Capitol Reef packed a lot into one stop. We saw the Petroglyph Panel, Fruita’s orchards and historic buildings, and the Gifford House. We drove Scenic Drive and Grand Wash Road, with red cliffs, cottonwoods, and desert color making every turn feel worth pulling over for. We also squeezed in two major arch hikes before heading toward Moab, with a stop at Hollow Mountain along the way.
Pick a stop to see its story and photos.
Fruita Historic District is the green historic center of Capitol Reef, with maintained orchards, the Gifford House, blacksmith shop, schoolhouse, Fremont River footbridges, and irrigation channels from the former settlement.
The Petroglyph Panel preserves Fremont Culture rock carvings along Utah State Route 24 in Capitol Reef National Park. Two short wooden boardwalks provide views of anthropomorphic figures, bighorn sheep, and other carved symbols on the sandstone walls.
Capitol Reef's Scenic Drive is the main paved park road through the Fruita District, following cliffs, domes, and tilted rock layers of the Waterpocket Fold. It provides access to spur roads including Grand Wash Road and Capitol Gorge Road.
Grand Wash Road is a dirt spur off Scenic Drive that enters Grand Wash between high canyon walls and leads toward the Grand Wash and Cassidy Arch trailheads. The road also provides a distant view of Cassidy Arch above the canyon.
The Fremont River Trail begins in Fruita's cottonwood corridor before climbing to open views over the orchards and surrounding canyon country. We encountered butterflies, lizards, deer, and horses along the route.
Hickman Bridge Trail is a two-mile round trip across juniper and slickrock to a natural bridge with a 133-foot span. The final section passes beneath the stone opening and provides broad views along Highway 24.
Cassidy Arch Trail climbs quickly from Grand Wash over slickrock ledges to a large arch high above the canyon. The roughly three-mile route allows hikers to walk across the top of the arch.
Hollow Mountain is a working gas station and convenience store built directly into a sandstone formation west of Capitol Reef. Antique fire trucks beside the building add to the roadside stop.
Fruita Historic District is the green historic center of Capitol Reef, with maintained orchards, the Gifford House, blacksmith shop, schoolhouse, Fremont River footbridges, and irrigation channels from the former settlement.
The Petroglyph Panel preserves Fremont Culture rock carvings along Utah State Route 24 in Capitol Reef National Park. Two short wooden boardwalks provide views of anthropomorphic figures, bighorn sheep, and other carved symbols on the sandstone walls.
Capitol Reef's Scenic Drive is the main paved park road through the Fruita District, following cliffs, domes, and tilted rock layers of the Waterpocket Fold. It provides access to spur roads including Grand Wash Road and Capitol Gorge Road.
Grand Wash Road is a dirt spur off Scenic Drive that enters Grand Wash between high canyon walls and leads toward the Grand Wash and Cassidy Arch trailheads. The road also provides a distant view of Cassidy Arch above the canyon.
The Fremont River Trail begins in Fruita's cottonwood corridor before climbing to open views over the orchards and surrounding canyon country. We encountered butterflies, lizards, deer, and horses along the route.
Hickman Bridge Trail is a two-mile round trip across juniper and slickrock to a natural bridge with a 133-foot span. The final section passes beneath the stone opening and provides broad views along Highway 24.
Cassidy Arch Trail climbs quickly from Grand Wash over slickrock ledges to a large arch high above the canyon. The roughly three-mile route allows hikers to walk across the top of the arch.
Hollow Mountain is a working gas station and convenience store built directly into a sandstone formation west of Capitol Reef. Antique fire trucks beside the building add to the roadside stop.
Capitol Reef National Park in Utah is a place of contrasts. Red rock cliffs stretch for miles, but right in…
Our second day in Capitol Reef National Park started with a mission - apple pie from the Gifford House. The…
