Utah’s Most Peaceable Spring Highway Journey Vacation spot

Tucked in a reasonably distant stretch of southern Utah, Capitol Reef Nationwide Park looks like a secret hiding in plain sight. Whereas the state’s 4 different nationwide parks draw a lot of the crowds, this one — refreshingly and amazingly — stays beneath the radar.

That is very true in spring, when wildflowers body the pink rocks and late-season snow often dusts them.

For households trying to unplug, unfold out, and expertise the Southwest with out peak-season crowds, Capitol Reef delivers. It’s extremely scenic, plus simply adventurous and accessible sufficient to really feel thrilling with out being overwhelming.

Spring Candy Spot

Located in a spot the place climate could be excessive in each summer season and winter, Capitol Reef shines in spring. Daytime temperatures are sometimes delicate, excellent for mountaineering and exploring, and cooler mornings and nights add simply sufficient crispness to remind you you’re within the excessive desert.

This season additionally brings refined however putting contrasts. Patches of vivid inexperienced emerge alongside the Fremont River, wildflowers dot the desert ground, and the park’s signature towering pink cliffs and rock formations really feel much more vivid in opposition to shifting skies. You might even catch lingering snow in larger elevations, an attractive juxtaposition.

Equally vital for households: Moreover spring break, spring falls squarely in shoulder season, providing fewer crowds, simpler parking at trailheads, and a extra relaxed tempo total.

What Makes Capitol Reef Distinctive

Goosenecks overlook.

Past the park’s otherworldly panorama, at its coronary heart is the Waterpocket Fold, a virtually 100-mile-long wrinkle within the Earth’s crust. It’s not as instantly recognizable because the arches or hoodoos discovered elsewhere in Cap Reef, however no much less dramatic — particularly whenever you’re standing in entrance of its towering cliffs and layers upon layers of rock.

One other factor that makes Capitol Reef in contrast to different parks is its fruit orchards. The primary scenic drive cuts by the Fruita Historic District, the place a number of acres of historic apple, peach, and different fruit timber have stood for over 140 years. 

Then there are the quieter corners, locations that reward curiosity. Areas like Cathedral Valley really feel worlds away, with wide-open desert, large monoliths, and hidden geological options like Glass Mountain, a small, surreal formation manufactured from shimmering selenite crystals. Reaching these spots takes extra effort and time, however right here, the sense of discovery is a part of the enchantment.

Greatest Issues to Do with Children

Considered one of Capitol Reef’s largest strengths is its selection. You’ll discover quick hikes manageable for even the youngest members of the family alongside scenic drives and hands-on experiences that maintain children engaged. 

Begin your itinerary with the classics. The straightforward-going hike to Hickman Bridge is a household favourite, with a comparatively quick distance and a giant payoff: a pure stone arch spanning 133 toes and standing 300 toes tall. 

Cassidy Arch is one other standout, particularly for older children. The path climbs steadily earlier than opening as much as sweeping views. And sure, you possibly can (rigorously) stroll out onto the arch itself.

For one thing a bit simpler, Cohab Canyon affords massive views with far much less elevation achieve, whereas Sundown Level and the Goosenecks stay as much as their title with a brief stroll to among the park’s finest overlooks.

Again in Fruita, I can’t emphasize this sufficient: Don’t skip the orchards.

Harvest is often in the summertime and early fall, when you possibly can choose fruit like apples, peaches, and pears straight from the timber, however even in spring, the flowering timber create an idyllic scene for a picnic or stroll. And the place else are you able to choose fruit inside a nationwide park?! Additionally on this space, the Gifford Homestead sells unimaginable pies, complete or by the slice. 

Gifford Homestead.

Going Past the Essential Highway

When you’re up for a bit extra journey, Capitol Reef has a wilder, extra rugged facet.

Cathedral Valley, positioned in an remoted northern a part of the park and which you’ve virtually actually seen photos of, seems and looks like Mars. Towering formations just like the Temple of the Solar and Temple of the Moon rise straight up from the desert ground, and the huge, open panorama surrounding it provides you a way of simply how distant this space is.

That is additionally the place you’ll discover my private favourite characteristic within the park, Glass Mountain. This small mound sparkles within the daylight due to its crystalline floor. It’s not marked in any means and doesn’t draw crowds, which makes stumbling upon it really feel further particular.

That mentioned, attending to Cathedral Valley requires planning. Roads could be tough (which, relying on the time of yr, is placing it mildly), circumstances change shortly, and high-clearance autos are sometimes crucial.

A guided tour is a great, stress-free technique to expertise this facet of the park, permitting you to easily sit again and calm down… and save the suspension by yourself car. As a significant bonus, tour guides out right here know all kinds of additional spots for issues like, say, seeing fossils. After we final visited, we went on a full-day tour with Western Whiptail Adventures, and I extremely suggest it.

The place to Keep

In fact, you possibly can camp in or round Capitol Reef (there’s one developed campground and two primitive in difficult-to-access areas, plus tons of public land with free dispersed tenting close by). However should you desire one thing completely different, simply outdoors the park’s western entrance, teeny-tiny Torrey makes the proper dwelling base.

Surprisingly well-equipped, the city affords a handful of nice eateries (I selected “eateries” deliberately, as two of one of the best locations to eat are the Capitol Burger meals truck and Darkish Sky Espresso, a drive-thru stand) and outlets, plus a mixture of lodging starting from traditional motels to upscale glamping.

We beloved Skyview Lodge, the place we stayed in each a stargazing dome and a extra conventional resort room that had a non-public patio with a sizzling tub dealing with the cliffs. I extremely suggest each.

Tasty eats at Capitol Burger meals truck.

Sensible Planning Suggestions

Getting there: Capitol Reef is in south-central Utah, about 4 hours from Salt Lake Metropolis. Due to its relative remoteness, many guests embody it in a bigger nationwide park highway journey.

You’ll want a car, however not simply any car: A automobile is important for exploring the park (see above). With that in thoughts, although, keep in mind that whereas the primary scenic drive is paved and simply accessible, among the extra distant areas like Cathedral Valley require excessive clearance or four-wheel-drive. All the time chat with a park ranger about present highway circumstances earlier than heading out.

Pack for variable climate: Spring circumstances shift surprisingly shortly within the excessive desert. Deliver layers, loads of water, solar safety, and durable sneakers for mountaineering.

Gas up prematurely: Fuel stations are restricted within the instant space, to not point out costly, so refill earlier than Torrey or coming into the park.

Obtain maps forward of time: Cell service is spotty to nonexistent in lots of elements of the park, so having offline maps could make a giant distinction. We use a mixture of AllTrails and OnX, the latter primarily for roads. 

Petroglyph Path.

A Completely different Form of Nationwide Park Expertise

Capitol Reef doesn’t compete for consideration in any means. As a substitute, it affords some issues turning into more and more uncommon: extensive open areas to discover, time to decelerate, and the liberty to expertise all of it with out feeling rushed. For households, that may make all of the distinction.

Photographs by Taryn Shorr-Mckee

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Concerning the Writer: Residing within the Ozarks along with her husband and two youngsters after spending most of her life in southern Arizona, Taryn writes about journey journey and meals, and loves sharing hidden gems. You’ll discover her exploring nationwide parks, mountaineering, tenting, road-tripping, or floating. Taryn recurrently contributes to Lonely Planet, Matador Community, Midwest Residing, Afar, Journey + Leisure, and different retailers. 

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