Capitol Reef National Park - Insider's Guide by UtahGuide.com - Know Before You Go

Top Five Things To Know about Capitol Reef National Park
Location: Capitol Reef National Park is located in the central part of the state of Utah, within the United States, and is also the center national park of Utah's Mighty Five national parks. Capitol Reef is dissected by Scenic Highway 24 and is found at the north end of Utah's Scenic Byway 12 which is rated one of America's top scenic roads. The park is situated at elevations ranging from 3,800 to 8,200 feet (1,158 to 2,499 meters).
Geology: Capitol Reef National Park is known for its colorful red and white sandstone formations and cliffs. The area within and surrounding the park is part of what scientists have labelled the famous Waterpocket Fold which is a 100-mile-long monocline, or ripple in the earth's crust, that extends the length of the park and beyond.
Outdoor Activities: Visitors come to the park primarily to view the scenery, take photographs, and to explore the parks hidden recesses and canyons via its many hiking trails. Additional activities enjoyed by travelers are backpacking, camping, rock climbing, and horseback riding. There are over 100 miles (161 kilometers) of hiking trails within the park, that range in difficulty from easy to more strenuous.
Historic Sites: The area surrounding Capitol Reef National Park shows evidence of human habitation that dates back thousands of years. Visitors can explore historic areas such as the remnant homes and orchards of the community of Fruita, which was a pioneer settlement. There are also petroglyphs, easy to access, that have been carved in the rock formations along the Fremont River which parallels Scenic Highway 24.
Scenic Drives: The park has a paved scenic drive that stretches 25 miles south from the visitor center, and offers views of the park's geology and landscapes. The Cathedral Valley Loop, is a remote dirt road that is best accessed by high-clearance, four-wheel-drive vehicles and leads to formations in the northeast edge of Capitol Reef National Park.
Learn more about Capitol Reef National Park on our website - www.utahguide.com/capitol-reef-national-park