Capitol Reef National Park Best Hikes

Capitol reef national park offers exceptional hiking trails through a wide variety of terrain.

Capitol reef national park best hikes.

Jason bergreen tribune file photo a hiker winds down the frying pan trail toward cohab canyon in capitol reef. The trail gradually gains elevation to a loop at the top of the cliff that will get you to hickman natural bridge. In the fruita area there are fifteen day hiking trails with trailheads located along utah highway 24 and the scenic drive. Capitol reef national park is located in south central utah.

Below we share the best hikes in capitol reef national park and a few other things to do while you visit. It is less busy than the rest of them and has more of an overall wow factor than the other parks in utah. The park established in 1971 preserves 378 mi 979 km and is open all year although may through september are the most popular months. Capitol reef scenic drive.

Family friendly trail and one of the best hikes in capitol reef national park. These trails offer the hiker a wide variety of options from easy strolls over level ground to strenuous hikes involving steep climbs over. After spending four months as a seasonal interpretive volunteer at capitol reef national park i have completed a whopping 46 blog posts for live and let hike about capitol reef including 42 detailed descriptions of the park s trails and routes. Capitol reef national park is our favorite national park in utah.

It is 100 miles 160 km long but fairly narrow. Called wayne wonderland in the 1920s by local boosters ephraim p. Stopping to smell the flowers or in this case stopping to pick some fruit. The hardest part of the trail is at the beginning but the kids shouldn t have any trouble after the first 1 4 mile.

One of our favorite things to do here is to go out hiking. After you ve had a hike or two to start your day stop by fruita to roam the u pick orchards or grab a baked pie from the gifford homestead. Other trails ascend the knobs and ridges to viewpoints above natural bridges and other scenic wonders read more. This paved road is 7 9 miles long one way and takes you past some of the most stunning scenery in the park.

Hickman capitol reef national park protects colorful. Slot canyons here rival the famous canyon hikes in zion national park only you ll see far fewer people here. You will pay this at a self pay station just past the fruita. The canyon followed the meander bends of the powerful rivers that had carved the canyon and the left side of the gorge was in blessed shade while the right side was bathed in warm sunlight if you are heading to capitol reef national park this is one hiking trail that is well worth all your efforts to get out of your car and hike over.

7 best hikes in capitol reef national park. Capitol reef national park has a natural sense of slowing down. Outdoors here s our list of the park s seven best trails. The strenuous golden throne trail offers views of impressive rock formations and capitol gorge.

To drive the scenic drive you will have to pay a 20 fee. 1 of 8 view caption.