What to Do in Capitol Reef National Park with Kids
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Capitol reef has such amazing sandstone! This is the temple of the sun on the catheral loop
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the kids playing along the grand wash
If you’re looking for what to do in Capitol Reef National Park with kids (or without!), you’re in the right place. This park is surprisingly home to historic fruit orchards planted by Mormon pioneers. Capitol Reef gets it’s name from two things: First, early settlers thought the white stone domes on the sandstone resembled the dome of the Capitol building in Washington, DC. Second, the Waterpocket Fold was seen as a cumbersome natural barrier, and was often called a reef by early explorers. Hence the name Capitol Reef. The Park was designated a National Monument by Franklin Roosevelt in 1937. In1971 the designation was changed to National Park. Capitol Reef National Park is visited by approximately 1.23 million people annually and is about 242,000 acres of protected land. Whether you are traveling with kids or without, you’ll fall in love with this unique National Park.
Every visitor to Capitol Reef National Park should make a stop at the Capitol Reef visitor center to get a park map, get a weather update, info about the park’s road conditions and possible closures. You can also visit HERE to see up-to-date closures and weather. Park Rangers are also a wonderful resource for finding out the parks more off the beaten path spots.
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When to Visit Capitol Reef National Park
Summertime is Capitol Reef’s busiest and hottest season, but the temperatures rarely reach above 100 degrees. Since many people have the most time off work and kids are out of school, this is the most popular time of year to visit Capitol Reef, but it may be the most miserable temperature wise. There are fewer people out on the trails mid-day, but other gathering places can be crowded.
In the fall the biking and hiking trails fill up as the temperature drop. People also come into the park to visit Fruita’s orchard. Around this time the peaches, plums, and pears are ready for harvest. The evenings and nights can get very cool during this time and campers/hikers need to be prepared with jackets and warm blankets.
In Spring the weather can be unexpectedly cool and the crowds are thin. However, hiking and biking are very popular during this time of year. The park’s flora and fauna are also in peak bloom and it can make for a very unique experience.
Winter is cold, but absolutely gorgeous. It does snow in Capitol Reef, so visitors can see snow covered rock formations and the contrast of the red rock with the snow is dreamy. Believe it or not, backcountry skiing and snowshoeing are possible in Capitol Reef!
We visited in May 2021 and absolutely loved every second of it. The weather was perfect and while we did see other people on trails, we were never ever crowded. The temperatures were in the 40s at night and up to high 60s or low 70s during the day. (Fahrenheit) It was fantastic.
The average annual weather for reference COURTESY of weather-US.com
How to get to Capitol Reef National Park
Capitol Reef National Park is absolutely amazing, but it isn’t super convenient to get to if you’re used to traveling big highways or making day trips from big cities. To give you an idea of how long it will take to get to the park, here are a few examples.
Obligatory national park sign photo!
How far is Capitol Reef National Park from Salt Lake City? 3 hours, 25 minutes
Grand Junction to Capitol Reef National Park is 2 hours, 50 minutes
Zion National Park to Capitol Reef National park is 3 hour, 5 minutes
Bryce Canyon National Park to Capitol Reef National park is 2 hours 10 minutes
Canyonlands National Park to Capitol Reef National park is 2 hours and 20 minutes
Arches National Park to Capitol Reef is 2 hours 10 minutes
Capitol Reef National park is located about an hour from I-70 which is the main highway connecting east and west Utah. Torrey, Utah is the closest little town to Capitol Reef’s West entrance. Hanksville, Utah is the closest small town to Capitol Reef’s East entrance.
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How Much Does it Cost to Get into Capitol Reef National Park?
Capitol Reef National park Visitor Center
Entrance Fee
Private Vehicle: $20. Valid for 7 days. Admits private, non-commercial vehicle (15 passenger capacity or less) and all occupants to Capitol Reef National Park.
Motorcycle: $15. Valid for 7 days: Admits one non-commercial motorcycle to Capitol Reef National Park.
Bicyclists, hikers, and pedestrians are per person: $10. Valid for 7 days. Admits one individual with no car to Capitol Reef National Park.
Buy an Annual Pass to all of the U.S. National Parks HERE for only $80. Unlimited access for 12 months.
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Where to Stay in Capitol Reef National Park
Capitol Reef National Park Lodges:
There are no lodges inside of Capitol Reef National Park. However, we stayed directly outside of the park at Capitol Reef Resort. They have amazing cabins, hotel rooms, teepees, & even chuckwagons you can stay in!
Capitol reef resort is a convenient spot to stay in capitol reef
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Capitol Reef National Park Campgrounds:
There are 3 campgrounds located inside Capitol Reef National Park. Below are some short descriptions with links to each one.
the kids eaiting ice cream just outside of the fruita campground — this area does have grass and plenty of trees
Fruita Campground: Reservations Required (1 March - 31 October) and First Come, First Serve (November 1 - Feb 28). This 71 site campground can host tents and RVs. There is potable water available in the campground. The campground does have toilets, but no showers. Each site has a picnic table and firepit or grill. There are no electric, water, or sewage hook ups. There is a dump station available.
