A Capitol Good Idea - Visit Capitol Reef National Park

I love visiting southern Utah.  One of the main attractions is called the Grand Circle Tour.  Part of that tour includes Capitol Reef National Park.  The Park is located near the town of Torrey in south-central Utah in Wayne County (USA).  

The park was established in 1971 to preserve and protect the cultural history and rugged geological wonders of the area.  Originally called “Wayne Wonderland”, the name Capitol Reef came from two impressions: The first impression came from early settlers who thought the large white sandstone domes resembled the U.S. Capitol building.  The second impression also came from early travelers who faced the formidable barrier “reef” created by the sheer cliffs of the Waterpocket Fold (a long ridge in the Earth’s crust).  

We spend the night in Hanksville.  In the morning, we drive UT-24 to Capitol Reef National Park. 

The first historic building we see is the Behunin Cabin (built 1882).  The only thing here is the cabin and its history.  Elijah Behunin, his wife Tabitha, and 11 of their 13 children lived here in the 1890s.   We walk around this slightly larger than a postage-stamp size structure and wonder how so many people could live in this tiny cabin.  A little research reveals the answer.

Behunin Cabin

We learn that the whole Behunin family didn't sleep inside the house.  The older children slept outside; the girls slept in a wagon box in the yard and the boys slept up in a rock alcove.  

The first named rock feature we see is Navajo Dome (hard sandstone being sculpted by winds and scoured by water).  While we are at this pull-out, we walk down to the Fremont River.

Navajo Dome

Fremont River

The Fruita (Prairie) Schoolhouse (1896-1941) is a small log building located on UT-24 near one of the many fruit orchards.  It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972.

Fruita Schoolhouse

A peek through the window ...

Reflection

We continue driving UT-24 to the Visitor Center.  It is open daily (except for some major holidays) from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (the restrooms are open during these hours too).  A stop at the Visitor Center is always a good way to start any park visit.  The Park Rangers can offer suggestions based on your activity level and how much time you have in the Park.  We inquire about current road conditions through Cathedral Valley.  The recent rains are making the four-wheel roads still impassable.  Cathedral Valley is a remote area in the northern end of the park where enormous monoliths soar hundreds of feet high.  We leave the Visitor Center and look across the road to see a rock formation called the Castle.

The "Castle"

The 20 mile round trip scenic drive begins near the Visitor Center.  It highlights the historic Fruita District.  The buildings include the Blacksmith Shop, the Gifford Homestead, and out buildings.  The area is surrounded by fruit orchards.  Deer frequent this area so be watchful as you drive the road.

Map - Fruita Historic District

Non-working Blacksmith Shop

Gifford House

Barn - Gifford Homestead

The Gifford House Store and Museum is open daily from 8:00am-5pm from mid-March to the end of October (closing date subject to change).  Inside the Gifford House is a Gift Shop with jams, pies, bread, ice cream, etc.  We buy a couple small pies ($6 each) and two single serving vanilla ice creams.  At the nearby picnic area, we have lunch and pie ala mode for dessert.  

Along the scenic drive there are two spur roads - the Grand Wash Road and the Capitol Gorge Trail.

We take the time to drive the Grand Wash Road.  It is a well maintained one-mile dirt road that ends at a parking lot.  Here is where we find the trail head to Cassidy Arch and the Narrows.   We can’t commit to the full hike but we follow the dry stream bed for a short walk.  While we are here, we let our imaginations soar and find shapes in the rocks (similar to finding shapes in clouds). The rock walls are stained with dark-colored streaks of desert varnish. 

Grand Wash Road

Desert Varnish

Rock Formation - Goat's Head

We return to the scenic drive.  A nearly full moon is rising above the ridge.  Meanwhile, the late afternoon sun is coloring the rocky walls in vibrant oranges and yellows.  At the end of the paved road is a parking lot with a picnic shelter and restrooms. 

Moonrise over ridge in Capitol Reef NP

Scenic Drive

Capitol Gorge Trail

This is where we would access the Capitol Gorge Trail (a one-mile road that leads to Pioneer Register).    Early Mormon pioneers carved their names in sandstone (much like the Oregon Trail’s Register Cliff in Wyoming). Unfortunately, the Capitol Gorge Trail is closed due to high danger of flooding.  This means we were unable to drive to the Pioneer Register.   However, we are able to drive the Pleasant Creek Road a short distance to the Golden Throne View Point. 

End of the Scenic Road

Golden Throne

During our Capitol Reef visit, we also drive the primitive Notom Road.  Please click on the following link to view my Blog Post on Burr-Raving the Burr Trail that includes the Notom Road:

Burr Trail- Notom Road

Notom Road

The sun is getting low in the western sky and only the tippy-tops of the mountains are sunlit.  It is time to return to the scenic drive.  On our way back to UT-24, we photograph another named rock feature - the Egyptian Temple. 

 Scenic Drive

Egyptian Temple - Scenic Drive

Once we reach Highway 24, we turn west toward the town of Torrey where we will be staying at the Torrey Schoolhouse B&B Inn.

The Park and its campgrounds/picnic areas are open all year with May through September having the highest visitation.  Other food and lodging options are available in the towns of Torrey, Caineville and Hanksville.  Since opinions, preferences, and budgets vary, I recommend checking a trusted travel source for current reviews. 

For information and photos on places we visited in southern Utah, I invite you to view my other blog posts by clicking on the following links:

Utah's Scenic Highway 12

Bryce Canyon NP

Goblin Valley State Park

Grafton - A BOO-tiful Spot for a Ghost Town

Arches National Park
Visiting Canyonlands NP
High On Zion NP

Family vacations created some of my favorite memories.  To start planning your memorable trip to Capitol Reef national Park click on the "Plan Your Visit" link below:

Plan Your Visit - Capitol Reef NP