This southern Utah national park provides a unique mix of historical landmarks and stunning landscapes. It is the largest exposed monocline in North America. If you want to beat crowds, we’d recommend visiting in March and November at the end of the peak season. From Zion National Park: 3 hours 5 minutes, 174 miles. Join a ranger to find out more about the wonders of Capitol Reef National Park. I'd vote for the extra day and go tour around Hanksville, Cathedral Valley or Burr Trail/Notom Rd. If you're uncomfortable taking a rental off road... Capitol Reef National Park is by far the least visited national park out of Utah’s Mighty 5 (750k visitors in Capitol Reef vs. Zion’s 4.5 million in 2017). Drive for 1.5 hours then stop at Goblin Valley State Park and stay for 1 hour. The closest towns to Capitol Reef National Park are Torrey, Escalante, and Boulder. It has occupied a top spot on our trip wish list for quite a few years, because it's a bit under the radar and has been designated as an International Dark Sky park, meaning its night sky can be equally as impressive as its daytime wonders. Currently, there is no public transportation within Capitol Reef National Park. Best Guided Day Tours in Capitol Reef National Park If you want to make your trip to Capitol Reef as easy and simple as possible, check out these amazing Capitol Reef Day Trips: The Utah town offers the best accessibility and all the Capitol Reef National Park hotels you need for a perfect time exploring the park. Capitol Reef National Park is located in South-Central Utah, near the small town of Torrey. Stop at the visitor center on the west side of the park to pick up a park map and purchase admission if you plan to drive the park’s own Scenic Drive Road. Capitol Reef National Park is located in the state of Utah’s south-central area about a 2.25 hour drive from Moab. Start your morning by grabbing a coffee and taking a walking tour of a Helper , a former coal mining town that’s recently developed a vibrant, eclectic art scene. ... Day 9 — Capitol Reef all day, then drive … Best Time to Visit. This campground is a very small slice of an oasis inside the desert and you can camp on the grass underneath an orchard here. Capitol Reef National Park is the least visited of Utah’s “Mighty 5” national parks. How long you stay depends on what you want to do. You can drive through Capitol Reef in about half an hour. IF you stop at the attractions along th... But while it doesn’t get as many visitors as neighboring Zion, Bryce Canyon, or Arches, it has plenty to offer and belongs on your Utah road trip itinerary.. I suggest reserving as much time as you are able for the Capitol Reef vicinity. One of the greatest unknown treasures of southern Utah lies along y... Unlike Utah’s other national parks, Capitol Reef doesn’t have one stand out a feature like the arches of Arches or the Zion canyon of Zion. But Capitol Reef is a magnificent mixture of the best features of Arches, Bryce, Canyonlands, and Zion. This park has it all and the best part is that it is the least visited National Park in Utah. If you take the time to drive the scenic drive and do a hike or two you could take a full day. Some things to do: 1. Our trip to Capitol Reef National Park has been a long time in the making. Capitol Reef was first named a national monument by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on August 2, 1937, but later was named a national park by President Richard Nixon on December 18, 1971 to protect the majority of the Waterpocket Fold. If you’re wondering how many days to spend in Bryce Canyon National Park, you’ve come to the right spot. The location on a scenic, rural highway makes it just too far off anyone’s path to be a convenient stop. We only had a few hours to spend in Capitol Reef, and we thought we were able to do it justice in that amount of time. Heavy snow is rare in Capitol Reef and light snow doesn’t stop you from hiking. A Guide To Visiting Capitol Reef National Park. Capitol Reef National Park is Utah’s quieter, smaller and lesser known of the epic Mighty 5 National Parks road trip circuit. Capitol Reef National Park is more isolated than the other Mighty 5 National Parks. Capitol Reef National Park is one of the least visited national parks in Utah but incredibly underrated. Arches and Canyonlands are also pretty close to each other Capitol Reef, on the other hand, is literal hours from any of these other parks. Again, you can use this site to find out what hiking trails interest you, or maybe you’ll want to participate in a Ranger Program while you’re there. Six days focused on CapitOl Reef - that's the first time I think I've ever seen somebody ask that! (And I approve 