Cost: $20 per site per night
Cathedral Valley Campground: First Come, First Serve. This 6 site campground can host tents or high clearance RVs. Each site has a fire grate and a picnic table. There are pit toilets and no showers. You must have a high clearance vehicle to reach this campground — call 435-425-3791. Press #1 for information, and then #4 for road conditions)
Cost: Free
Cedar Mesa Campground: First Come, First Serve. This 5 site campground can host tents or high clearance RVs. Each site has a fire grate and a picnic table. There are pit toilets and no showers. You must have a high clearance vehicle to reach this campground — call 435-425-3791. Press #1 for information, and then #4 for road conditions)
Cost: Free
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i would love to come back and stay in these teepees in capitol reef!
Where to Stay Outside of Capitol Reef National Park
capitol reef resort is a perfect option for anyone exploring capitol reef
Capitol Reef is limited on hotels, but there are some great choices. Another option if you have a self contained place to stay is check out the BLM land (bureau of land management) surrounding the park because there are a lot of options. When choosing where to stay outside of the National Park you must consider how long it’s going to take you to drive into the park to explore.
Recommended Hotels Near Capitol Reef National Park:
Capitol Reef Resort: (West Entrance) Located at the doorstep of Capitol Reef National Park, Capitol Reef Resort offers an abundance of lodging options sure to satisfy. From guestrooms and luxury cabins to Conestoga wagons and teepees; there’s a place for everyone here. We stayed at Capitol Reef Resort for 3 nights and it was an amazing property. There is a well equipped gym, on-site dining, a pool and hot tub, plus a fire pit that is lit from 6-10PM every night. The resort offers horseback rides, Jeep Tours, and even alpaca trips — just ask the front desk to help you get booked!
Airbnbs Near Capitol Reef National Park
The best family-friendly Airbnbs near Capitol Reef National Park - There are several nice Airbnbs in Torrey, Utah with convenience to the west entrance of Capitol Reef National Park. These are a nice alternative to camping in the heat of the summer and convenient to exploring the park.
l always playing in the rocks — this is on the rim of goosenecks point
What to do in Capitol Reef National Park with Kids
The kids throwing dirt at the temple of the moon
1) Hike
Capitol Reef National Park has hiking for any ability. However, the desert and the heat must be respected. Hike responsibly by carrying at least 2 liters of water per person for day hikes, wearing sunscreen and letting someone know where you will be.
Best Hikes for Toddlers in Capitol Reef National Park
The kids and i at the gooseneck overlook
Goosenecks Point: This is an easy 600 foot trail that leads to an overlook. The views are incredible and this stop should not be missed.
Capitol Gorge: This easy 2 mile trail takes hikers past a petroglyph panel, several hundred historic signatures on “the Pioneer Register”, a small natural arch and a group of water-filled potholes that are called “The Tanks:, and a narrow, rocky side canyon that also has dryfalls.
Sunset Point: This easy 0.6 mile hike gives hikers sweeping views of Capitol Reef. Like the name suggests, this hike is perfect for viewing the desert sunset.
The Kids sitting under Hickman Bridge
Best Hikes for Kids in Capitol Reef National Park:
The hike to and from hickman bridge is gorgeous
Hickman Bridge: This moderate 1.7-mile trail has one of the only easily accessible sandstone arches in all of Capitol Reef. We were able to do this hike in about 90 minutes with stopping for photos at the arch. I recommend getting there first thing in the morning as it is a very popular hike.
Cohab Canyon: This 1.2-mile moderate trail takes hikers through a secluded canyon. It does ascend up to the cliffs. Hikers will be taken to two viewpoints; one of the river and one of Cassidy Arch/Grand Wash.
Cassidy Arch: This moderate 1.7-mile trail does get pretty steep. Hikers are taken up to the tops of 2 sandstone cliffs and then back to the arch!
Grand Wash: This easy 4.4-mile trail takes hikers along a deep canyon and through narrows. This is a popular trail for families.
Fremont River Trail: This is an easy 1-mile stroll along a riverbed that ends with a climb to panoramic views.
Cathedral Trail is an easy hike with epic views!
Best Hikes for Teenagers in Capitol Reef National Park:
hiking up to the chimney rock overlook
Chimney Rock: This 3.6-mile trail is considered a strenuous hike due to the steep 590-foot climb in the first 1 mile. We only hiked to the Chimney Rock overlook and turned back, so it ended up being about 1.5 miles round trip.
Rim Overlook: This 4.6-mile strenuous trail takes hikers up to a clifftop and offers sweeping views of the Waterpocket Fold and Fruita.
