The Perfect One Day in Capitol Reef National Park Itinerary
Capitol Reef National Park is one of the least visited national parks in Utah but incredibly underrated. It offers beautiful roadside viewpoints and fun hikes with stunning views.
Although you could spend a few days exploring everything it has to offer, you can spend one day in Capitol Reef National Park and experience the most beautiful areas. We spent one day in Capitol Reef National Park and saw and hiked everything on our itinerary. This guide has everything you need to know to spend one day in Capitol Reef National Park!
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Tips for Spending One Day in Capitol Reef National Park
Start your day early. Although Capitol Reef National Park does not see as many visitors as the other national parks in Utah, you should still start your day as early as you can. Most of the must-see sights require hiking, and if you want to fit the most in one day in Capitol Reef National Park, I recommend starting your day early!
Be prepared to hike. Many of the must-see sights in Capitol Reef National Park require hiking. Many of the trails are short and easy, while others are strenuous. If you don't want to hike at all, you can enjoy the scenic drive and take in the views from the road! If you want to experience the beauty of the park, I recommend packing hiking gear and preparing to hike!
Pack food and water. The only option to get food in Capitol Reef National Park is in the small town of Fruita at the Gifford Homestead, but it does not have much other than pastries. Although the pies and cinnamon rolls are delicious, they aren’t great foods to eat for hiking. I recommend packing food and water in a cooler in your car, so you don’t have to leave the park to get anything.
Always remember to leave no trace. It’s crucial to pack out what you pack in and leave no trash. Some of these spots have trash bins, so you can easily throw your trash away. If they don’t have trash bins, you can throw your trash away at a nearby gas station or convenience store.
How to Get to Capitol Reef National Park
Capitol Reef National Park is located in the southwest of Utah. The easiest way to get to Capitol Reef National Park is to fly into Salt Lake City International Airport. The Salt Lake City International Airport is the closest airport to Capitol Reef National Park and is a 3.5-hour drive down I-15S to the park.
It is also possible to fly into Harry Reid International Airport, but it is a long drive of five hours. We flew into SLC because we were starting our trip in Moab, and if we were only going to Capitol Reef National Park, we still would have chosen SLC.
I highly recommend renting a car to visit Capitol Reef National Park because there is not a bus that connects the park to either airport. There also is not a shuttle in the park, so having a car is essential.
Where to Stay For One Day in Capitol Reef National Park
If you plan on spending a night near Capitol Reef National Park, you can find accommodations in the town of Torrey. Torrey has hotels, a few restaurants, and a grocery store.
Torrey does not have too many accommodations options, so you can opt to stay in a nearby town. Plenty of the smaller towns around Capitol Reef National Park have accommodations and other things you need for your trip.
We stayed in Torrey and enjoyed our time there! Because it was so close to the park entrance, it was perfect for our one day in Capitol Reef National Park.
If you have or can rent camping gear or a campervan, I highly recommend it because there are campgrounds close to Capitol Reef National Park. If you are interested in renting a campervan, I highly recommend renting from Escape Campervans!
Best Hotels:
Best Campgrounds:
What to Pack for One Day in Capitol Reef National Park
Hiking Boots: If you want comfort and support on your trip, hiking boots are the go to.
Hiking Socks: Having moisture-wicking and comfortable hiking socks are just as important for exploring.
Hiking Backpack: You need something to carry all your food, clothes, and anything else you need while adventuring, so having a supportive hiking backpack is crucial.
Hydration Reservoir/Water Bottles: While hiking or just exploring, it is important to have enough water! I always pack a hydration reservoir.
Jackets: The weather is unpredictable, so I always pack a rain jacket and insulated jacket.
Ten Essentials: The Ten Essentials are crucial for hiking!
Microspikes: If you plan on winter hiking, you will need to bring microspikes.
Snowshoes: Also if you hike in the winter, you may need snowshoes.
The Best One Day in Capitol Reef National Park Itinerary
It is time to begin your fun-filled day in Capitol Reef National Park! If you are not looking to tackle any big hikes during your stay, there are many beautiful areas that only require a short hike.
