One Day in Capitol Reef National Park
If there’s one thing you should know about me (other than all the other things, like that I love potatoes, cats, weather, and college gymnastics 🤣), I love national parks. I studied geosciences in college, so I consider myself a fan of rocks, and many of the national parks (especially in the western U.S.) are filled with beautiful rocks. I also love planning road trips revolving around national parks. In recent years, we visited Grand Teton and Yellowstone (twice) as well as a bunch of parks in the Moab area and southern Colorado.
Back in mid-March, Korri and I set off on yet another trip: a week spent in southern Utah visiting the three national parks we hadn’t been to (we’ve now been to all of the Mighty 5!) before heading to Cedar City for Boise State gymnastics’ conference championship. Our first stop was at Capitol Reef National Park located in south-central Utah, about an 8 hour drive from Boise.
We spent one full day exploring the park and briefly stopped again the next day before driving south to the next park. There are so many hikes and other things to do in Capitol Reef that it’s hard to get through them all in one day (we have a list of hikes for next time), but we made a good dent! It was absolutely BEAUTIFUL, and I highly recommend checking out this park. The photos just do not do it justice; you need to see it in person!
Below, you’ll find a list of hikes I recommend (hikes we did in one day plus one I want to do next time), other things to do and see that don’t involve hiking, where to eat near Capitol Reef, and where to stay (including the closest towns to Capitol Reef). Let’s dive in!
READ NEXT: What to Do in Capitol Reef National Park
One Day in Capitol Reef National Park
Quick Facts about Capitol Reef
Most Accessible Area of Capitol Reef
The area of Capitol Reef that is most accessible is the Fruita Historic District. This is the area that you can get to from the main highway (S.R. 24), and all of the spots I mention (plus tons that I don’t mention) are in this area of the park. The Waterpocket District is located to the south of the Fruita Historic District and is more remote and difficult to access, though there is a driving route around the southern end of the Waterpocket Fold if you have a few hours to kill. The Cathedral Valley District is the northern section of the park and is also more remote.
Best Time to Visit Capitol Reef
In general, the best times to visit all of the Utah national parks, including Capitol Reef, is in the shoulder seasons: spring and fall. All of the Utah parks are located in southern Utah and are generally more accessible year-round than areas in the northern part of the state. Summer can be extremely hot, and if the monsoon is active (generally in the summer), flash flooding is something to be aware of. Capitol Reef does get snow but it was not snowy at all when we were there in mid-March (especially compared to Bryce Canyon, which was covered in snow). The base elevation is about 4,000 feet. Spring is a great time of year because it’s not yet hot, and it’s also not the super busy season, but fall is another good time to visit. Capitol Reef is not as busy as some of the other parks but is definitely worth adding to your itinerary!
Capitol Reef Entrance Fee
An entrance fee is collected at the start of the Scenic Drive south of the Fruita Campground: $10 per person (pedestrian or bicyclist), $15 per motorcycle, or $20 per private vehicle. Note that there is no entrance gate like at other parks. Be honest and pay if you do not have a pass (I highly recommend the America the Beautiful Interagency Annual Pass for $80 if you plan to visit other parks; you can purchase one at the visitor center gift shop).
Where to Hike in Capitol Reef
Chimney Rock | 3.6 mile loop (strenuous)
When entering Capitol Reef from the west on S.R. 24, one of the first hikes (if not the first hike) you’ll come across is Chimney Rock (this hike connects to the Rim Overlook). Korri and I decided to go up just short of a mile just to see the view of Chimney Rock and the landscape below from the top of the rim before turning around and heading back to the car. It’s a steep elevation gain to the top of the rim. The parking area is small and located right off the highway so I recommend this hike earlier or later in the day. The view at sunset would be amazing!
Hickman Bridge | 1.8 miles round-trip (moderate)
This ended up being my favorite hike of the three we did, mostly because it’s not too long. I love a good round-trip hike that’s less than two miles! Haha. The hike starts right along the bottom of the cliff next to the river; there’s a sign that tells you not to stop because of the possibility of rock fall. It’s a short but steep hike to the rim, and eventually you’ll make it to the Hickman Natural Bridge! We had it all to ourselves in the early evening, and it was fantastic if not a little spooky. You’re able to walk right up under it. Be sure to follow the sign that indicates which direction to go when you get to the loop. As we were leaving the parking lot, I saw someone starting this hike in flip flops…please wear real hiking sneakers or boots, especially on this trail since there are a lot of rocks and it’s not an easy hike! You don’t want to get injured here.
Grand Wash | 4.4 miles round-trip (easy)
We had some time to squeeze in one more hike before it got dark, so we stopped at the north side of the Grand Wash trailhead and hiked (walked, really) to The Narrows before turning around and heading back. This hike was recommended by one of Korri’s friends and it was a great easy hike to end the day on. You walk next to extremely high cliff faces, and it’s even more impressive when you get to The Narrows (though it’s not as narrow as your typical slot canyon, and you also don’t walk through water as there isn’t a river running through it).
Cassidy Arch | 3.4 miles round-trip (strenuous)
We didn’t have time for this hike, but it’s on my list for next time! The Cassidy Arch trailhead starts near the southern end of the Grand Wash and takes you right along the rim with expansive views of the landscape below. The hike ends at a natural arch that you can stand on top of (but be safe)!
Other Things to Do and See in Capitol Reef
Panorama Point
This was the second stop we made on our drive into the park. We love a good view! And when it’s clear, you can see the mountains to the east of the park that separate it from Canyonlands. There’s a short, easy walk involved or you can see pretty much the same view from your car. You can also take Goosenecks Road (gravel/dirt) down to Sunset Point Trail and Goosenecks Overlook Trail for more canyon views. We didn’t do this but plan to next time.