Navajo Knobs: This is a continuation of the Rim Overlook trail. It is strenuous but provides a full 360-degree view from the mountaintop.
Spring Canyon: This 4+ mile trail takes hikers through a long, deep ravine. It follows along the Fremont River in the middle of Capitol Reef. Hikers are rewarded with views of tall cliffs, alcoves, pools and a stream!
Old Wagon Trail Loop: This is a strenuous 3.8-mile trail, but it climbs over 1080 feet in elevation. Hikers are rewarded with hiking through a Pinyon-juniper forest and views of sandstone cliffs and the Henry Mountains.
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This is a hard hike, but seeing Chimney Rock from up here is epic!
2) Gifford House Museum and Store
Do not miss grabbing a fresh pie from Gifford House
Gifford House is located in the Fruita Historic District. The district has a blacksmith shop, school house, and the Gifford House store and museum. Here you can learn the history of the pioneer Mormon settlement, their orchards, and way of life. All around Fruita you can see the thriving green orchards. The orchards have apple, cherry, pear, peach, almond, plum, and apricot trees. In the harvest seasons, you can pick fruit. In off season, be sure to purchase the fruit pies and ice cream sold at the store. They are absolutely delicious.
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Gifford House is a great place for a mid day stop!
3) Scenic Drive
The view on scenic drive are gorgeous
Scenic drive is a 7.9-mile roadway that leads South from the Capitol Reef Visitor Center. The drive is not a loop. There are two dirt road spurs along the drive; Capitol Gorge and Grand Wash. We were able to drive our mini van down Grand Wash with little trouble. We did not do Capitol Gorge, but we saw all kinds of vehicles drive down. If I could do it again, I would go down Capitol Gorge and do the Capitol Gorge hike at the end.
Cost: $20 per vehicle is charged for the Scenic Drive. The self-pay entrance station is located just south of the campground on the Scenic Drive. There is no entrance fee for holders of the America the Beautiful - National Parks and Federal Recreation Lands passes.
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4) Cathedral Valley Loop
The Jeep we rented in front of Temple of the Moon
We visited Capitol Reef specifically to do this drive. I highly, highly recommend it. Cathedral Valley is a 57.6 mile rough and rugged road through Capitol Reef that offers unmatched views of sandstone monoliths, Mars-like terrain in the bentonite hills, incredible valley overlooks, and some great hiking. Almost every guide will say to do the loop clock-wise, but the locals suggested we do it counter clock-wise, so we did.
The Cathedral Valley highlights are:
Temple of the Moon & Sun
Glass Mountain
Gypsum Sinkhole
Cathedrals Trail
Bentonite Hills
Fording the River at the end of the loop
Cathedral Valley loop requires a high clearance, preferably 4X4 vehicle to navigate the terrain. We drive a mini-van, so we rented a Jeep through Thousand Lakes RV Park. Their pick up process was so easy and the staff was extremely friendly.
This is a statement from the National Park Service Regarding Cathedral Valley Loop: “road conditions can vary greatly depending on recent weather conditions. Spring and summer rains and winter snows can leave the roads muddy, washed out, and impassable to the best high-clearance four-wheel drive vehicle, so check at the visitor center, or call 435-425-3791. Press #1 for information, and then #4 for current road conditions. For weather conditions press #3.”
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The kids playing along the cathedrals trail
5) Stargazing
Half the park is After Dark! Capitol Reef National Park takes pride in its dark skies and its effort to protect its dark sky. Many visitors stay in the park to watch the amazing colors of the sunset and then stay to be awed by the millions of stars you can see. Head to Sunset Point and bring a chair! Stay to watch the amazing desert sunset and then be awed as the stars fill the night sky. Capitol Reef is home to an entire nocturnal habitat that depends on the absence of light and extreme darkness to thrive. At the visitor center you can ask a Ranger what you can do when visiting dark sky parks to help protect these habitats.
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The mars-like lanscape along the cathedral valley loop
6) Capitol Reef Junior Ranger Program
It’s easy to become a Junior Ranger in Capitol Reef!
The two newest capitol reef junior rangers!
First, either pick up a free activity booklet at the Capitol Reef Visitor Center or print it at home!
Then complete the right number of activities based on your child’s age. Once the child is finished, bring it to the Capitol Reef Visitor Center. A park ranger will check your work in the booklet, give the oath, and then present the coveted Junior Ranger Badge!
Check out the Junior Ranger page to learn more!
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Be sure to keep your eye open for petryoglyphs in capitol reef!
Capitol Reef is on of the 5 National Parks located in Utah. People come from all over the world to experience Capitol Reef’s red rock beauty. There are cathedrals made of rock, canyons, intense rock formations and a type of desolation only found in the Utah wilderness. No matter whether you camp inside park or stay nearby, Capitol Reef National Park the the perfect adventure.
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