Utah’s Mighty Five are virtually incomparable when it comes to the National Parks. From the namesake arches in Arches National Park and the out of this world Hoodoo formations of Bryce Canyon to the infamous Angels Landing of Zion and the endless slot canyons of Canyonlands National Park, these landscapes are nothing shy of spectacular. The often overlooked park of the Mighty Five might be one of the best though! The absolutely stunning red rocks of the incredibly remote Capitol Reef National Park should be high on the list of any outdoor enthusiast!

Chimney rock capitol reef national park — The towering Chimney Rock greets all visitors to Capitol Reef National Park

Sometimes simply known as “The Other One”, Capitol Reef National Park is the least visited of Utah’s Mighty Five, but do not confuse that with an empty, desolate park. Capitol Reef National Park sees approximately 1.2 million visitors annually, a number which is dwarfed by the nearly 5 million annual visitors to Zion National Park.

Located just outside of Torrey, UT, this nearly 242,000 acre park is open 24 hours a day and requires an entrance pass of $20 to access the scenic drive which cuts through the heart of the park. Much like its remote and rugged location, there are no lodging or eating options within the park boundaries. Similarly there are no gas stations, and many of the roads are unpaved within this wild and rocky landscape.

Cohab Canyon capitol reef national park — The uniquely colored Navajo Sandstone at Capitol Reef National Park

Unlike most of the neighboring Colorado Plateau, in which rock was evenly lifted millions of years ago to form a layer cake-like pattern, Capitol Reef National Park protects the highly unique Waterpocket Fold, a 100-mile wrinkle within the Earth’s crust that has resulted in an uneven lifting of rock layers from east to west. In addition to the array of colors formed by this unusual geologic process, years of erosion to the sandstone formations have resulted into incredible waterpockets within the rock, further adding character to this special place!

Capitol Reef National Park’s name comes from the appearance of many of the rock formations striking a similarity to that of the U.S. Capitol Building, and the impassable ridge formed by the Waterpocket Fold commonly referred to as a “reef” by early settlers of the area.

pendleton barn capitol reef national park — The Pendleton Barn at Capitol Reef National Park

Capitol Reef National Park is comprised of three distinct areas: The Fruita District, Cathedral Valley, and the Waterpocket District. While the Fruita District runs through the heart of the park, and contains the paved Scenic Drive, Cathedral Valley and the Waterpocket District contain exclusively unpaved roads and are extremely remote and rugged. While four-wheel drive vehicles are not mandatory for exploring these regions, they are highly suggested. Additionally, weather conditions play a large role in determining if these areas are accessible as heavy rain and wet conditions can make both districts completely impassable to any vehicle. Be sure to talk to park rangers prior to exploring these areas of the park.

fruita capitol reef national park — The many orchards of the Fruita District at Capitol Reef National Park

The Mission 66 Visitor Center, the only one in the park, is located along the banks of the Freemont River at the start of Scenic Drive within the Fruita District. Exploring the Fruita District of Capitol Reef National Park provides nearly endless hiking opportunities, scenic vistas, and a rich culture of the original settlers to this vibrant valley.

Cathedral Valley within Capitol Reef National Park allows visitors to take the 57 mile Cathedral Valley loop, a rugged, unpaved road which can require a river ford, and takes visitors through the entire valley landscape. The drive takes anywhere between 6-8 hours, and gives intrepid visitors an opportunity to view the giant red rock monoliths scattered throughout this remote region.

hickman bridge capitol reef national park — Hickman Bridge at Capitol Reef National Park

In addition to the nearly endless amounts of hiking, canyoneering, and exploring offered within this truly wild landscape, Capitol Reef National Park offers an incredible Dark Sky environment thanks to its near complete isolation from the outside world. Venturing into the park at night gives visitors a chance to view the Milky Way within the walls of this exotic landscape.

milky way capitol reef national park — The stunning dark skies of Capitol Reef National Park make it ideal for astrophotography

Torrey, UT, is the closest town to the park, and sits 11 miles to the west of the Fruita District. A select few restaurants and lodging options can be found within the town, and provides an excellent home base for anyone visiting Capitol Reef National Park.

llama capitol reef national park — Hike with Llamas through Capitol Reef National Park

The unique geologic process which created the Waterpocket Fold has resulted in one of the most stunning and truly untouched National Parks in America. The raw, rugged beauty of Capitol Reef National Park combines the awe-inspiring beauty of its towering sandstone walls with a deep history of the early settlers to this remote and fertile landscape deep in south central Utah.

Grand wash capitol reef national park — The Grand Wash at Capitol Reef National Park

While the mesmerizing beauty of Utah’s Mighty Five is impossible to ignore, the often overlooked Capitol Reef National Park delivers an intimate experience into the rugged and wild landscape that draws millions of visitors to Southern Utah. As the “reef” was once deemed impassable by early settlers, this remote National Park is well worth the drive and the effort to view the stunningly wonderful Waterpocket Fold of Capitol Reef National Park.

Capitol Reef National Park

Bryce Canyon National Park

Biscayne National Park