Capitol Reef National Park

NileGuide Expert tip:

Check the park calendar to see when the orchards are ready for picking. Capitol Reef has the National Park system's oldest orchard, & it's open to the public. Fresh fruit in season!

Description:

• Capitol Reef contains some of the most varied and interesting terrain in Utah. Part of the 100-mile long monocline called the Waterpocket Fold, an abrupt thousand-foot ridge made out of twisted sandstone, this region makes an ideal playground and feast for the eyes. Highway 24 runs right through the Park, east-west, in a canyon called by iconic Western author Edward Abbey the most beautiful in Capitol Reef.  Ancient Fremont Indians left pictographs (paintings on the rock) and petroglyphs (etchings in the rock) in the towering sandstone walls for modern eyes to puzzle over.Mormon pioneers planted the fruit orchards that are maintained to this day as the oldest in the National Park system; visitors are welcome to pick when the fruits are in season.

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