Why Capitol Reef Is Utah’s Most Underrated National Park

As more people try to complete their summer plans, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed, especially after months of seeing social media flooded with long entrance lines, overflowing parking lots, and crowded trails at the country’s most popular national parks. However, we at the Lodge at Red River Ranch know a better way to spend your time. Just down the road from us is Capitol Reef National Park in Utah, one of the state’s best-kept secrets. With towering cliffs, winding canyons, and unforgettable vistas, Capitol Reef offers all the beauty of Utah’s “Mighty Five,” and all without the crowds.

Photo by Kelly vanDellen via Shutterstock.com

Here, you can slow down, explore at your own pace, and still have plenty of time to enjoy a nice glass of wine before bidding the sun farewell in one of the many nearby restaurants.

1. Capitol Reef’s Scenic Beauty Without the Crowds

When people search “best time to visit Capitol Reef,” the answer is pretty much always “now.” Even at its busiest, this park feels open and accessible. Capitol Reef welcomed 1.42 million visitors in 2024, its highest ever, according to KUER News. That’s still a fraction of the nearly five million who poured into Zion National Park. What does that mean for you? Easier parking, slower mornings, and uncrowded trails, especially in the further reaches of the park.

Popular Capitol Reef attractions, such as the Capitol Reef Scenic Drive, Cathedral Valley, and Hickman Bridge, offer world-class red-rock scenery comparable to that of other parks, with a quarter of the crowd. Whether you’re capturing sunrise over the Navajo Knobs or enjoying a calm mid-day hike through Grand Wash, you’ll notice the difference: a lot less noise, a lot more space, and more time to enjoy what you came to see.

Photo by Kelly vanDellen via Shutterstock.com

From The Lodge, you can be at the park’s visitor center in under 15 minutes, which means you can start your day before most travelers have even finished breakfast in other towns.

2. Capitol Reef’s Fruita Orchards, Gifford Homestead, and the Best Pie in Utah

If you search “things to do in Capitol Reef,” you’ll see plenty of mentions of the Fruita Historic District. Settled in the late 1800s, this desert oasis is home to pioneer-era orchards that continue to produce apples, peaches, and pears in season.

Photo by Nick Fox via Shutterstock.com

Right at the heart of Fruita is the Gifford Homestead, famous for small-batch fruit pies that visitors rave about (visitor video). They bake 32 dozen pies a day, and they’re usually sold out by early afternoon. Trust us, you’ll want to grab yours before heading out for an afternoon hike. Many guests at The Lodge start their day with a scenic orchard stroll, then stop at Gifford’s for pie before venturing deeper into the park (NPS: Gifford Homestead).

Harvest season in Capitol Reef adds another layer of charm; grab a basket, and you can pick your own fruit right from the trees. It’s a slice of living history you won’t find in other Utah national parks.

3. Hiking, Backcountry Drives, and Rugged Adventure in Capitol Reef

If you’re the type to search for “Utah Backcountry Hikes,” you’ll find that this park is a dream for explorers. The geology here is dominated by the Waterpocket Fold, a 100-mile-long wrinkle in the Earth’s crust (Utah.com). It’s a place for hikers, photographers, and anyone who loves a good off-the-beaten-path experience.

Favorites in Capitol Reef include Cassidy Arch, named after outlaw Butch Cassidy, and Sulphur Creek, where you can wade through shallow water and navigate through slot canyons. In the northern area, Cathedral Valley has towering monoliths and remote dirt-road drives that feel like visiting another planet — and if you’re interested, visit a nearby “planet” while you’re here: Mars on Earth.

Photo by piksik via Shutterstock.com

Staying at The Lodge makes it easy to tailor your trip; spend one day getting in your steps, and the next, cruising the Capitol Reef Scenic Drive with plenty of places for photos that your friends will think are AI-generated.

4. Best Lodging Near Capitol Reef for Day Trips and Adventures

Another reason this is the best place to stay near Capitol Reef National Park is its location. The Lodge is just minutes from the park entrance in Torrey, Utah, yet far enough from Highway 24 to ensure quiet nights. It also serves as an ideal base camp for exploring more of the area; Bryce Canyon, Goblin Valley State Park, Grand Staircase–Escalante, and even Moab’s Arches and Canyonlands are all accessible for easy day trips.

Whether you’re road-tripping Utah’s Mighty Five or making Capitol Reef your main focus, The Lodge offers the perfect blend of comfort, character, and convenience.

5. Plan Your Visit

Capitol Reef might be called “underrated,” but once you’ve been here, you’ll understand why so many visitors return year after year. It’s a park that rewards slowing down. Savor a pie in the shade of the orchard, watch shadows stretch across the cliffs at sunset, and stand in awe under a sky filled with more stars than you thought possible.

Make The Lodge at Red River Ranch your home base and see for yourself why Capitol Reef National Park is Utah’s most underrated national park.