Termed 'the land of the sleeping rainbow' by Native Americans, this colorful desert landscape encompasses buttes and canyons replete with rock art, Mormon history and hiking trails. Though less famous than other Utah parks, it's well worth visiting.
Capitol Reef National Park
Southwestern Utah
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Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
Fruita Rural Historic District
4 MILES
Fruita (froo-tuh) is a cool, green oasis, where shade-giving cottonwoods and fruit-bearing trees line the Fremont River's banks. The first Mormon…
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Panorama Point & Gooseneck Overlook
6.55 MILES
Two miles west of the visitor center off Hwy 24, a short, unpaved road heads to Panorama Point and Gooseneck Overlook. The dizzying 800ft-high viewpoints…
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25.38 MILES
This petite museum protects the Coomb's Site, excavated in the 1950s and inhabited from AD 1130 to 1175. The minimal ruins aren't as evocative as some in…
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4.17 MILES
Across the road from the blacksmith shop (just a shed with period equipment) in the Fruita Rural -Historic District is the Ripple Rock Nature Center, a…
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3.95 MILES
The Gifford Homestead is an old homestead museum where you can also buy ice cream, artisan breads and preserves made from the orchard fruit. Don't skip…
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Box–Death Hollow Wilderness Area
28.16 MILES
This ruggedly beautiful wilderness area surrounds Hell's Backbone Rd. The 15.5-mile backpack Boulder Mail Trail follows the mule route the post used to…
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Upper Cathedral Valley Overlook
18.56 MILES
A short trail leads to a lookout point that affords sweeping views of Cathedral Valley.
Nearby Southwestern Utah attractions
3.04 MILES
Pioneers left carved names and dates on canyon walls while passing through Capitol Gorge.
3.95 MILES
The Gifford Homestead is an old homestead museum where you can also buy ice cream, artisan breads and preserves made from the orchard fruit. Don't skip…
6. Fruita Rural Historic District
4 MILES
Fruita (froo-tuh) is a cool, green oasis, where shade-giving cottonwoods and fruit-bearing trees line the Fremont River's banks. The first Mormon…
4.06 MILES
Just east of the visitor center on Hwy 24, look for the parking lot for freely accessible petroglyphs; these are the rock-art carvings that convinced…
4.17 MILES
Across the road from the blacksmith shop (just a shed with period equipment) in the Fruita Rural -Historic District is the Ripple Rock Nature Center, a…