End of the Summer Vacation

Summer vacation has breezed by again. The kids are starting school again, ready or not. In the early morning, you can start to feel the brisk chill of an approaching autumn. So it no surprise that a lot of our guests come to the Lodge for one last summer adventure over Labor Day Weekend.

One Last Hurrah

Labor Day is really the last chance for a proper long-weekend vacation. (Until Thanksgiving anyway.) And we think we know the perfect place for you and your family to enjoy the end of summer – Capitol Reef National Park, of course! Spend your last days of summer vacation hiking and driving through one of the most scenic spots in the state. Then it’s back to the books.

Looking back from the top of the Fremont Gorge Overlook Trail. By Red River Ranch.

What to Do in Capitol Reef

There’s plenty to explore in the park, but here’s just a couple of quick suggestions.

Cassidy Arch Trail – our number one pick in Capitol Reef. The hike is moderately-strenuous, but the view from the top is definitely worth it. The arch is awesome, obviously, but so is the Waterpocket Fold that you can see stretched out beneath you. Pack a lunch, eat it on top of Cassidy Arch, take some impressive selfies, and be back in time for a nap. The trailhead is on the Scenic Road on the Capitol Gorge turnoff.

Fremont Gorge Overlook Trail – this is a fairly easy hike (after the initial incline) across a flat mesa to the dramatic drop-off of the Fremont Gorge. If you want a chill, laid-back, morning hike with a pretty big payoff, this is the one for you. The trailhead starts at the Blacksmith’s Shop, near the visitor center. Stop by the Gifford House afterward for treats.

Drive the Burr Trail – early September is the perfect time to do the Burr Trail. As you drive up Boulder Mountain, you’ll be treated to all the usual scenery, but also to the glorious colors of the changing aspen trees. The 62-mile loop will take you through the majesty of Capitol Reef’s Waterpocket Fold, which is our favorite section of the park. Start and end in Torrey, Utah. And don’t forget to stop often, take lots of pictures and hike around a bit.

Make Some Plans

There’s one other benefit to visiting Capitol Reef National Park over Labor Day. The weather is a little more cooperative. The mornings and evenings are cooler, and the monsoon season is pretty much over. So you don’t have to bake in the morning and soak in the afternoons.

Labor Day is on September 3rd this year, so get your plans together and come check out Capitol Reef.