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    Capitol Reef National Park

    4.8 (162 reviews)
    Closed 8:00 am - 4:30 pm

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    Adam L.

    One more national park added to my collection. This was a good one and a park often overlooked by slack jawed visitors to Zion and Bryce canyon. Those are rightly famous and praiseworthy but Capitol Reef has a charm and interest all its own. It takes some effort to get here as its not really close to any big city. I'd suggest that once you get here you spend a few days. The town of Torrey has a fun Western bar and restaurant and there is good food in town. Hiking, views, history, and a geology lesson are highlights of the park for me.

    Nicho S.

    We really enjoyed our drive at Capital Reef National Park. Amazing reefs, beautiful scenery and easy drive. You can easily spend a few days here exploring, hiking, camping and picture taking.

    Jennifer M.

    Geology geeks - REJOICE! Capitol Reef is a truly unique park. It protects and highlights a really weird geological feature of the earth and is quite beautiful as well. The visitors center and restrooms there are fine, they weren't my favorite, but they get the job done. In the visitor's center there is a video explaining how this weird geology happened. They call it a "wrinkle" in the earth's crust. I kind of think of it as a jagged bulge. The park road is marked with stops for you to enjoy. Definiely stop at Gifford House for some fresh baked pies. The cherry was SO GOOD. I tried them all. The mixed berry was also amazing with its crumb crust. There is a nice easy trail there, that goes along a river. Also excellent, the radioactive mines, the petroglyphs, Capitol Gorge, Hickman Bridge.

    Cherry Pie ($8.50) from the Gifford Homestead  09-23-2025
    Alana M.

    Utah has FIVE National Parks and they are all uniquely beautiful! Hubby & I visited on Sept. 23, 2025 (before the Government Shutdown on Oct. 1) and we were able to enter the Visitor Center. We always love looking at the displays and learning. Capitol Reef National Park got its name from two geological features -the Capitol Dome (a white sandstone formation that resembles the U.S. Capitol building) and the Waterpocket Fold (a massive rocky barrier that is described as a "reef" because it's difficult to cross). We drove from Capitol Reef Resort in Torrey, UT towards and through the Capitol Reef National Park on Utah State Route 24. After stopping at the Capitol Reef NP Sign, we saw Twin Rocks, drove to Chimney Rock Trailhead, and then over to Panorama Point & Goosenecks Overlook where we got out and walked up their respective rocky paths. On our way to the Visitor Center, we passed The Fluted Wall & The Castle. The Visitor Center was open and we bought some souvenirs after looking at the exhibits Driving further into the park, there is a point where you need to pay the entrance fee to access parts of the park. Nobody was at the very small entrance. We have a National Park Pass. We took the Scenic Drive next. There's a turnoff for the Grand Wash which is 2.25 miles of dirt road that winds up at a parking lot for the Cassidy Arch Trailhead. Fun Fact: It is named after Butch Cassidy because it is thought that he used this as area as a hideout. After driving to the end of the Grand Wash, we drove back out the same way we came in. Back on the Scenic Drive to see more beauty! You will pass the Slickrock Divide, Egyptian Temple, get views of the Golden Throne (a 7,041-foot mountain dome made of a gold color stained Navajo Sandstone), and end up at the Capitol Gorge Road Picnic Shelter where the road becomes Capitol Gorge Road. It will take you to a super small parking lot for the Capitol Gorge Trailhead. Again, you have to retrace your tracks and use the same route you came in! It's time for some pie! We stopped in the Gifford House Museum & Store. The line was long, but moved quickly. We bought two pies ($8.36 each) with two scoops of ice cream in cups ($1.86 each). I took a quick look at the one room with artifacts. Nearby are orchards. We stopped by to see the Chinese Wisteria planted in the early 1900 by settlers. It's a historic vine that people played on and has seen better days. They're trying to rehabilitate it back to health. We also stopped to take a few pictures of the Schoolhouse & Behunin Cabin. You can peek in the windows and see the interiors decorated as it would be back in the day. The last stop was to see the Petroglyph Panels. Thanks to other onlookers, we were able to spot the etchings. We were looking too high up! There are binoculars on the deck you can use to help see them. We did not go in the Ripple Rock Nature Center nor Blacksmith Shop. It was a nice day to enjoy the park and soak up the beauty that lies within it!

