Just inside Capitol Reef National Park in Utah is the Fruita Historic District, a desert oasis unlike any other in red rock country. Tall cottonwoods cast shadows over lush green fields, pioneer homesteads remain preserved against sandstone cliffs, and over a thousand fruit trees still thrive where early settlers once made their living. For many visitors, exploring Fruita’s orchards is as memorable as hiking Hickman Bridge or driving the Scenic Drive.

Photo courtesy of NPS

History of the Fruita Orchards in Capitol Reef

The orchards date back to the late 1800s when Mormon pioneers planted apples, apricots, peaches, cherries, and pears along the Fremont River. These families cultivated hardy heirloom varieties suited for the high desert, some of which are now rare outside Fruita. Today, Capitol Reef maintains about 1,900 fruit trees across multiple orchards, preserving both the fruit and the history that come with them (NPS; KUER).

How Capitol Reef’s U-Pick Program Works

If you’re searching for “U-Pick fruit in Utah”, Fruita is one of the most unique destinations in the state. Here’s what visitors need to know:

• Only orchards with “U-Pick Fruit” signs are open for harvesting.
• Self-pay stations with scales are available at each orchard.
• Tools like ladders and picking poles are provided, but visitors must pick only ripe fruit and follow park guidelines (NPS; Visit Utah).

What’s in season:

• Cherries and apricots: June through July
• Peaches: Late July through August
• Apples and pears: September through October

In good years, visitors can taste the changing seasons as different orchards ripen.

Photo courtesy of Shutterstock

The 2025 Harvest: A Year Without U-Pick

Capitol Reef’s orchards are vulnerable to the weather. In 2025, an unusually early bloom followed by freezing nights destroyed most blossoms. The result: over 80 percent of the fruit harvest was lost, and the park announced that no orchards are open for U-Pick this season (National Parks Traveler). Even so, Fruita remains a highlight. Visitors can stroll the orchards, enjoy the shade of cottonwoods, and stop at the Gifford House for handmade pies, jams, and other treats that carry on the orchard tradition.

Why Fruita’s Orchards Matter

Beyond fresh fruit, Fruita’s orchards connect people to Capitol Reef in a special way. They serve as a living link to pioneer life in Utah, where orchards once provided food and community for families in the Fremont River Valley. Today, they represent the park’s commitment to protecting both natural and cultural history — and they offer modern visitors a chance to slow down, explore, and enjoy the landscape.

The Lodge Connection

Guests at The Lodge at Red River Ranch near Capitol Reef often include Fruita in their daily routines: a morning walk through the orchards, a stop at the Gifford House for pie and coffee, and an afternoon exploring nearby trails. In fall, cottonwoods glow gold against the red cliffs, making Fruita one of the most photographed locations in Capitol Reef. Even in years with a light harvest, the orchards stand as a symbol of the park’s charm—where history, community, and scenery come together.

Photo courtesy of Shutterstock

Plan Your Visit to Capitol Reef Orchards

Whether you’re hoping to pick apples straight from the tree, enjoy fresh peach pie, or simply wander beneath golden leaves, Fruita’s orchards are worth adding to your Capitol Reef itinerary. Check the Capitol Reef U-Pick fruit page before your trip to see which orchards are open and what’s in season.

Make The Lodge at Red River Ranch your home base — just minutes from Fruita — and you’ll be close enough to enjoy the orchards in the morning and still have the whole day to explore Capitol Reef 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.

You probably already know this, but it’s ski season! Utah is famous for its snow, and its snow sports. (We’ve hosted the Winter Olympic Games once before, and are scheduled to do so again in 2034.) The big ski resorts near Salt Lake City are the most popular with tourists, but there are a couple of great little resorts down here in Southern Utah that we like to highlight every year. Because, as you’ll see, they have some real advantages.

Photo by Glade Optics via unsplash.com

Brian Head Ski Resort

Brian Head is Utah’s southernmost resort. They’ve been around for over 60 years, offering guests great snow and great rates. Interestingly, Brian Head has the highest base elevation of any resort in the state. So don’t think just because it’s here in Southern Utah that it will be sparse on annual snowfall. Every year it receives hundreds of inches. We just looked at their website as we were writing this blog post, and they posted 5 inches just last night. It’s a seriously great place to ski!