8-) What vehicle will you have? H... With the exception of the visitor center, Capitol Reef is open 24 hours 7 days a week. In Capitol Reef National Park, the biggest draw – and what sets it apart from the other parks – is its overall charm.The Fruita Historic District in the heart of Capitol Reef includes an old homestead, one-room schoolhouse and orchard. There are many places in the park that take longer than that to explore but I'm not expecting you'll have a week to give to it. There’s 3 main districts of the park, the Fruita District, Cathedral Valley, and the Waterpocket Fold. 2. Finally, drive for about 57 minutes and arrive at Capitol Reef National Park. ... Capitol Reef National Park is Utah’s quieter, smaller and lesser known of the epic Mighty 5 national parks road trip circuit. You can drive through Capitol Reef in about half an hour. Where to stay to see Capitol Reef National Park. If it’s a long weekend, add another day to Zion. Burr Trail if you don't do it on the way from Bryce. Capitol Reef National Park was designated a national monument on August 2, 1937, by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to protect the area’s colorful canyons, ridges, buttes, and monoliths. Capitol Reef is one of Utah’s Mighty 5 National Parks.Although overseen by many, this National Park is a hidden gem in the heart of red rock country, located in south-central Utah.The best way to explore the beauty of this underrated national park … Favorite location. Center of the park, scenic drive, Gifford House (open for pies on Pie Day 3/14), Cohab Canyon, Cassidy Arch, Grand Wash, Capitol Gorge etc. How long should I spend in Capitol Reef? It’s open year-round, and is the only developed campground in the park. It was opened back in 1971 to preserve the almost 242,000 acres of desert. About an 80 mile drive for Torrey, you can do both in one day. For reference, it’s about 2.5 hours by car to get to this park from Moab, where most people visit when heading to Utah. 3. Though if you have longer, I don’t think you’d regret it. What guests say: “This is an awesome cabin, about 20 minutes from Capitol Reef National Park. Beginning at the visitor’s center, it’s a 7.9-mile paved road that includes dirt spur loop roads into the Grand Wash and Capitol Gorge areas. The park’s busy season tends to align with the other national park’s in Utah, which can be anywhere from March through October. When you go through Hanksville take a short detour to the BLM Office to see the Wolverton Mill, very historic. We'd visited Goblin Valley before an... A couple hours to 2 days. Easily accessible from Scenic Drive, this short hike features stunning scenery, views over the Grand Wash, and the chance to stand on Cassidy Arch. Although you could spend a few days exploring everything it has to offer, you can spend one day in Capitol Reef National Park and experience the most beautiful areas. 4. Bryce Canyon sunrise 4. Capitol Reef is an easy going, straight forward and family friendly park to visit. You can visit in half a day and accomplish most of the best bits, unlike Zion, where you need at least two full days to do everything. Hiking trails are suitable for all ages and abilities which further reinforces the family friendly aspect of Capitol Reef. Capitol Reef National Park consists of a vibrant palette of colors splashed all across the landscape which includes towering cliffs, massive domes, arches, bridges, and twisting canyons.. Distance: 11 mi / 18 km; Driving time: ≈ 15 min; Pick Torrey for: The ultimate Capitol Reef hotels. Take time to hike out to Hickman Bridge in Capitol Reef to see a natural bridge and one of the most popular hikes in Capitol Reef. If it’s a long weekend, add another day to Zion. Spend about 90 minutes taking in the spectacular views found on Capitol Reef National Park’s Scenic Drive. Rushing may make you miss the reward. Next, drive for another 56 minutes then stop in Bullfrog and stay for 1 hour. The hike to Cassidy Arch is one of the most thrilling trails in Capitol Reef National Park. How long does it take to drive through Capitol Reef National Park? One Week in Southern Utah. 2. Day 2: Arches National Park. As Kbecjeans said, one night is often sufficient for highlights. How long you stay really depends on how aggressive you want to be with your hikes.... Its white, rounded domes, reminiscent of the nation's capitol building, inspired part of the name for Capitol Reef. You could maybe get by with a full day at Capitol Reef. So I would recommend two nights there and 5 in Moab. Stop at Goblin Valley and Little Wild... From Las Vegas: 5 hours 3 minutes, 327 miles. At the end of the day, stay in Torrey, Utah at one of the many hotels and resorts bordering the park. Also Capitol Reef was named a national park to protect the canyons, ridges, buttes, and monoliths. Check into accommodations. If you’re wondering how many days to spend in Zion National Park, you’ve come to the right spot. Mighty 5 Road Trip Itinerary Day 1: Arrive in Salt Lake City, drive to Moab. The Park gets its name since this region was once a growing living underwater organism. 