Top 5 Capitol Reef Outdoor Activities: A Traveler’s Guide

Capitol Reef National Park, located in south-central Utah, is just this hidden gem. It’s like, far too often overlooked in favor of Utah’s more famous parks. That said, it really offers a quieter, arguably more personal way to explore the state’s incredible landscapes. It’s almost a geological wonderland. It features cliffs, canyons, domes, and bridges. It’s such a spectacle, really. These features were formed by a giant warp in the earth called the Waterpocket Fold. It extends for nearly 100 miles! Capitol Reef provides visitors like yourself tons of chances for all kinds of outdoor adventures. We are going to explore what I think are the five best ways to experience Capitol Reef.

1. Hiking the Hickman Bridge Trail

The Hickman Bridge Trail is a classic Capitol Reef hike that offers so many great views and a moderate challenge. This trail is something that clocks in at just under two miles round trip. The trail leads you, you know, gradually uphill. The prize: this big, really breathtaking natural bridge. It stretches 125 feet across. The bridge is named after a local, very important guy named Joseph Hickman. He was, actually, a strong supporter of making this area a national park. As I was saying, the hike starts near the visitor center. The trail goes up alongside the Fremont River for a bit. After that, you will, very likely, begin to see signs of desert wildlife. I mean, just things like birds and lizards are definitely pretty normal.

The ascent, although, is a gradual climb, yet it is still important to bring enough water. That Utah sun, like your personal hair dryer set on high, really beats down on you. Along the route, the trail kind of shows off geological features. You are very likely to see the various layers of rock. Those tell stories of literally millions of years, that is right! As you approach Hickman Bridge, is that the scale of the natural arch, well, is kind of mind-blowing. Taking pictures there, frankly, is practically mandatory. Just because of, well, social media. Plus, is that it lets you, anyway, sort of, keep the memory of that amazing thing you did.

You could say that one, extremely significant piece of advice is to hike this trail, too, really early or later in the day. This tip helps you, also, sidestep the big crowds and, also, you avoid the very worst of the heat. The parking at the trailhead is this, rather, tiny spot. It tends to fill up fairly quick, too it’s almost a normal occurance. Don’t even worry! If that is the case, so, just, well, park at the visitor center. Then you can take a, nearly, one-mile stroll down the road to reach the start of the trail. With its good mixture of convenience, great scenery, and average problem, the Hickman Bridge Trail is often just a, pretty, ideal introduction to hiking in Capitol Reef. Read our full review: Hickman Bridge Trail Full Review and Details See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Check here for deals)

2. Driving the Capitol Reef Scenic Drive

If you are, literally, after seeing a big part of the park with very little effort, so, driving the Capitol Reef Scenic Drive is, really, an amazing way to do it. It’s a really big paved road. That road extends 10 miles south from the visitor center. The drive gets you into the heart of the Waterpocket Fold. Along the way, yet you’ll find, really, cool spots where you can pull over. You’re likely going to grab yourself some photographs. Is that you are just going to really soak in the surroundings.

Is that you have to drive this road, so, yet it does need this park pass or entrance fee. It might be just this worthy expense, to be honest. That is, of course, that you just want to, absolutely, see much of the park in just this fairly short amount of time. As a matter of fact, there are some, you know, spots like the Fruita Schoolhouse. That kind of gives you this look into the area’s pioneer past. Also, there is the Gifford House. That place offers you some insight on local products and treats, to be honest.

In a way, there are really, really quick trails along the drive. Trails that guide to you like your, so very amazing viewpoints like Sunset Point and the Goosenecks Overlook. The Sunset Point gets you just this pretty ideal view at dusk. When it is just before dark, is that the sun seems to paint the rock formations with, literally, amazing, intense colors. It is so really amazing. The Goosenecks Overlook is something, too it’s almost, very special. That very special something provides a pretty panoramic perspective. In the same way, that outlook point reveals the twisting path of the Sulphur Creek far below. It all is just, pretty, captivating! The drive goes along orchards. They show the park’s dedication. Also, the drive preserves the historic landscape and it’s also about history of agriculture. Read our full review: Capitol Reef Scenic Drive Full Review and Details See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (View discounts now)

3. Exploring Cohab Canyon

The Cohab Canyon Trail is this pretty special spot that delivers somewhat challenging hiking and, really, cool scenery. This hike is actually quite the adventure, more or less. Its got views overlooking the historic Fruita District. Really something else, you know? The trail begins with some pretty steep switchbacks. Then again, once you climb those you, kind of, go into the canyon. That thing offers this, pretty, shady, welcome relief. Also the trail gives a pretty great view from the heat, to be honest. Along the path, anyway, you see the natural springs. With the foliage, you might, possibly, even, glimpse this, somewhat unexpected piece of plant life.

