Last spring we spent time in Moab, Utah, so we could explore Canyonlands National Park and Arches National Park. We decided to check out the remaining national parks in Utah this spring via a two-week road trip to explore Capitol Reef, Bryce Canyon, and Zion, beginning with the former.

When to Visit Capitol Reef National Park

We really enjoy visiting national parks in the off-season, especially those in warmer areas where the summer heat can be as exhausting as the unseemly number of people also seeking some time in the outdoors.

February was an ideal time to visit Capitol Reef National Park. It was easy to access the visitor center, where we checked in, enjoyed the park film, and talked to the ranger about our hiking options. There were very few people on the trails, and we had no trouble finding parking at any of the trailheads. It was cool and dry for most of our hikes, although quite windy on our final day, which did abbreviate our time at the overlooks.

What to Do in Capitol Reef National Park

I allocated two days for our visit. We spent the first exploring the visitor center, driving the 8 mile / 12.8 km scenic drive, and hiking several trails. We spent our second day driving Utah’s beautiful Route 12 Scenic Byway, which runs along Capitol Reef National Park and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, taking in the panoramic overlooks and hiking in the national monument.

Scenic Drive

One of my favorite experiences at Capitol Reef was the scenic drive, which winds through the Waterpocket Fold among the towering red rocks until the turnaround point at Capitol Gorge.

The experience brought to mind driving through Monument Valley, but while those rocks are spread apart, the ones we followed through Capitol Reef were in large fins that created a labyrinth of stone around our vehicle.

I was glad Brian was driving that morning so I could lean my head out the window and look up at the walls all around us as we made our way to the unpaved section at the end where we parked and hiked.

Hiking Trails

We hiked in several areas near the park’s Fruita Historic District, including:

Capitol Gorge Trail. The 2 mile / 3.2 km Capitol Gorge trail has almost no gain and runs through a canyon with historic inscriptions on its walls. We opted to do the short climb to the “tanks,” or waterpockets, one of which did in fact hold water.

Hickman Bridge Trail. The 2 mile / 3.2 km Hickman Bridge is a popular trail that climbs about 400 feet / 122 meters before it loops under a 133-foot / 41-meter natural bridge, with stunning canyon views along the way.

Petroglyph Panel Trail. The short Petroglyph Panel boardwalk goes to several different viewpoints of the petroglyphs still clearly marked along the red rocks.

If we’d had more time and it had been less windy, I would have loved to have hiked the Rim Overlook and the Chimney Rock trails.

Overlooks

Although we were a little early for sunset, we had lovely views from the accessible Panorama Point as well as the unpaved road back to the Goosenecks Overlook. I’d definitely make time for these short stops during your visit.

Bonus: Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument

The nearby national monument wasn’t originally on my list, but I was so glad we made time to drive the scenic byway and hike in this beautiful area. Our sunny 6 mile / 9.7 km mile hike to Lower Calf Creek Falls was a highlight!

Our first time in Capitol Reef National Park was full of fun hikes, beautiful vistas, cool weather, and very few fellow travelers. It was a great start to our national park road trip!