Capitol Reef
National Park

Capitol Reef National Park is the most underrated stop on our 2023 trip and the one we’re most curious about. Known for its striking cliffs, colorful domes, natural arches, and historic orchards, Capitol Reef blends Utah’s famous red rock with quieter trails and scenic backroads. We’re planning to spend three nights here and explore by car and by foot—including scenic drives and hikes like Cassidy Arch and the Grand Wash. We’ll stay all three nights at Fruita Campground in the heart of the park.

Read our blog on Capitol Reef

Itinerary

We are presenting our itinerary as we lived it. Not the plan, but rather what we were actually able to accomplish. Naturally there are some missed goals and some serendipitous surprises. We always rolled with the punches and made the best out of our time in the national parks. Below we have included some notes that explain how the itinerary changed from what we had in mind.

It’s important to know that these plans were made to suit the abilities and interests of two young girls aged 11 and 13. We feel confident that any family on their “Every Kid Outdoors Summer” (4th grade) could handle this itinerary. For hikes, we have listed the distance, elevation gain, and time that we tracked, which may differ from published (or actual) measurements. (*Note: some of the hikes at Capitol Reef were done without the girls and the time may seem faster than expected.)

Day 1

Morning

  • Drive from Bryce Canyon to Capitol Reef

  • Stops at Grand Staircase Escalante Visitor Center

Afternoon

  • Goosenecks Overlook, Panorama Point, Sunset Point

  • Capitol Reef Visitor Center (Junior Ranger books)

Evening

  • Overnight at Red Sands Hotel (Torrey, UT)

Day 2

All Day

  • Rest Day

  • Overnight at Red Sands Hotel (Torrey, UT)

Day 3

Morning

  • Fruita schoolhouse

  • Petroglyph Wall

  • Gifford House for pie

Afternoon

  • Scenic drive to Capitol Gorge

  • Grand Wash Road

  • Cassidy Arch

Evening

  • Reading in the stream

  • Stargazing program

  • Overnight at Fruita Campground

Day 4

Morning

  • Hike: Cohab Canyon to Hickman Bridge Loop (6.7 miles RT, 1600 feet, 2 hours)

  • Gifford House for more pie

Notes

Capitol Reef ended up as one of our favorite parks of the summer. It was quiet, spacious, and incredibly scenic. Though, we were plague by illness, which caused some changes. On our first day, we took the scenic route from Bryce, stopping often along Highway 12. Once in the park, we got our bearings at the Visitor Center and set up our chairs in the steam at the campground. Day two was a rest day after a visit to urgent care.

On day three, we drove south to check out Cassidy Arch and Grand Wash after a stop at Gifford House for homemade pie. Day four was a morning hike and then departure for Moab. Capitol Reef may not get the crowds of other Utah parks, but that’s exactly what makes it unforgettable.

 

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