    Visitor Center
    Victor M.

    Really enjoyed this National Park because even on the Memorial Day week I didn't see crowds like in other National Parks. We went hiking all the way to the narrows and coming back up was a little harder and the heat made it even more challenging, nevertheless it was an experience that we didn't get anywhere else specially knowing that mountain lions roam this Park but of course that is at night and not in the heat of the day that is when they sleep but you never know where they might be napping It was difficult to write a review on the same day due to lack of connectivity but I still feel like it was yesterday and will feel like that for a long time. The big five are unforgettable

    Jessy M.

    Beautiful park and so much to do and see. We took our 4x4 on some off road trails to explore more, had yummy pie at the Gifford Pie House (at noon when done and leaving it was already closed), we did the Hickman Bridge hike and that was a cool arch. The Bentonite Hills was fun to drive out to as well, and this is why we drove our high clearance 4x4 from Oregon, worth it.

    Joyce T.

    They setup a small table in front of the entrance sign, easy for us to take selfie, so considerate. It's a small NP, scenic drive is closed in this NP, but the driving from Moab to this NP is already a great scenic drive. Petroglyphs Panels - can you see antelope on the left and people on the right?

    Heather G.

    Wow what a beautiful place, we enjoyed driving through the park and stopping along the way. The petroglyphs are so interesting.

    Hannah S.

    Utah has some of the most incredible national parks and Capital Reef is definitely one of them!! Dramatic rock formations in all colors, wildlife, arches, natural bridges, gorgeous picnic spots - totally worth a visit! We saw a huge family of deer and even a Kangaroo Rat!! Capital Reef is home to a 65 million year old warp in the Earth's crust called the Waterpocket Fold - which makes for some very interesting and remarkable geological wonders! And it's also the historical home of the ancient Fremont and Paiute Native American peoples, as well as early Mormon settlers. So you'll see historic buildings and lots of petroglyphs! I read that this park is not as busy as most - but we visited the day before the Annular Solar Eclipse and it was absolutely packed lol. So much so that we decided to leave our car at our picnic spot and just hike to the visitor center due to lack of parking lol. We started at the Fruita campground picnic area and there's a nice little trail that takes you all the way to the visitor center - 2 miles total there and back and flat - so it's an easy trail with gorgeous views!! After that we did the scenic drive and stopped to see the petroglyphs which were just awesome!! Then we finished our visit with the Hickman Bridge hike and that was definitely the highlight (see my separate review for this trail)!! The roads and trails are all very well maintained. I never had signal in the park but did have WiFi at the visitor center. I recommend to download any trail maps or anything else you need before visiting bc it's pretty remote. There are ample bathrooms around the park and at all the trailheads. I'm not sure how much it costs to enter - I never saw a pay station and we have national park passes that we just hung from our car mirror - those are $80 for the year and well worth it!

    Jonathan R.

    Capitol Reef is a gem of a national park. Not just Capitol Reef but also the BLM and National Monument land around it is all first rate. And you know what, it's largely empty! If you know where to go. You can check out my detailed guide at www.wanderin2wonder.com/capitol-reef for more information. We had a good time in Capitol Reef in the central core by the visitor's center, but we had a fabulous time exploring the far reaches of the park (and the surrounding BLM land) in the Bentonite Hills, Looping the Fold, driving Scenic Byway 12, and exploring slot canyons. And we were pretty much all alone. What Capitol Reef lacks in hoodoos and arches it more than makes up for in variety, peace and stillness.

    Pioneer Register
    Alyssa A.