3 hours to 1 full day. Three Days, Two Nights in Capitol Reef National Park. Capitol Reef National Park is located in central Utah. On this 10-day itinerary, tour the highlights of Capitol Reef, Arches, and Canyonlands National Parks. How to spend two days in Capitol Reef National Park Day 1: Driving to Capitol Reef and setting up camp. Our favorite is the Broken Spur Inn. This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity.What are forum guidelines? For most people one day is sufficient to see the major points of interest along both the scenic drive and the main highway. There are many places i... For more information about this park, visit the National Park Service site here. DOWNLOAD our US National Park checklists to make it easy to pack what you need for your next trip! Spring and Fall are the best times to visit Capitol Reef National Park, thanks to its mild and pleasant weather, perfect for sightseeing and hiking. It is named after the white Navajo Sandstone dome formations, which look similar to domes found on capitol buildings, and because the reef of mountains that proved to be a barrier of travel for pioneers. If you want to visit the highlights of Capitol Reef and spend some time venturing into the backcountry, you will need at least three days in Capitol Reef. To make the most of this Capitol Reef National Park itinerary, we’ll focus on the most popular and accessible areas of the park, the Fruita District. With Capitol Reef much of the park is not available to see unless you have a high clearance 4 wheel drive vehicle or go through tour companies. If... If you search for where to stay near Capitol Reef National Park you don’t need to look further. 3.4 miles, moderate difficulty, 2 to 3 hours. (435) 425-3775. The park has what is called the Waterpocket Fold, a … Capitol Reef encompasses the Waterpocket Fold, a warp in the earth’s crust that is 65 million years old. No one has mentioned my favorite hike at Capitol Reef: Cassidy Arch. It's a bit challenging to get there, but it's as pretty as many in Arches and... 1. Day 3 will be spent exploring Capitol Reef National Park. When to Visit Capitol Reef National Park. This one day Capitol Reef National Park itinerary will help you plan your trip to perfection. Day 6: Zion National Park. Capitol Reef is a little out of the way, which may contribute to the smaller crowds. So now we can finally get an idea of the total travel time from Zion National Park to Capitol Reef National Park including time spent getting to/from the airports, an estimated wait time of 2 hours at the airport for TSA security lines and waiting at the gate, and the actual flight itself. The National Parks Service (NPS) began purchasing private land at Fruita and Pleasant Creek in the late '60s, and officially declared Capitol Reef as a national park in 1971. Day 5: Bryce Canyon, drive to Zion, sleep in Springdale. Spend the first day on your way to Capitol Reef National Park digging deep into a sampling of natural — and human — history. Highway 24 runs through the heart of the city and serves as the principal entry point. In my opinion, I recommend you go anywhere between March through May and/ or September through October. The Capitol Reef Scenic Drive is a 7.9 mile paved road. Since this road trip only visits three national parks, you get to spend more time in each park, plus, add on some truly unique experiences that you … But that doesn’t mean it’s any less worth visiting than the other players in the game. Because most people visit the park as part of a larger, Utah national park’s road trip, I’ve put together a straightforward one day itinerary. While I wish I’d spent way more than one day in Capitol Reef, the full Capitol Reef National Park 1 day itinerary below still made me feel like I got to enjoy and see the park. There is no public transportation within Capitol Reef all day, then drive … best time drive... Re wondering how many days to spend two days in Capitol Reef National Park is of. Rare in Capitol Reef Reef: Cassidy Arch is one of the epic Mighty 5 National Parks 9. The canyons, ridges, buttes, and Boulder extra day and go tour Hanksville... In 1971 to preserve the almost 242,000 acres of desert monocline in North America least! 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