Planning Your Visit

Hiking, backpacking, picnicking, wildlife viewing, and walking through the orchards are favorite activities at Capitol Reef National Park. Below are some suggested ways to spend your time. If you have:

An Hour or Two:

• Stop at the visitor center and view the displays and orientation slide program.
• Pick some delicious fruit when in season.
• Hike one of the shorter trails in the Fruita area.
• Tour the Scenic Drive (approximately 90 minutes round trip).
• Visit the petroglyphs, historic schoolhouse, or the Behunin Cabin (along U-24), or the Historic Gifford Homestead or the blacksmith shop (on the Scenic drive).
• Join a ranger-guided program.

One Day:

• Hike longer trails.
• Join a ranger-guided walk, talk, or evening program.
• Borrow a Family Fun Pack and learn about the park through family-oriented games and activities.
• Tour Cathedral Valley or the Waterpocket District. Check at the visitor center for current road conditions.

Several Days:

• Combine several day trip options.
• Hike the shorter trails and routes along the Waterpocket District or Cathedral Valley roads.
• Backpack into remote areas of the park and experience solitude and quiet. Check for current weather, road, and trail conditions at the visitor center. A free backcountry permit is required for overnight backcountry use.

Directions

Directions to Capitol Reef National Park

Traveling westbound on Interstate 70: Take Utah State Highway 24 west towards Hanksville (exit 149). Stay on Highway 24 for 95 miles to reach the park Visitor Center.

Traveling on Interstate 15: Take US Highway 50 east at Scipio (exit 188) towards Salina for 30 miles. At the junction with Utah State Highway 89/259, turn right (south) and travel 8 miles. Turn left (east) onto Utah State Highway 24 towards Sigurd. Continue on Highway 24 for 82 miles to reach the park Visitor Center.

Operating Hours & Seasons

Ripple Rock Nature Center is open from Memorial Day through Labor Day from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, closed Sundays and Mondays.

Fees & Reservations

All Federal Recreation Lands Passes are available and accepted at Capitol Reef. Click here to learn more.

ENTRANCE FEES

The following Entrance Fees are charged for traveling the park's Scenic Drive beyond the Fruita Campground.

Individuals: $3.00 (Good for 7 days)

This fee applies to bicycles and pedestrians (per person).

Vehicles: $5.00 (Good for 7 days) This fee applies to private vehicles, including motorcycles.

Commercial Tours: This fee is based on the seating capacity of the vehicle.

Vehicles with a seating capacity of 26 seats or greater: $100.00

Vehicles with a seating capacity of 7 - 25 seats: $40.00

Vehicles with a seating capacity of 1 - 6 seats: $30.00

Entrance Fee Waivers: Fee waivers are available for groups traveling the Scenic Drive for educational purposes. Fee waiver requests must be submitted two weeks prior to your visit. Qualifications for fee waivers can be found on the Fee Waiver Application. If you have any questions, please contact the Fee Office during normal business hours at (435) 425-3791 ext. 160.

CAMPING FEES

Sites at the Fruita Campground are $10 per night. Senior and Access pass holders receive a 50% discount on their campsite.

All sites at the Fruita Campground are first come, first serve, with the exception of the Group Campsite.

BACKCOUNTRY PERMITS

A backcountry permit is required for backpacking in Capitol Reef National Park. The permit is free and can be obtained at the visitor center during normal business hours.

Weather

A current forecast provided by the National Weather Service is available here. You may also view historic (1967-2005) climate information here, provided by the Northern Colorado Plateau Network of the National Park Service.

The chart below is based on temperature and precipitation records from 1948 through 1986 and may provide someone planning a visit with an idea of what can be expected from the weather:

HIGH TEMPERATURES

Except for July and August, daily high temperatures usually range about 10° F on either side of the average monthly high temperature shown. July and August highs range about 5° F on either side of the average monthly high shown.

LOW TEMPERATURES

Low temperatures usually range about 10° F on either side of the average low temperatures shown for the months January through April and November through December. Low temperatures for May through October will range about 5° F on either side of the average monthly low shown.

NPS/Federal Recreation Lands Pass

For the former pass program passes:

Golden Eagle Passport and National Parks Pass and Golden Eagle Hologram

These passes have been discontinued and replaced by the America the Beautiful - National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass- Annual Pass.

Golden Age Passport

This pass has been discontinued and replaced by the America the Beautiful - National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass- Senior Pass

Golden Access Passport

This pass has been discontinued and replaced by the America the Beautiful - National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass- Access Pass

All National Parks Passes, Golden Eagle, Golden Eagle Hologram, Golden Access and Golden Age Passports will continue to be honored according to the provisions of the pass. Only paper Golden Age and Access Passports may be exchanged free of charge for new plastic passes.

Definitions and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) may be found at http://store.usgs.gov/pass/general.html