    This is our fourth park of Utah's big five (Canyonlands being our last missing park), and we greatly enjoyed our time at Capitol Reef. The park is beautiful with many wonderful views and deserves a good two days if you want to take part in many the great hikes it has to offer. Hickman Bridge is a great hike (probably about 3 hours in total if you take your time) that shows you both wonderful land formations (the bridge) as well as beautiful views of the park as a whole. We also enjoyed Chimney Rock Trail. Definitely strenuous at the beginning, we weren't able to do the whole hike due to time constraints, but just the portion we did also had beautiful views of the park. Wish we would've had time to do the whole thing. They have a wonderful scenic drive that begins just past the visitor's center that will get you some gorgeous views of the park. Capitol Gorge is at the end, and I highly recommend driving the dirt path to the trailhead - it's a great drive. If it's open, you also have to stop by the Gifford Homestead to get yourself some pie. This pie is fantastic, and such a random but pleasant find in a national park. They also have cinnamon rolls that are pretty good if pie isn't your thing. This park was fun and had some beautiful views. In comparison to the other Utah parks I've been to (Zion, Bryce, Arches), this one seems more out of the way than the others, and, while beautiful, doesn't have quite the magnificence the others have. Still a wonderful park, and I enjoyed my time here. 100% worth a good visit and you'll have a great time, but it's not one of the ones I would choose to return to a second time.

    Paige T.

    Super underrated park- after spending the last two Labor Day weekends here, it's one of my favorite places in Utah. Capitol Reef is uncrowded, relaxed, and slow-paced. It is seemingly ignored by many, in favor of the more famous Utah parks. I love Zion and Bryce, and Capitol Reef does match up with them (in a quieter way). There are hiking trails for all levels and lengths. Since you're in the desert, bring more water than you need and be mindful of the hottest point of the day. Cassidy Arch is stunning but not recommended for those with a fear of heights. The Grand Wash and Hickman Bridge are easy for most. Once you get past the beginning switchbacks, Cohab Canyon to Fruita Overlook is phenomenal- slot canyons, gorgeous rock formations, and views for days. Definitely stop at the Gifford House for pies in the morning- you won't regret it!

    03.14.23
    Harlee S.

    Only had time for one national park before heading back home, so we chose Capitol Reef National Park. Didn't get to do much hiking, but we did pass through the scenic drive and highway 24, which offers a lot of views. Along the scenic drive is historic Fruita, which is a cute spot for a picnic and getting to know the districts history. At the end of the winding drive is one of the coolest dirt roads. Capitol Gorge Road is a must-see. It's a four-wheel drive dirt road and offers spectacular, up close views of the rocks. Highway 24 offers a lot of roadside views and overlook stops. Two of my favorites were Panorama Point and Goosenecks Overlook. One thing that needs improving, though, is signage. We literally had to slam on our breaks multiple times because the pullouts were hidden and had no signs indicating that there was a stop ahead. All in all, a great park with lots to see and do!

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    Beautiful park! Great views of the gorgeous canyons. This national park was pretty epic!

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    Capitol Reef National Park Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Capitol Reef National Park

    Place to stay?

    I stayed at Capitol Reef Resort. It was fine.

    Is the park fairly and crowded right now? Are people following covid 19 guidelines? Curious so we can appropriately plan!

    When I was in Capitol Reef National Park in late June of this year,it was not crowded.There were not any reported cases of Covid 19 in Wayne County Utah to my knowledge.at that time..The situation may have changed.In late June and early July,Zion… Read more

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    Review Highlights - Capitol Reef National Park

    As a plus, it was never crowded, even on the more popular day hike locations (I'm looking at you, Hickman Bridge).

