Exploring scenic areas and allowing many different levels of trails. This makes it accessible for everyone.
Located along Utah Highway 24 and the Scenic Drive, there are fifteen-day hiking trails with trailheads as well. These offer hikers a variety of options, such as easy-level ground trails to steep climbs on uneven terrain. Some take you into a deep narrow gorge, to bird’s eye view from the top of the high cliffs. Along with these gorgeous trails, there are a few with some historic inscriptions and more! The trail round trips vary anywhere from 0.25 miles to 10 miles long. Each trail is marked with signs at the trailhead and the trail junctions, some marked with stacked rocks as well.
For the serious backpackers, Capitol Reef also offers popular backcountry hikes in the Southern Section of the park. This includes the Upper and Lower Muley Twist Canyons and Halls Creek. The trails are minimally marked. Leading into narrow, twisting gorges, some slot canyons, and gorgeous high atop viewpoints. Some of these Backcountry hiking also are located in the Cathedral Valley area and near the Fruita.
Visit the Historic Sites
Along with Capitol Reefs, driving routes, and hiking trails, you can also visit a few of the historic sites. Gifford Homestead, petroglyphs, and pioneer Orchards are just a few historic sites you can visit.
Gifford Homestead, one of the many historical places located within Wayne County, Utah. About 1 mile south of Capitol Reef, the Gifford Homestead is open daily from 8 AM to 5 PM.
Built in 1908, the original home occupied Calvin Pendleton and his family for about 8 years. The original had a combined front room and kitchen and 2 small bedrooms. The Second residents to occupy this home were the Jorgen Jorgensen family, living in the home from 1916 to 1928. Jorgensen then sold the homestead to the son-in-law, Dewey Gifford in 1928.
The Gifford family had then occupied the homestead from 1928-1969. The house, in the time of the Gifford family living in the home, had grown. In 1946, a kitchen was added. A bathroom, utility room, and even a carport was then added in 1954. Within the same year, the Gifford family had also built a small motel for Capitol Reef Visitors.
Petroglyph Panels, located within the Fruita District, are images carved or pecked into stone. The Fremont Culture Petroglyphs are located along Utah State Route 24. Some travelers will bring binoculars to get a closer look at some of the Petroglyphs. The Fremont Culture is accessible from 2 wooden boardwalks. The shorter boardwalk provides anthropomorphic, or human-like, petroglyphs, as well as geometric designs and animal petroglyphs too! The longer boardwalk runs parallel to the cliffs, making it closer to view. Some of the petroglyphs on this boardwalk are harder to see due to the patina that has developed over them.
Pioneer Orchard provided food and an income to those who called Fruita home. Pioneers who are known as the Latter-Day Saints, planted thousands of fruit trees, from the 1880s to the 1960s. Today, these orchards are part of the Fruita Rural Historic Landscape. The Capitol Reef National Park started an orchard rehabilitation project in hopes to maintain the quality and character of the area.
Explore Panorama and Sunset Points
Visiting Panorama Point and Sunset Point is another fun thing to do in Capitol Reef National Park. Panorama Point features many views of the huge sandstone cliffs, while Sunset Point features a short, family-friendly trail with a great viewpoint of the cliffs.
With easy access from Highway 24, Panorama Points offers a wonderful parking area that leads visitors to a 360-degree view! You can experience an all-day view. These colored cliffs can become very vibrant, especially around sunset time. This breathtaking view also provides stargazers a view of the beautiful night sky.
Sunset Point, a few miles west of the Visitor’s Center, is about a 1-mile drive. For you photo enthusiasts, the lighting is best around the evening time, hence the name “Sunset Point”. This family-friendly trail provides many benches along the way for you or anyone in your party needing to catch a breath or take in the marvelous views, a break from walking, or taking a moment for a snack or water break.
There are so many beautiful and fun things to do in the Capitol Reef. From the Scenic Drive to the historic sites all the way to exploring the Panoramic and Sunset points. There are even more things to do outside of all these fabulous activities.
To tour the Capitol reef you can visit https://cougarridge.com/other-parks/capitol-reef/. You may also want to check out some of our other activities, such as camping or even canyoneering with us, as well. If you like hot tubs and pools, private patios, rustic cabins, or even playing with animals, then Cougar Ridge is the place for you. We are the perfect basecamp for your adventurous and relaxing needs.. Contact us through our Guest Services Number; (435) 680-9170 or email us for more information at info@courgarridge.com.