VISITATION:
Approximately 700,000, primarily between April and October. Visitation is the highest April through June, September and October; lowest in January.

ADDRESS:
Superintendent
Capitol Reef National Park
HC 70, Box 15
Torrey, Utah 84775

E-MAIL:
care_superintendent@nps.gov

TELEPHONE:
(801)425-3791

OPERATING HOURS AND SEASONS:
The park and campgrounds are open year round. The Visitor Center is open daily (except Christmas Day) from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. with extended hours during the summer season.

CLIMATE, RECOMMENDED CLOTHING:
Very warm summers, cool winters. Mild spring and fall.

DIRECTIONS:
The park is located in southcentral Utah. From Green River, Utah, take Hwy 24 west through Hanksville; from Richfield, take Hwy 24 east through the communities of Loa, Lyman, Bicknell and Torrey.

TRANSPORTATION:
To Park: by personal vehicle or tour bus via Utah Hwy 24. Nearest commercial airports in Grand Junction, Colorado and Salt Lake City, Utah.

In Park:

Personal Vehicle, biking, hiking.

FEES:
The fee for entering the Scenic Drive is $4. Campsites in the 70 site Fruita Campground are $7 per night and are available on a first-come, first-served basis. The Group Campground, on a reservation basis, is $25 per night.

FACILITIES AND OPPORTUNITIES:
There are no lodging facilities in the park. For more information, call the Wayne County Travel Council at 1-800-858-7951.

RECOMMENDED ACTVITIES/PARK USE:
The park is always open, but Visitor Center hours vary with the season. Activities include: Auto tours, interpretive exhibits and programs, picnicking, hiking, backpacking, mountain biking on established roads, and rock climbing.

RESERVATIONS / PERMITS:
We take reservations for our group campground only. Backcountry hiking permits are required.

BASIC VISIT RECOMMENDATIONS:
Drive the Scenic Drive along the base of the Waterpocket Fold. Hike to Hickman Bridge. See the Petroglyph Panel interpretive pullout. Walk through the Historic Orchards of Fruita and pick fruit.

SPECIAL EVENTS / PROGRAMS:
Visitor Center/Exhibits:
Located at Utah Hwy 24, the Visitor Center has many exhibits, a slide show, and book sales.

Trails, Roadways:
The park is a haven for backcountry hiking. Many trails are available for people of all abilities and time constraints. Capitol Reef also has a number of scenic roadways, many of them unpaved, that can be taken to all corners of the park. Please call the Visitor Center and ask about specific trails and/or roads or visit the Electronic Visitor Center.

Programs, Activities:
Summer walks, talks, and evening campfire programs.

Lodging and Camping Facilities:
The Fruita Campground contains 70 sites that can accomodate RVs; however, there are no hook-ups. There are also two primitive campgrounds, each with pit toilets, fire grates, and picnic tables (no water). Although there are no lodging facilities in the park, you can leave the Capitol Reef and National Park Service Homepage and go to either the Wayne County Travel Council's Capitol Reef Country or Utah Travel Council's Utah! homepage. Here you will find a great deal of information that will help with your trip planning. Everything from lodging, private campgrounds with RV hookups, restaurants, and tour outfitters, to local attractions and events can be found at these two sites.

Food and Supplies:
None inside the park. Convenience marts and grocery stores are located in Torrey, Bicknell, and Loa, east of the Visitor Center on Utah Hwy 24.

Harvest Homecoming:
Held the last Friday and Saturday in September, Harvest Homecoming celebrates the pioneer legacy and fruit harvest of Capitol Reef. A number of programs are held during this two day festival, including: calf roping; American Indian dancing; quilting demonstrations; historic draft horse and farm implement demonstrations; soap and candle making; blacksmithing and wheelwright/wainright demonstrations; ham smoking and sourghum processing; and, a host of other cultural events.

VISITOR IMPACTS:
Capitol Reef is subject to flash flooding from late June through early October. Flash floods can leave you stranded in a canyon or on a backcountry road. Please check with the Visitor Center for up-to-date weather and road conditions before you embark to the backcountry.