Hike to Hickman Natural Bridge
It is time to start your epic one day in Capitol Reef National Park! Hickman Natural Bridge is a beautiful 125-foot tall and 133-foot long arch and is one of the most popular attractions in the park.
Hickman Natural Bridge was the first thing we hiked to when we entered the park, and we were glad for it. It became very crowded when we passed it later in the day.
The 2-mile loop begins at the Hickman Bridge Trailhead, which is east of the park entrance. The first section of the trail ascends gradually over a series of switchbacks and is the only section that gains elevation. Once you reach the top of the switchbacks, the rest of the trail is easy and flat. Hickman Natural Bridge will take your breath away with how massive it is.
The trail continues around the back of the arch and loops back to where you started. On the way back to the parking lot, make sure to take a picture of Capitol Dome, which will be straight ahead of you, and Pectols Pyramid, which is across the street.
Explore the Grand Wash
Grand Wash is known as the Narrows of Capitol Reef National Park and is an incredible and easy hike for all levels! The 5-mile roundtrip trail starts on Highway 24 and brings you to the Cassidy Arch Trailhead.
If you do not want to hike the entire 5 miles roundtrip, you can turn around about one mile in like most people do. No matter how long you choose to hike Grand Wash, you will be in awe of the beautiful canyon you walk through.
Eat at the Gifford Homestead
The town of Fruita is a small historic town located in Capitol Reef National Park and is home to the Gifford Homestead. The Gifford Homestead has delicious pastries, including pies and cinnamon rolls, that you should try! You can walk around the small town and take in what the pioneers created in the late 1800s!
Drive the Capitol Reef Scenic Drive
Once you are past Fruita, you will drive on the Capitol Reef Scenic Drive. There are many things to do off of the 8-mile scenic drive, but you can take in the beautiful views from the road. The views from this scenic drive were among our favorites in the park!
Note: Most of the Capitol Reef Scenic Drive is prone to flash flooding.
Drive on the Capitol Gorge Road
Capitol Gorge Road is at the end of the Capitol Reef scenic drive and is a short drive that offers beautiful views. The 2.3-mile Capitol Gorge Road weaves through a canyon and ends at the Capitol Gorge Trail.
If you want to hike, you can follow a half-mile on the Capitol Gorge Trail to the Pioneer Register, where you can see the Mormon settler names on the canyon walls. Please do not write on the walls! If you want to hike further, you can follow the Capitol Gorge Trail for another 1.5 miles to the Water Tanks, which are natural water basins essential to the desert ecosystem.
Explore Panorama Point
Once you explored the Capitol Reef Scenic Drive, you can head to the area where you will be watching the sunset. Panorama Point is a beautiful lookout off of Highway 24 that has stunning views from the parking lot, so no hiking is required! It is an incredible viewpoint to look over Capitol Reef National Park.
Enjoy the views at Goosenecks Overlook
As you drive past Panorama Point, you will come to Goosenecks Overlook at the end. Goosenecks Overlook is a short walk from the parking lot and has a beautiful view of Sulphur Creek running through the canyon below you.
Watch the sunset from Sunset Point
It is time to end your day at a beautiful overlook and watch the sunset over Capitol Reef National Park! The easy 0.6-mile roundtrip trail brings you to one of the best places to watch the sunset. Sunset Point has views of Waterpocket Fold and Sulphur Creek Gorge.
I promise you won’t regret hiking the short trail to Sunset Point and watching the golden light shine over Capitol Reef National Park! We loved ending our one day in Capitol Reef National Park here and watching the sunset!
The Best Hikes for One Day in Capitol Reef National Park
If you want to hike in Capitol Reef National Park, the options are endless! There are many great hikes that you can add to your itinerary. Here is the best way to spend one day in Capitol Reef National Park, hiking the day away!
Hickman Natural Bridge Trail
Hickman Natural Bridge is a beautiful 125-foot tall and 133-foot long arch and is one of the most popular attractions in the park. You are starting your day off hiking to this beautiful arch, so you can avoid most crowds and find a parking spot in the small parking lot.
