This is our favorite Utah park!! We are fortunate to live close (northern part of the state) and get to visit most years.
Two tips:
1.) if you visit in the fall, enjoy the fruit from the u-pick orchards managed by the park service. Plus the colors this time of year are unreal - blue skies, red rock, yellow leaves…
2.) the historic Gifford house sells the most amazing pies - a very special camping breakfast.
Thanks, as always, for the great overview and article.
Thanks Kristi! The northern part of the state is gorgeous. The Ashley National Forest and the UWC are wonders.
1. Had no idea about the u-pick, that would be so fun! What a great family tradition. We visited in the fall and the colors were unreal. Fall foliage in red rock country is underrated.
2. We found out about the pies prior to our last visit but they were sold outttt...... We were devastated :( Something for next time!
I went to Capital Reef in my late twenties. I did a day trip on my mountain bike out to Cathedral Valley. There was a lot of sand on the road which slowed down my progress but the epic view and natural beauty stayed with me for decades. Thanks I enjoyed the article
Sounds like a blast. Cathedral Valley is wonderful to visit. The sand on that road was almost too much for our 4WD rig the last time we were out there! We came in at night from the southern end and our rented Tahoe was not doing too hot. The upper cathedral valley overlook is pretty great too. The campground which only has a few sites was totally full for us which was unfortunate but still a great time. Thanks for sharing Paul.
I still have yet to make it to Capitol Reef NP. I love all the other NPs in Utah. Some
years ago I took a solo trip to the southwest during the offseason and got to experience being one of the only people in Mesa Verde and Chaco Canyon. Even though it was cold and snowy, it was pure bliss for me. Indeed, seek out the less explored places. It’s quite wonderful.
That’s surprising! Time to bump it up on the list. The solo trip sounds really fun. Given my experiences at Mesa Verde I can’t imagine being one of the only ones there - it’s always slammmedd.
Amazing. Absolutely love Capitol Reef and this brought back fantastic memories of my visit there. I absolutely can't wait to go back. This is also prompting me to republish my personal blog from the visit here on SubStack!
Thanks, Alan! It really is such a special place and there's more than enough there to see something new each time. The whole Strike Valley area really impressed me on our last visit. I plan to explore that more in-depth next time. Please share your post about it when it goes live - would love to read/see the photos.
Thank you for such a wonderful newsletter. We did Utah Mighty 5 last Summer and our time in Capitol Reef NP staying at Fruita campground was very special. We missed Kiva Koffeehouse as it was closed but wish I had known about Shooke Coffee. Your article makes me want to go back!
Thanks, Catherine – such a fun trip! Never gets old. I think my second favorite park on the trip is Arches doing some of the lesser visited trails like Tower Arch or even Sand Dune Arch. Then there's the Devils Garden which is busier but doesn't get old. There used to be a pizza place and a cafe the Lucky Rabbit that both closed unfortunately. Torrey must not be the easiest town to turn a profit despite the park visitation.
So glad someone else found it a wonderful NP. We camped in their campground and it was full but didn’t seem crowded. It is still one of our favorites not only for the lack of crowds but the scenery that is so gorgeous.
Thanks Debi! So glad to hear you enjoyed it as well. That’s a great point - the scenery is on point with any of the other Utah parks. Really magical. Lack of crowds is certainly a nice cherry on top ;)
I have an upcoming trip (April 26-May 3) planned for Park City, Utah, which would be our base camp for exploring nearby national parks. I am concerned that Trump, with his wrecking ball aimed at defunding federally subsidized institutions, may next impact national parks. If the NPs cannot hire or retain the staff they need, will the parks close for lack of staffing resources?
Great question, Dietrich, and one that I’m afraid don’t have an exact answer for yet. My guess is that the national parks will not be scathed as badly as the lesser designations (monuments, historic parks, etc). My best guess is that places will be open with less services & safety. For a trip that near term I think you will be OK! But as the summer season closes in things will get dicey for sure.
This is our favorite Utah park!! We are fortunate to live close (northern part of the state) and get to visit most years.
Two tips:
1.) if you visit in the fall, enjoy the fruit from the u-pick orchards managed by the park service. Plus the colors this time of year are unreal - blue skies, red rock, yellow leaves…
2.) the historic Gifford house sells the most amazing pies - a very special camping breakfast.
