Is Capitol Reef Worth Visiting? How to Spend a Day + Where to Stay

Lincoln Travel Co.

When I was telling people all about the Utah National Parks trip I had planned, of course they knew all about Zion and Bryce Canyon.

And everybody ooohs and ahhhs over Moab, but when I said I was including a stop at Capitol Reef, I got…blank stares. “What’s that? It’s a National Park? I’ve never even heard of it!”

Whether it’s the least visited National Park in Utah is debatable, but I’m going to say that Capitol Reef National Park is definitely the least well known.

There’s a really great scenic drive. I LOVE a good scenic drive. While Capitol Reef isn’t nearly as dramatic as Zion, it’s definitely a lot more scenic than Bryce, from the car.

What I Liked about Visiting Capitol Reef

It was one of Butch Cassidy’s hideouts. The famous outlaw (born Robert LeRoy Parker) grew up in the part of Utah and it’s rumored that he even hid out in parts of what are now Capitol Reef National Park.

Torrey, UT is the small gateway town for Capitol Reef and it’s a charming little town with a great hotel and a fantastic breakfast/coffee spot.

The park is long and skinny, but the main road just cuts across a tiny portion of it.

What I Didn’t Like about Visiting Capitol Reef

A lot of what this park is best known for (Cathedral Valley in particular) isn’t very accessible. Besides the main part of the park around the visitor center (along the highway that cuts through), most roads aren’t paved and aren’t well maintained.

Swipe up to read the full post!

more posts

Zion vs Bryce Canyon: Here’s How Utah’s Top 2 National Parks Stack Up

1 Day at Bryce Canyon National Park: The Navajo Loop Trail, The Lodge & MORE