Geology Talk
We made time to attend the Geology Talk hosted by a park ranger at the Fruita Campground amphitheater. The 30-minute presentations occur every day starting at 3 pm, and we learned a lot about the geologic history of the area (the big Waterpocket Fold that spans the length of the park is what it sounds like: a giant fold in Earth’s crust) and the history of the park itself (like how it was settled and named by the Mormons…seriously, why are all the Utah parks named by Mormons?!). I recommend attending one if you can! It’s fascinating how basically all the Mighty 5 parks are from the same geologic formations yet all look so different. All of southern Utah could be one giant park.
Fremont River
After the Geology Talk, Korri and I walked along the Fremont River a little ways and spotted a herd of deer. There were even a couple that walked in front of us to go drink from the river! They didn’t seem to be all that scared of us, and we even watched one deer walk right into a campsite where a family was eating. Be sure not to feed the wildlife! The Freemont River Trail follows the river for quite a ways and eventually ends up on top of a rim.
Scenic Drive
Even though the Scenic Drive is beyond the entrance “gate” (it’s not really a gate, but you still need to pay), it’s definitely worth the drive. The views are absolutely stunning! The road is paved but very narrow, so don’t stop along the road unless you find a pullout. There are also multiple spots where water runs over the road during flash floods. Pay attention to the weather and avoid driving through water running over the roadway. We drove down to the end at Capitol Gorge; there was a pretty good shower when we were there that dampened the dirt road leading into the gorge. The road goes back quite a ways to the Capitol Gorge Trailhead and follows steep cliffsides. Scenic Drive is also how you access the southern end of the Grand Wash and the Cassidy Arch trailhead if you don’t want to walk all the way from the northern end.
Petroglyph Panels
Walk along a couple of boardwalks to view the Fremont Culture petroglyphs, located just off of S.R. 24. You might have to look more closely to spot them at certain times of day, as some of them have developed a patina. But they are there!
Fruita Schoolhouse
Speaking of Mormons, many years ago they settled in a community called Fruita in Capitol Reef that doesn’t exist anymore, and there are still some buildings remaining, including the one-room schoolhouse that is accessible from S.R. 24. You can peer inside and see how it would be set up, with the desks surrounding a stove in the middle of the room.
Fruita Orchards
There wasn’t much happening at the orchards in mid-March (the trees looked sad if you ask me), but it’s worth checking them out more when they’re in season! You can even pick fruit from the trees at certain times of year (look for the “U pick” signs and be sure to pay).
Gifford Homestead
We didn’t have time to stop at the Gifford Homestead, which features a museum and shop, but would love to stop here next time! It didn’t open until March 14th—Pi Day—and we were there on the 13th. Stop by for fresh pies, and they may also have cinnamon rolls; we were told that on opening day (Pi Day) they would have pies for $3.14 each while supplies last as well as cinnamon rolls but I’m not sure if they always have cinnamon rolls or if that was a special thing. The pies and cinnamon rolls are made at the Broken Spur in Torrey so you can try stopping there if you miss the homestead.
Where to Eat Near Capitol Reef
Chak Balam Mexican Restaurant (Torrey)
Chak Balam came highly recommended by Korri’s friend, and it ended up being one of the only places open in mid-March and open later in the evening. (Turns out mid-March is still early season for this area, so a lot of places were not yet open.) I ate what was basically loaded fries (nachos, but with fries instead of chips). Korri said his fajitas were the best he’s ever had, and our margaritas were also delicious. Be sure to ask for Vincent as your waiter; he successfully upsold the nicer tequila to Korri and has a dream of going to culinary school!
Sweetgrass Coffee House (Bicknell)
We stayed right down the street from this highly-rated coffeehouse, and we stopped by both mornings of our trip for drinks. It really felt like a place where people in town came to gather and chat with each other. We overheard someone chatting about their trip to Florida; they were heading up to Salt Lake City to fly out. It just felt very homey! There are places to sit and you can also browse their shop with lots of handmade home goods and jewelry. And be sure to get the cinnamon roll—IT’S INCREDIBLE!!!
SunGlow Family Restaurant (Bicknell)
Since we stayed at the motel that is attached to the restaurant (more on that below), we stopped by for a quick bite in the morning before heading out to our next stop. Pies seem to be a thing in this area, and they offer a ton of pies. I got a small banana cream pie. It was sooo sweet but yummy! Korri got a burger and fries. They also offer authentic Russian and Armenian cuisine on their dinner menu.
Where to Stay Near Capitol Reef
Torrey
Torrey is the town closest to Capitol Reef National Park, about a 10-20 minute drive away depending on where you are in town. The only lodging inside the park (if you can call it that) is a campground, so most folks end up staying outside the park. The only places you’ll find are locally-owned boutique hotels and bed and breakfasts, including Capitol Reef Resort, Rim Rock Inn, Noor Hotel, Broken Spur Inn, SkyRidge Inn B&B, Torrey Pines B&B, The Cabins at Capitol Reef, Red Sands Hotel and Spa, Torrey Schoolhouse B&B (not open when we visited), Chuck Wagon Lodge, and Motel Torrey.
Bicknell
Bicknell is the next closest town to Capitol Reef; it’s about 10 minutes west of Torrey along S.R. 24. This is where Korri and I ended up staying because it was less expensive than staying in Torrey. We stayed at the SunGlow Motel (the motel and restaurant are owned by the same family). It appeared to be pretty newly renovated, and it was super quiet when we were there; I think there were only a couple of other rooms occupied. We had a mini fridge in our room, which is a necessity during road trips because we bring a cooler.