Frommer's National Parks of the American West - Don Laine [94]
VISITOR CENTERS
The park visitor center is on the Scenic Drive at its intersection with Utah 24. A path connects it to the campground, passing the historic blacksmith shop, orchards, and a lovely shaded picnic ground. The visitor center, open daily from 8am to 4:30pm (extended hours in summer) year-round, has exhibits on the geology and history of the area, and a 10-minute slide show on the park. Rangers answer questions and provide backcountry permits. You can also pick up free brochures and buy books, maps, videos, postcards, and posters.
The Ripple Rock Nature Center, located about ¾ mile south of the visitor center along the Scenic Drive, offers exhibits and activities especially for children. It's open during the summer only.
FEES & PERMITS
Entry to the park (for up to 7 days) costs $5 per vehicle. Camping in the main campground costs $10 per night; the two primitive campgrounds are free. Free backcountry permits (available at the visitor center) are required for all overnight hikes.
SPECIAL REGULATIONS & WARNINGS
Although most visitors to the park enjoy a wonderful vacation without mishap, problems can occur. Hikers need to carry plenty of water, especially in summer. A major concern is weather: Afternoon thunderstorms in July, August, and September can bring flash floods, which fill narrow canyons suddenly and without warning. Steep-walled Grand Wash and Capitol Gorge can be particularly hazardous and should be avoided whenever storms are threatening.
Because wildlife refuse to follow park rules regarding wildlife diet, campers should be careful of where and how they store food, and dispose of garbage promptly.
Use of ATVs is not permitted in the park.
SEASONS & CLIMATE
Because of its higher elevation, Capitol Reef doesn't get as hot as some other Southwestern parks, but summer temperatures can be uncomfortably warm on the trail. Winters can be very pleasant—snow falls occasionally but doesn't usually last, and temperatures are often in the 50s. Late winter and spring are frequently windy.
Depending on the weather, the Scenic Drive sometimes closes, most often in late summer during flash-flood season and occasionally in winter due to snow. When it's closed, you still have access to a network of trails from Utah 24 and can get to the picnic area and campground.
If You Have Only 1 Day
Because Capitol Reef is such a compact park, it's fairly easy to see a lot in a short time. Although 2 or 3 days in the park would be ideal, it is quite possible to have an enjoyable time with just half a day or so. Because there are no food services in the park (except fruit in season), you'll want to pack a picnic lunch.
Start at the visitor center, and watch the short slide show explaining the park's geology and early history. Then head out on the paved 25-mile round-trip Scenic Drive (described below), stopping along the way for a short hike, perhaps the easy walk up the Grand Wash. In the historic pioneer community of Fruita, near the beginning of the Scenic Drive, you can wander among the orchards, where you're likely to see deer. Then visit the historic Gifford Farmhouse, where you can get a taste of the daily life of Fruita's Mormon settlers and purchase replicas of pioneer-era household items and crafts. Hike one of the shorter trails in the Fruita area before going to see the Fruita Schoolhouse and some of the park's petroglyphs. In the evening, try to take in a ranger program at the amphitheater.
Exploring the Park by Car
Capitol Reef is relatively easy to see from the comfort of your automobile. From the visitor center, the Scenic Drive leads about 12½ miles south into the park. Pick up a copy of the free Scenic Drive brochure at the entrance station, then set out, stopping at view points to gaze up and out at the array of colorful cliffs, monoliths, and commanding rock formations.
If the weather is dry, drive down the gravel Capitol Gorge Road at the end of the paved