Skip to Content

Slot canyons, arches and bridges, tall pillars, domes and cliffs sweep across the vast desert landscape of Capitol Reef National Park, its colors ever-changing as the sun arches its way across the sky.

Protecting the so-called Waterpocket Fold in south-central Utah, a 100-mile monocline and the park’s main geological feature, Capitol Reef is a huge park.

Many of the main attractions are scattered around Fruita, a historic Mormon village in the heart of the park. Route 24 passes right by this historic area, making Capitol Reef National Park exceptionally easy to visit.

Capitol Reef National Park Fruit Blossom & Harvest Calendar 2024

From spring through fall, visiting the historic orchards in Fruita is one of the highlights of Capitol Reef National Park, Utah. While spring brings beautiful blossoms, summer and fall offer fun fruit picking in the Capitol Reef orchards. This handy blossoms and fruit harvest calendar might help you plan your trip.

Read More about Capitol Reef National Park Fruit Blossom & Harvest Calendar 2024

16 Best U.S. National Parks for Stargazing

Preserving some of America’s last remaining pristine night skies, many national parks offer amazing stargazing and Milky Way viewing opportunities. From Mesa Verde and Death Valley to Glacier and Voyageurs, these national parks have the most spectacular star-peppered night skies. “Half the park is after dark!”

Read More about 16 Best U.S. National Parks for Stargazing

13 Spectacular National Parks & Monuments Near Salt Lake City

From the five Utah national parks in the south to Rocky Mountain parks like Grand Teton and Yellowstone to the north, Salt Lake City is less than five hours from several epic parks. So, pack your camping and hiking gear, rent a car and go for a once-in-a-lifetime national parks road trip from Salt Lake City.

Read More about 13 Spectacular National Parks & Monuments Near Salt Lake City

Best USA National Parks to Visit in Spring

When many parts of America are still dusted with snow and suffer from below-freezing temperatures, others begin waking up after a long winter’s rest. Spring brings with it pleasant temperatures, roaring waterfalls and unique wildlife sightings, often including baby animals frolicking in spectacular landscapes.

Read More about Best USA National Parks to Visit in Spring

The Ultimate Road Trip to Utah’s “Mighty 5” National Parks

Many scenic highways and byways crisscross the American West, linking some of the world’s greatest national parks. A classic example of a road trip state is Utah, home to five spectacular national parks. Lined up across the southern part of the state, this quintet of Utah national parks is known as the “Mighty 5.”

Read More about The Ultimate Road Trip to Utah’s “Mighty 5” National Parks

What to Do in Capitol Reef National Park, Utah

Capitol Reef is a great place to get away from the crowds that overrun other nearby parks like Zion, Bryce Canyon and Grand Canyon. It offers you the chance to enjoy wonderful desert scenery in solitude, go on hikes without running into hundreds of other hikers, and to explore both Native American and Mormon pioneering sites.

Read More about What to Do in Capitol Reef National Park, Utah

Top 12 Most Photogenic Buildings in National Parks

With their mesmerizing natural beauty and abundant wildlife, America’s national parks aren’t exactly the dream destinations of architecture lovers. At least, that’s what they think. The truth is that you can find gorgeous and photogenic buildings in national parks all over the U.S.

Read More about Top 12 Most Photogenic Buildings in National Parks

My Favorite Short Hikes in Capitol Reef National Park, Utah

Wiping the sweat off your forehead, you try to catch your breath as you gaze across a landscape dominated by red rocks and sandstone hills. Towering rock pillars and enormous domes fill the view, interspersed by wide valleys and, here and there, a hardy desert bush. Your chest still heaving up and down after a short but steep climb to the overlook, you sit down and take a well-deserved sip from your water bottle.

Read More about My Favorite Short Hikes in Capitol Reef National Park, Utah