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    Goosenecks Overlook - Instagram: @telephonesmoothie

    Goosenecks Overlook

    5.0(3 reviews)
    2.9 mi

    Such a dope vista point! The Goosenecks Overlook is located just a couple miles before you reach…read morethe Capitol Reef National Park Visitor's Center. Goosenecks Canyon is filled with limestone and sandstone dating back to over 270 million years old! You will have a clear view of the millions of years of erosion right from this viewpoint. The canyon is about 800 feet deep and Sulphur Creek runs along the bottom. It's almost like a mini Grand Canyon. In fact, some of the oldest rock layers of this canyon are the same rock layers that you'll find within the Grand Canyon (Kaibab Limestone). You'll have to drive a short distance up a rough and unpaved road to get here, but it's absolutely worth it for the views. From the parking lot, it's a short little hike up to the actual vista point. There's lot of room to roam around and explore the areas beyond the vista point. You'll be presented with stunning views with each and every turn. 360 degrees of pure bliss right before your eyes. If you're planning a trip to Capitol Reef National Park, this is an excellent place to stop on your way into and out of the park.

    7-21-21 Gravel road to the right of panorama can very bumpy…read morebut our little Nissan made it when we drove slowly. Dead ends with a 600foot uphill/rock to beautiful views. Unfortunately this was our only stop in the park on our way to Salt Lake. Gorgeous views but no shade.

    Photos
    Goosenecks Overlook - Instagram: @telephonesmoothie

    Instagram: @telephonesmoothie

    Goosenecks Overlook - Instagram: @telephonesmoothie

    Instagram: @telephonesmoothie

    Goosenecks Overlook - Instagram: @telephonesmoothie

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    Instagram: @telephonesmoothie

    Capitol Gorge - Pioneer Register

    Capitol Gorge

    4.8(4 reviews)
    6.7 mi

    Found at the end of the Scenic Drive, Capitol Gorge begins with a dirt road that weaves through the…read morebeautiful rocks and mountains of Capitol Reef. While the scenic drive in and of itself was wonderful, this dirt road to the Capitol Gorge trailheads had that beat. We drove this in a compact car without any issue, just make sure to take it slow as there are some tight, blind turns on this two-way road. If it's busy, parking can be a bit difficult at the end of the road to hike the trails. We came to hike to The Tanks, and the trail to the beginning of the The Tanks portion is super easy. You'll get to see some petroglyphs as well as the Pioneer Register - which is a cool section of rocks with signatures dating back 100+ years. There's plenty of shade in this area as you're walking between two mountain walls, and it can get pretty windy. I'd recommend bringing a jacket for this area if you're going on cooler days. The actual The Tanks hike we had planned to do was super disappointing. This 0.2 miles add-on is probably considered a moderate hike. While it had nice views, there was nothing special about the views, and you would be better off spending your time at another one of the better hikes in Capitol Reef. The other part of the Capitol Gorge Trail I previously discussed is worth it, just not the additional hike to The Tanks.

    This is the wondrous Capitol Gorge area of Capitol Reef National Park at the end of the paved road…read moreportion of the Scenic Drive. This Capitol Gorge is fantastic for grasping the true essence of what makes Capitol Reef NP so special. The red rocks and canyon cliffs are simply stunning! I was visiting here in late July 2021 and unfortunately the overcast skies did darken the scenic setting somewhat, but I was still able to capture some beautiful examples of vintage Utah scenery. I'd put the Scenic Drive to arrive at this Capitol Gorge along with hiking Chimney Rock Trail as 2 of the best activities I did while exploring the park. The Scenic Drive starts right beside the Visitor Center and runs for 10 miles each way into the heart of the Capitol Reef landscape. Along the drive there'll be plenty of opportunities to pull your car off to the side, get out and snap amazing picture moments including standing at Capitol Gorge. Also of note...the Scenic Drive runs on paved road for about the first 7 - 8 miles and the last 2 - 3 miles are set on dirt/gravel road. Unfortunately, I had a compact car with me and didn't want to chance driving on the rough road in this remote part of the country. So...after stopping here at Capitol Gorge, I turned around and headed back the 7 - 8 miles towards the Visitor Center. It is a $20 fee to drive the Scenic Road, otherwise to enter and do anything within Capitol Reef it's absolutely free! You pay an attendant during normal business hours that they're open but when the Visitor Center closes, they use the "honor system" and ask you to drop the $20 into a box as proof of payment. Btw, the Visitor Center is great for buying souvenirs and picking up a park pamphlet and map of all the trails. I highly recommend stopping at the VC for any questions you may have and general advice about exploring around. Lastly, while in this Capitol Gorge area...I'd suggest hiking the Grand Wash Trail as well as the Rim Overlook Trail for 2 different, yet unique perspectives for appreciating Capitol Reef from high above and also down below in between the rugged canyon walls. Alright well, this is the Capitol Gorge section of Capitol Reef National Park!