This pretty unusual name, you see, does, kind of, nod to the canyon’s history. Is that it could be that the canyon used to provide a place to hide for members of the polygamous group. Just think, so that is so, wow. The trail branches off, you know. It connects to this, really, exciting spot. So in this case it’s like, you just explore more areas of the park with, to be honest, fairly different perspectives. You want, so I would argue that you can extend the hike by taking the spur trails to either the Fruita Overlook or to a viewpoint overlooking Highway 24.

One thing is, it does help to know that parts of Cohab Canyon are very prone to flash flooding. So this bit here should make you careful when, actually, rain seems, well, maybe on the way, really. Don’t take your chances. You’ll get hurt doing that. Given that some parts of the climb get pretty steep and exposed, remember water, basically. It is so very important, obviously. Your hat, you know? Bring sunblock so it can save the day for, literally, your skin. With its cool mix of historical mystery, moderate problem, and nice natural sights, the Cohab Canyon hike is usually, like, an, really, memorable way to have, honestly, a special outdoors adventure. Read our full review: Cohab Canyon Full Review and Details See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Reserve Here!)

4. Stargazing

Capitol Reef’s faraway area gets you this, almost, optimal chance to see the night sky. Far from urban light is, so is that just a thing of great wonder at this, frankly, incredible spot for anyone with, I guess, even a passing curiosity in astronomy. This can show you, more or less, something that some parks can’t even provide, obviously! When the sun lowers down, is that the park, literally, transforms into this pretty captivating theater of celestial light. This transformation comes complete with many thousands of stars.

Now, there are several really pretty amazing spots within the park to get out there and to stargaze, more or less. A somewhat clear favorite, and rightly so, is that you just, you know, go near the Panorama Point. The point is somewhat easy to get at by driving. Plus is that it gives pretty expansive views of the sky. The darkness helps enhance this cool feeling, naturally, that gets you the whole space. Little to no light equals stars! As you drive along the Scenic Drive, so are the pullouts usually like, really, pretty great spots for just stargazing at this, utterly, unique area of the U.S..

To get you the, I guess, fullest experience while out under the stars, be certain that you come prepped, yet. Think stuff like a blanket, literally, warm clothes, a flashlight that doesn’t affect anyone’s nightvision. Plus that little headlamp? As a matter of fact, is that you might, maybe, use that to look around the ground but you don’t blast the other stargazers, mostly, too. Just because is that that will tick them off! This stargazing at Capitol Reef is that truly special kind of time. I’m saying that is more than just a sightseeing outing. Honestly, so that night is practically a journey to discover something so grand it makes you a, kinda, a, little bit humble. Is that you look up and you just ponder. Contemplate how extremely big this place that we are on even is. As a matter of fact, the more you travel is that you will also grow with just knowledge and life experiences too. It all works, somehow, so well together at this unique national treasure. Read our full review: Stargazing Capitol Reef Full Review and Details See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (See Best Dates!)

5. Canyoneering in Capitol Reef

If you’re into something more adventurous, then again, canyoneering in Capitol Reef provides that. Canyoneering usually involves that you descend into these cool, so incredibly slender canyons. Use, I guess, you gear, you rappel, maybe you’ll be required to do some scrambling. Too is that a very awesome physical and somewhat fun challenge, really. Canyoneering inside this area will, literally, test your courage while offering that up-close look at this unique slot canyon.

Before you think about taking off canyoneering, you might want that I suggest you know what you do, yet. Especially since it should not be attempted by beginners minus appropriate preparation. People doing that must, maybe, have some training. The skills would include this capacity to rappel. In this event it means you get down from a very tall thing. That ability can sure come in handy! Furthermore you will want some solid experience, I am confident of that fact. You also will have navigation skill to handle what is, to be honest, tricky terrain. A guide company gets you your safety, as a matter of fact. More and more there will also just likely know about a canyon you can navigate. Safety equals fun times!

One truly very common canyon is the Leprechaun Canyon, but. I think that it gets thought of mostly. A pretty, really popular decision mostly because it offers some, almost, easy entry points. With some, arguably, small potholes the place delivers what is so many very enjoyable challenges to people doing this. Just about for everything relating with planning, so know how the permit rules relate here. Plus, of course that weather forecasts would, definitely, come in handy. Be cautious while around canyon areas especially with rainfall in the forecast. Just because of the area gets flash flooded just almost suddenly and there might be some hazard there. What canyoneering could, probably, give a bit too much is what I mean about giving it all? It does show you something completely. This can create like something utterly. Is that it allows what this perspective about anything with, that unique desert wonder to give those. Read our full review: Canyoneering Capitol Reef Full Review and Details See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (See more)

Find what meets your outdoors type by what feels nice from, literally, those fantastic spots found at what constitutes some very Capitol Reef experience.