The 2-mile loop begins at the Hickman Bridge Trailhead, which is east of the park entrance. The first section of the trail ascends gradually over a series of switchbacks and is the only section that gains elevation. Once you reach the top of the switchbacks, the rest of the trail is easy and flat.
Hickman Natural Bridge will take your breath away with how massive it is! We stayed here enjoying a morning snack before the crowds started to join us. The trail continues around the back of the arch and loops back to where you started. On the way back to the parking lot, make sure to take a picture of Capitol Dome, which will be straight ahead of you, and Pectols Pyramid, which is across the street.
Grand Wash Trail
Grand Wash is known as the Narrows of Capitol Reef National Park and is an incredible and easy hike for all levels! The 5-mile roundtrip trail starts on Highway 24 and brings you to the Cassidy Arch Trailhead. You can also start the trail from the Cassidy Arch Trailhead since you will be hiking that during your one day in the park. You also do not have to hike the entire trail if you do not to and can turn around at any point.
Cohab Canyon to South Fruita Overlook Hike
Once you start driving the Capitol Reef Scenic Drive, the Cohab Canyon Trailhead will be one of the first attractions in the town of Fruita. The 3-mile roundtrip trail is short but steep and leads to a beautiful viewpoint of Highway 24 and Fruita. It was one of our favorite hikes!
The Cohab Canyon Trail begins by gaining about 400 feet of elevation over a series of switchbacks. Once you reach the top of the switchbacks, the trail evens out for the next mile as it weaves through Cohab Canyon. The trail then turns left at the junction to continue on Fruita Overlook Trail to the South Fruita Overlook. The views overlooking the area surrounding Fruita are beautiful! You will then follow the trail back the way you came.
Cassidy Arch trail
Cassidy Arch will be the next hike on the Capitol Reef scenic drive that will be one of your favorite hikes! It is a strenuous 3.5-mile roundtrip hike, but the views at the top are worth it.
The Cassidy Arch Trail begins by immediately gaining elevation and doesn’t stop until you reach the arch. The trail is relatively easy to follow, but I recommend paying attention because it can be easy to get off-trail if you aren't following the rock cairns, especially near the top.
Most of the hike also has a drop-off on one side, so if you don’t like heights, this may not be the hike for you. I am not a fan of heights, but I did okay on the hike!
Once you reach the top of the trail, you will be rewarded with views, looking over the Grand Wash Road and Cassidy Arch. Cassidy Arch is a spectacular arch that sits 400 feet above the ground. The views are breathtaking!
Rim Overlook Trail for sunset
Now it is time to end your day at one of the best viewpoints in Capitol Reef National Park. The Rim Overlook has stunning views overlooking the entire national park and is the perfect place to watch the sunset.
The 4-mile roundtrip Rim Overlook Trail begins in the same parking lot as Hickman Bridge and ascends a series of switchbacks before turning away from the Hickman Bridge Trail. There are not many flat sections on the trail, but the elevation gain is gradual.
After about 0.8 miles, the Rim Overlook Trail brings you to the Hickman Bridge Overlook, which has a beautiful view of Hickman Bridge from a higher viewpoint. The rest of the trail follows along the canyon until you reach the epic Rim Overlook. I’m telling you, it is the best view in Capitol Reef National Park and is the perfect place to watch the sunset.
This guide is the perfect place to start if you are planning one day in Capitol Reef National Park. If you want to spend more than one day in Capitol Reef National Park, you can spread out the must-see sights and plan your hikes for different days.
If you are looking for an epic Utah road trip to all five of its national parks, you can create the ultimate 7-day itinerary.
Hey, I’m Nichole!
I am the creator behind Nichole the Nomad, the home of my explorations around the world, mountain hikes, and beautiful pictures taken along the way. I have a deep passion for capturing the world in a beautiful light and sharing my experiences.
I created this blog to share my travels, show how beautiful the world is, provide tips and tricks for traveling, and encourage you to explore. Whether you want to travel across the world or explore what’s in your backyard, I hope this blog inspires you to get outside and find your adventure!
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