    Photos
    Capitol Gorge - Enjoying the Capitol Gorge setting.

    Enjoying the Capitol Gorge setting.

    Capitol Gorge - GMonkey do: Tanks Trail Oct 2020

    GMonkey do: Tanks Trail Oct 2020

    Capitol Gorge - The cliff-faced walls hover all around you here at Capitol Gorge.

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    The cliff-faced walls hover all around you here at Capitol Gorge.

    Chimney Rock Trail - Chimney Rock  09-23-2025

    Chimney Rock Trail

    5.0(3 reviews)
    3.7 mi

    Definitely a strenuous hike on the way up, but totally do-able and worth it for the views. We were…read moreon a time crunch, so we didn't do the full hike - we just hiked up to chimney rock and back down instead of doing the full loop. So I imagine if you did the full loop the views would have been even more beautiful, but even the modified hike we did was amazing. Whenever I looked up hikes for Capitol Reef, this one was often overlooked, but after experiencing it, I feel it's one that should be included much more often. We did read in a couple places that this was good for sunset - we didn't get that chance, but I imagine it would be beautiful. Trail was not crowded at all, but there is little shade cover so be prepared with plenty of water and a hat.

    I am very excited to talk about Chimney Rock Trail!!! Alright, I have been on hikes throughout the…read moreUnited States within all sorts of national parks, etc...but, I need to urge everyone who visit Capitol Reef...it is imperative for you to hike this Chimney Rock Trail! I am serious. Although I don't have an official ranking system, I'd place this hike at least within my Top 10 - 15 BEST HIKES OF ALL TIME! Everything about being here was simply epic. If you want to immerse yourself and understand the true power of what makes the state of Utah so famous for its colorful landscape terrains, then hiking Chimney Rock Trail will give you everything you could possibly ask for! Besides Angels Landing at Zion or the Queens Garden/Navajo Loop at Bryce...I'd then put Chimney Rock just behind them. It's a MUST SEE AND DO while here at Capitol Reef! Alright, enough gushing let me just go into details and what makes Chimney Rock special... Chimney Rock Trail is a very accessible and convenient 3.5 mile loop gaining almost 600 feet in elevation. I believe 3.5 miles is ideal in distance...not too long and not too short. Then, the maybe 580 feet in elevation is also perfect. It's not really difficult whatsoever but at the same making it to the plateau area along Chimney Rock instantly provides you with stunning views of the Capitol Reef landscape. Basically, you don't have to work hard along the hike. You're not huffing and puffing. It's extremely manageable. While reading the park pamphlet and hiking guide about Capitol Reef...it mentioned that coming here to Chimney Rock was worthwhile for hiking in late afternoon and during sunset time. I couldn't agree more with that! When I arrived, the sun was at my back which allowed for very clear photo taking opportunities of the grand setting from high above. Plus, when I was here back in late July of this year, 2021, the daytime temperatures were brutal ranging in the mid to upper 90's. Having the chance to hike here when things cooled down made a huge difference. Btw, I'd also like to point out the trailhead. Finding the start to Chimney Rock was very simple. It's located right off Highway 24 (the main road that cuts through the heart of Capitol Reef) as you're heading west from Torrey, UT going east. When I arrived in late afternoon the parking lot was empty and quiet. I was surprised by this because it specifically stated Chimney Rock was appropriate for hiking during sunsets. Good thing, better off in my opinion not having other tourists around. And, that was also another terrific aspect about exploring Chimney Rock. I was virtually the only hiker here! I had the entire trail to myself. I was grateful for this as it just allowed me to collect my thoughts and feel totally separated from reality. Before I give my interpretation of what Chimney Rock is all about...I'll just take a little highlighted piece from a page I found at americansouthwest.net/utah/capitol_reef/chimney-rock-trail.html... "Chimney Rock Trail is perhaps the best short path in the national park, as it is relatively short, not too steep, provides the shortest hike to a high elevation viewpoint, and passes varied surroundings; besides Chimney Rock itself, an eroded pillar of red sandstone, the trail encounters colorful badlands, tall cliffs, and the mouth of a narrow canyon." I really liked this introduction/description. Along the 3.5 miles...I couldn't stop taking pictures. Each curve I passed, each winding turn I crossed, each climb or descent I made...was another humbling chance for picture moments. I couldn't stop, like an addicted kid at a candy store, lol. Over the course of the hike it covered every nook and cranny within Capitol Reef Park you could ask for. Granted, I did the 8 mile Scenic Drive, I hiked other trails, I ventured all around... But coming here and along Chimney Rock I felt like I had found my calling, like I discovered true fulfilment and better understood why Capitol Reef is part of Utah's "Mighty 5". I'll admit, I had moments where I felt tears of joy because here I was standing high above the ground looking down upon glorious Capitol Reef, feeling like I'm a small piece in the big scheme of history. Having infinite time made me feel like I had paused all my worries and troubles and was living in a "dreamland of sandstone cliffs, badlands, multicolored boulders and vertical walls!" And eventually the pathway leads back down to the flat base section but you're still afforded more stunning mounds of colored shades of purple, red and brown. Every step along the way felt like a new adventure. I can't say enough good things about here along Chimney Rock Trail. And because I was so infatuated with the hike, I used every last bit of fading sun to enjoy my time. I probably stayed along the trail for at least 3+ hours until it was pitch dark out before returning back to the parking lot. Lastly, that's it. Can't say anymore. Chimney Rock Trail, memories that will live with me forever.