Brian Head boasts 650 acres, two connected mountains, 71 runs and 8 chair lifts. 35% of the runs are rated as “most difficult,” but it’s also got tubing runs for more causal fun with the kids. Tickets start at $39 for an adult day pass, and go up from there, depending on the day and season. You can look at they’re pricing here.

Photo by Blade Optics via unsplash.com

Eagle Point Ski Resort

Eagle Point is the new challenger to Brian Head’s dominance here in southern part of the state. Although it kinda, sorta existed in some iteration before 2009, it wasn’t really Eagle Point as we know it until then. So while it might not be quite as developed as Brian Head, they’re hungry for market share and are expanding rapidly.

As of today, they have 5 lifts and 43 named runs over about 600 acres. But the resort has also worked out a deal with the National Forest Service to allow you access to thousands of acres of pristine backcountry acreage. Which is great if you’re a big backcountry skier. Eagle Point also has a terrain park and a couple of small tubing hills. And they too get plenty of annual snowfall. Basically, everything you need for the perfect weekend. Day prices start at $45 and go up from there.

Photo by Sean Lee via unsplash.com

The Best Reason to Ski in Southern Utah

Hopefully we’ve convinced you that these resorts are the real deal. But there is one really compelling reason that we think you should ski here, and that’s the scenery! Both Eagle Point and Brian Head have great views, of course, but they also exist in close proximity to the national parks for which Southern Utah is so famous. You can easily ski during the week, and tour the parks on the weekend. Heck, you could even go golfing in Saint George! It’s the perfect winter vacation! So whatever you’re looking for, we think we you’ll find it here in one of Southern Utah’s two great ski resorts. See you on the slopes!

If your looking for an easy weekend getaway this winter, we know just the place – Bryce Canyon National Park!
“What is there to do in Bryce Canyon in January?” we hear you ask. The answer is: plenty! In addition to all the natural beauty, fresh air, and sunshine that you’ll get to enjoy, there are lots of outdoor fun to be had. So here is our list for the top 5 things to do in Bryce Canyon this winter:

Photo by Zoshua Colah via unsplash.com

Take a Hike

Just because there’s snow on the ground doesn’t mean that you can’t go for a hike. Most of the trails that you can use during the summer are also open in winter. Just be aware that the snow on the trails can become packed and icy, and, as the official website states, “… some sections cannot be safely traversed without some sort of additional traction device for your hiking shoes or boots.” But not to worry, the Bryce Canyon Visitor rents these traction devices for your winter boots. At just $25 a pair, you can tramp around any trail without fear.

Photo by Katie Rodriguez via unsplash.com

Try out Snowshoeing

Bryce Canyon has it’s own program to teach you how to snowshoe. When staffing is available (and it usually is) you can explore a pristine, winter wonderland with a qualified Park Ranger. And the best part? Bryce Canyon provides all the equipment for you. So you don’t need to buy or rent snowshoes or poles. Those wishing to take advantage of this program can sign up at the Bryce Canyon Visitor Center or make a reservation by calling (435) 834–4747. Just be sure to bring the proper winter clothing.

Of course, if you are a veteran snowshoer, feel free to explore Bryce anyway you want.

Photo by Leslie Cross via unsplash.com

Sledding with the Family

There are a couple of caveats here. Sledding off the canyon rim into the hoodoos is dangerous and will get you into big trouble, since it’s prohibited. So don’t do it. But if you can find a spot above the rim, you are free to enjoy sledding. However, it might be better if you head over to Red Canyon, it’s very close, and it has better slopes. See the location here on Google Maps.

Photo by Samuel Ferrara via unsplash.com

Cross-country Skiing

Again, you can’t ski off the rim into the canyon, but there is still plenty of park to explore. The rim trail from Bryce Point and Fairyland Point is our first recommendation, because of the amazing scenery. But Bristlecone Loop, Paria Ski Loop, and Paria View and Fairyland Point roads are all great routes.

If you had your heart set on skiing among the hoodoos, you can get on the Red Canyon Bike Path – which is very cool. There is a also a plethora of routes to be found in the surrounding areas. Bryce Canyon City maintains many miles of groomed ski trails.

Photo by Philip Graves via unsplash.com

Winter Astronomy and Full Moon Hikes

Bryce Canyon National Park has some of the clearest, driest air in the state. Which translates into fantastic stargazing opportunities. From November to March, you can attend a full moon hike in snowshoes. (Find out more about the full moon hike program here. In addition to the full moon hikes, Bryce Canyon occasionally offers other cool winter astronomy programs. You can find out if anything is scheduled by stopping by the Visitor Center, or giving them a call at (435) 834–4747.

