The best thing about Capitol Reef National Park is that it’s less popular than all the other national parks in Utah year-round. That means visitors to the park are able to explore the trails and beauty without being bombarded with people. It’s makes for the perfect day trip and offers a variety of hikes for the whole family.

Here are some of the best hikes, ranked from easy to hard, you’ll find in Capitol Reef National Park. There are others, but these are some of the more popular trails.

Short Hike to the Petroglyphs

Start at the Visitor Center. It’s where you can fill up your water bottles, take a bathroom break, grab a souvenir, or start your Junior Ranger Program experience. Again, don’t get caught on a trail without water – so purchase a water bottle at the Visitor Center if you forgot to bring one. It’s also where you pay your park entrance fee or show you National Parks Pass.

Once you’re charged and ready to go, head back to the main road (Utah State Route 24) and turn right. Not far down the road, you’ll pass the small Fruita schoolhouse on the left. Continue a little further and pull into the small parking area to the Petroglyphs.

From the trailhead, you can venture two different directions.

• Due north, you’ll ascend to a rock face wall with some Petroglyphs on it. That trail ends at a little viewing area, then you can head back down the way you came.
• The trail to the east is flat and has a walkway/bridge that you’ll follow to another area with Petroglyphs. It’s a short walk – we’re talking less than a quarter of a mile.

This scenic stop is great to stretch the legs and get the kids ready for some of the other hikes in the park.

Kid-friendly Hike: Grand Wash Trail

The Grand Wash trail in Capitol Reef National Park has two trailheads. You can access it from State Route 24, or you can enter the Park and drive to the Cassidy Arch Trailhead to access it from the other end. The access point off of SR 24 doesn’t have a lot of parking, so be prepared to find another spot nearby if you intend to start from that end. Parking at the Cassidy Arch Trailhead is also limited, and you will want to keep that there are areas that have deep, loose sand – so don’t get your vehicle stuck.

If there are rainstorms in the area, you may want to check with the rangers at the Visitor Center to make sure you aren’t putting yourself at risk of flooding along the Grand Wash trail. After all, it’s a dry riverbed only when there isn’t any water flowing in it.

The winding trail up the dry river bed is pretty flat, so you don’t need to worry about any strenuous climbs. In some parts, you’re surrounded by narrow canyon walls towering above you. But it’s not enough to make you claustrophobic.

Along the trail, there is also a stretch of canyon wall where pioneers carved their names into the stone. Out of respect for others that hike along the trail, don’t be a pioneer and add your name to the wall. PLEASE!!

DISTANCE: 2.2 miles one way
CATEGORY: Easy
ELEVATION CHANGE: 200 feet (very gradual changes)

Moderate Hike: Hickman Bridge

Hickman Bridge is a popular hike for families in Capitol Reef National Park. The trailhead is along SR 24, making it easily accessible. My kids love the trail because it winds through the rocks and trees, and has a lot of variety and places to explore along the way. What kid doesn’t love to crawl into a little rocky hole and ask their parents to take their picture.

Once at Hickman Bridge, you can explore the area and climb around on a lot of rocks. We didn’t see any dangerous wildlife (like snakes), but that doesn’t mean they weren’t there. So just be careful – you are in a desert!

The nice part about this trail is that two miles isn’t very long, there’s a cool bridge overhead when you get to the top, and kids can explore things along the trail as you go. I would highly recommend this trail for young hikers!

DISTANCE: 2 miles roundtrip
CATEGORY: Moderate
ELEVATION CHANGE: 400 feet

Strenuous, But Doable: Cassidy Arch

My first foray into Capitol Reef National Park took me to Cassidy Arch. I had no idea what to expect, but thought it would be a great place to take some photos. I wasn’t disappointed, although I was winded after ascending the switchbacks on the 670 foot elevation change, most of which occurs in the first part of the trail.

Once you ascend up out of the Grand Wash canyon to the tops of the mountains, the views are breathtaking. You can see the valley below and across the surrounding mountains. As you get out to Cassidy Arch, which is a large vertical hole in the mountain, that creates an arch along the ridge. If your kids made the hike with you, keep an eye on them so they don’t tumble into the hole.

While up there, take a moment to lay down on the ground and look up at the sky. I did that and nearly fell asleep. It was cool to watch the birds flying around and being up where they are. It really makes you feel free and gives you time to destress and enjoy the beauty of nature.

DISTANCE: 3.4 miles roundtrip
CATEGORY: Strenuous
ELEVATION CHANGE: 670 feet (most of that elevation change takes place at the start of the trail as you climb up out of the Grand Wash to the top of the ridges.

Junior Ranger Program at Capitol Reef National Park

Like other national parks, Capitol Reef offers a Junior Ranger Program. The workbooks are free and can be picked up in the Visitor Center as well as the Ripple Rock Nature Center. As you venture through the park, your kids (ages 3 and up) can complete certain activities in the booklet. Once the required number of activities are done – as per your child’s age – they can be sworn in as a Junior Ranger and receive a little memento.

Beyond the Junior Ranger Program, Capitol Reef also offers a Junior Geologist Program. The free workbook is only available at the Ripple Rock Nature Center during the summer months. Kids learn about rock formations, earth science elements, rock layers, erosion and more. It’s a great little program to help teach kids about the world around them.

The Details:

Address: Torrey, UT 84775

Parking: There’s parking at the Visitor Center. The trailheads have designated parking spots as well. During the summer season, parking lots may fill up, making it more challenging to find parking.

Cost: Free with Annual National Parks Pass. Private Vehicle: $15; Individuals: $7. Back country hiking permits are available and are free. Camping is available for a fee.

Hours: The park is open year round. The Visitor Center is open daily from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with extended hours during peak seasons.

Website: https://www.nps.gov/care/index.htm

Phone: (435) 425-3791

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