    Photos
    Chimney Rock Trail - Information Sign  09-23-2025

    Information Sign 09-23-2025

    Chimney Rock Trail - Information  09-23-2025

    Information 09-23-2025

    Chimney Rock Trail

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    Goblin Valley State Park

    Goblin Valley State Park

    4.8(72 reviews)
    35.5 mi

    We took this as a side trip and we really should have given this more time. If you are thinking of…read morecoming here, I recommend looking at all the activities offered to see how much is here to do so you won't feel as though you missed out on some of what makes this park FUN! As for us, we ran around the valley, played hide and seek, marveled at how these "goblins" were made and just had a great adventure with the time we had.

    A triumph of both western topography and federalism. This is one of those awesome parks that would…read morein some ways be less special if it were "upgraded" to a national park. It's great the way it is. Just a few notes: -- the campsite is just amazing; you are nestled in among caves and washes, and your kids can merrily wander off "to the kids cave" or climb up onto a crest and watch the sunset or the rhythm of the campsite. They do have a shared bathroom with running water, which keeps the place just civilized enough for moderately experienced car campers. -- at the same time, this place is really remote. If you realize at campside that your propane stove doesn't work, you would have to drive an hour each way to Green River to get more. Instead, you will just have to figure out how to boil coffee and macaroni and cheese over a campfire. -- the stars. The city lights are far far far away, and the desert sky is clear, so you can see so so many stars. And if you sit and stare at them you see more. The only place I have ever seen so many stars in my life is standing on the side of the road outside Marfa, TX. -- two decades ago this was one of the first camping trips of my life, and it remains a special place in my heart.

    Photos
    Goblin Valley State Park
    Goblin Valley State Park - Close up of the Three Sisters.

    Close up of the Three Sisters.

    Goblin Valley State Park - The start of Valley 1. Valley of the Goblins basin has 3 total sections for you to explore however you want.

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    The start of Valley 1. Valley of the Goblins basin has 3 total sections for you to explore however you want.

    Capitol Reef National Park - parks - Updated May 2026

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