Description

Utah, Capitol Reef National Park

Direction:

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.

Comment

Capitol Reef National Park is often called a Waterpocket Fold or geologic monocline (a wrinkle in the earth) park.  The park has numerous red cliffs and canyons.  The parks Fruita area sits at 5,500 feet and many of these red cliffs tower above the valley.  The visitors center is located in this area.  It's one of the best spots in the park to see the grand views and red domes of rock.  The Gifford House Museum is also located in the Fruita area.  Food is available at the Gifford House.  The most popular activity in the park is hiking on the numerous park trails.  

Fruita Campground is the parks largest RV and tent campground.  All campgrounds in the park operate on a first-come, first-served basis.  Reservations are not available.  Fruita Campground has 71 RV or tent camp spots available.  Hookups are not available.  A group site is available at Fruita Campground.  Additional primitive campgrounds are available at Cathedral Valley (6 sites) and Cedar Mesa (5 sites). These campgrounds have pit toilets, picnic tables, and fire rings. No fee is charged.  Collecting firewood is prohibited within the park.  Firewood can be purchased at Gifford House. 

The Fruita Historic District is actually an old orchard.  Ripe fruit can be picked and eaten from the trees at no charge.  Call the orchards hotline for updated information on fruiting times during the summer at 435-425-3791

The nearest showers, laundry, fuel and market is six miles from the national park in the town of Torrey.

The Fruita Campground has a dump station for Rv's.  

Additional commercial campgrounds are available in the town of Torry.