Capitol Reef National Park Guide
Capitol Reef National Park is one of my most favorite underrated national parks in the United States. I have visited three times and would still love to go back to explore more!
I would highly recommend visiting Capitol Reef National Park in the Fall. I have visited in October, November, and April and each visit was special in it’s own way but I learned that in the Fall it is not as hot and there is less chance of flash flooding. The canyons are dangerous to hike in during rainy days because they can flood fast so keep an eye on the weather when you plan your trip!
There are a lot of great hikes in Capitol Reef. My favorite hikes are in the canyons. There are large canyon walls with petroglyphs above your head and there are tight canyons with narrow walls above your head where you can see the water has carved out its own path. I highly recommend checking out the water tanks. Water tanks are features in Capitol Reef where water pools up and erodes away the rock leaving a huge tank. In late Fall and in the Winter, these tanks freeze over and are a very unique thing to see!
In the warmer months you will see more snakes, lizards, and scorpions around Capitol Reef. There are many signs of rodents on the trails and if you are lucky, you can see big horn sheep and mule deer in the canyons!
Capitol Reef National Park is canyoneering and climbing paradise. Make sure you know what you are doing, or go with a guide! If you choose to backpack in Capitol Reef, make sure you pack plenty of water as there are very little water sources. There are some free first-come first-serve campsites on the south east side of Capitol Reef off of Burro Wash Road! Don’t forget to look at the sky at night! Capitol Reef was designated an International Dark Sky Park, meaning it is a great place for stargazing!
Camping is the easiest in Capitol Reef due to the BLM land and campsites around the park. However if you want a more luxurious stay, Cabins at Capitol Reef offers beautiful A-frame cabins that can accommodate 8-16 people!
There are so many unique features in the rocks at Capitol Reef National Park. Every time I visit I am so impressed by its beauty and all of the holes in the rocks making it look like a coral reef! Hence the name… Capitol “Reef.” The park is a lot larger than you would expect and offers many opportunities for 4wd off-roading adventures!
There are not many natural water sources to filter from in the park, so make sure you carry plenty for your hike! Side note: some rivers in Capitol Reef have tested positive for E. coli so please be cautious! What is a wag bag? Aka a poop bag. You carry out your waste so it doesn’t end up in the rivers and the bottom of the canyons 🙃
I highly recommend hiking with children at Capitol Reef National Park, and it is a great spot to plan a girls trip!
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