Thanks, as always, for the great overview and article.
Thanks Kristi! The northern part of the state is gorgeous. The Ashley National Forest and the UWC are wonders.
1. Had no idea about the u-pick, that would be so fun! What a great family tradition. We visited in the fall and the colors were unreal. Fall foliage in red rock country is underrated.
2. We found out about the pies prior to our last visit but they were sold outttt...... We were devastated :( Something for next time!
I went to Capital Reef in my late twenties. I did a day trip on my mountain bike out to Cathedral Valley. There was a lot of sand on the road which slowed down my progress but the epic view and natural beauty stayed with me for decades. Thanks I enjoyed the article
Sounds like a blast. Cathedral Valley is wonderful to visit. The sand on that road was almost too much for our 4WD rig the last time we were out there! We came in at night from the southern end and our rented Tahoe was not doing too hot. The upper cathedral valley overlook is pretty great too. The campground which only has a few sites was totally full for us which was unfortunate but still a great time. Thanks for sharing Paul.
Death Valley in January can give you that same experience as well.
Totally. Or even during high season if you just go beyond the main sites at Stovepipe Wells and Furnace Creek.
I still have yet to make it to Capitol Reef NP. I love all the other NPs in Utah. Some
years ago I took a solo trip to the southwest during the offseason and got to experience being one of the only people in Mesa Verde and Chaco Canyon. Even though it was cold and snowy, it was pure bliss for me. Indeed, seek out the less explored places. It’s quite wonderful.
That’s surprising! Time to bump it up on the list. The solo trip sounds really fun. Given my experiences at Mesa Verde I can’t imagine being one of the only ones there - it’s always slammmedd.
I have an upcoming first-time trip in April. You made it sound wonderful! Thanks for the tips.
Thanks Nadeen! It really is wonderful. The blossoms in the apple orchard should be spectacular when you visit. Should be a blast!
Amazing. Absolutely love Capitol Reef and this brought back fantastic memories of my visit there. I absolutely can't wait to go back. This is also prompting me to republish my personal blog from the visit here on SubStack!
Thanks, Alan! It really is such a special place and there's more than enough there to see something new each time. The whole Strike Valley area really impressed me on our last visit. I plan to explore that more in-depth next time. Please share your post about it when it goes live - would love to read/see the photos.
Thank you for such a wonderful newsletter. We did Utah Mighty 5 last Summer and our time in Capitol Reef NP staying at Fruita campground was very special. We missed Kiva Koffeehouse as it was closed but wish I had known about Shooke Coffee. Your article makes me want to go back!
Thanks, Catherine – such a fun trip! Never gets old. I think my second favorite park on the trip is Arches doing some of the lesser visited trails like Tower Arch or even Sand Dune Arch. Then there's the Devils Garden which is busier but doesn't get old. There used to be a pizza place and a cafe the Lucky Rabbit that both closed unfortunately. Torrey must not be the easiest town to turn a profit despite the park visitation.
So glad someone else found it a wonderful NP. We camped in their campground and it was full but didn’t seem crowded. It is still one of our favorites not only for the lack of crowds but the scenery that is so gorgeous.
Thanks Debi! So glad to hear you enjoyed it as well. That’s a great point - the scenery is on point with any of the other Utah parks. Really magical. Lack of crowds is certainly a nice cherry on top ;)
I have an upcoming trip (April 26-May 3) planned for Park City, Utah, which would be our base camp for exploring nearby national parks. I am concerned that Trump, with his wrecking ball aimed at defunding federally subsidized institutions, may next impact national parks. If the NPs cannot hire or retain the staff they need, will the parks close for lack of staffing resources?
Great question, Dietrich, and one that I’m afraid don’t have an exact answer for yet. My guess is that the national parks will not be scathed as badly as the lesser designations (monuments, historic parks, etc). My best guess is that places will be open with less services & safety. For a trip that near term I think you will be OK! But as the summer season closes in things will get dicey for sure.
Until essays like this and eventually Outside Magazine blow up how “secret” this place is. SMH.
If you find a “secret” spot, keep it quiet, Mother Earth will thank you.
Sorry to report that Capitol Reef now is very crowded, parking lots full, trailhead crowded, and now big staff reductions.