Photo by Zoshua Colah via unsplash.com

More to Check Out

Still not convinced? Bryce Canyon has an official page dedicated to all the things you can do in and around the park in winter. Check that out here. Hopefully, you’ll give it a shot, and discover just how great the national park of Southern Utah are any time of the year.

Today is the first day of winter! And while that might make a certain percentage of the population groan, that’s only because they haven’t experienced Southern Utah during this season. Because, it turns out, winter can actually be one of the best times to visit Utah’s national parks. And we at the Lodge at Red River Ranch have a list of reasons to back up our claim. So let’s get to it!

Photo by Hannah Laws via unsplash.com

1. Goodbye People, Hello Elbow Room

The first, and maybe the best reason, is that you’ll have less people to contend with when visiting the wonders of our national parks. During winter you can experience a bit of solitude amidst the beauty of nature. And if you’ve ever struggled with the crush of visitors in the summer at Zion, you will immediately see the appeal. So, in our book, a little cold is a good trade for some elbow room. (Also, it’s often not THAT cold, please see point 5 below.) Winter is also considered the “off-season” in many of the towns that are adjacent to the national parks, and it’s usually when you can find the best rates. (We at the Lodge are typically closed during the winter months due to staffing requirements, but if you have a special request, we might be able to accommodate you. Just get in touch!)

Photo by Daniel Olah via unsplash.com

2. Special Perks

Some parks have special winter programs available to the public. For example, did you know you can go on a guided snowshoe hike in Bryce Canyon National Park? They even have a Full Moon Snowshoe Hike, so you can seamlessly combine your twin loves of astronomy and winter hiking. And in Zion National Park you are (usually) allowed to drive your own car up Zion Canyon in the winter, instead of taking the shuttle. You don’t have to worry about timing your exploration to bus schedules anymore.

Photo by Katie Rodriguez via unsplash.com

3. A New Depth to the Scenery

Assuming you’ve visited Southern Utah before during the summer (which, you should do that too) you may be surprised by how different it can all look in the winter. The storms and snow can mark the red sandstone in sharper relief. So whether you drive into a cloud bank on the Zion-Mount Carmel road, or simply see a dusting of powder on the cliff walls of Capitol Reef, you will get to experience a more unique beauty to Southern Utah’s national parks. And it’s a beauty that fewer people get to experience.

Photo by Joshua Aragon via unsplash.com

4. (Mostly) Always Hike-able

Who wants to go to a national park and not be able to hike? A lot of people worry that winter will ruin any chance of getting on the trails. And, while we will admit that during a heavy snowfall, you probably won’t be able to do much hiking, Southern Utah has lots and lots of sunny days during the winter. So as long as you check the weather before you go, you should be able to hike. We do still recommend that you avoid canyon hikes, since they can be colder and snowier. Also be sure to check the status of the trails at the visitor center or ranger station, in case they have any info about hazards.

Photo by Yuval Levy via unsplash.com

5. Did We Mention the Sun?

If you’re located further north then we are here in Southern Utah, you’ll unfortunately see a lot more gray days then we will. It can be therapeutic to get out, get some fresh air and see the sun shining. And what better place then in a national park? Most winter days here are a little cold, but sunny. So to sum it all up, winter in the national parks has plenty to offer – special perks, fresh air, fewer crowds, fantastic scenery, and more sun. Maybe we’ve convinced you, maybe not. But the best way to be convinced to try a winter trip to a national park yourself.

Southern Utah has five national parks, Arches, Bryce, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef and Zion. Together they are known as the Mighty Five. Every year millions and millions of people come to see the beauty and explore the wonder of these parks. But that many people can take a toll on the natural environments. So it’s important that when people visit these special places that they take care to limit their impact. That way we can all keep Utah mighty.

Photo by Leo Visions via unsplash.com.

Here’s What You Can Do To Help

There is a Forever Mighty page on the official tourism page for the state of Utah. We’ll give you the headlines here. But if you want to dig into this concept more, you should check out that page. This is how you can limit your impact while maximizing your fun in Southern Utah:

Leave No Trace –

• Know where you are going. It’s easier to damage the environment if you are wandering aimlessly. Check out travel blogs, get the right maps, and have a plan.
• Stick to the trails. This is extremely important. Using the trails ensures that only a small portion of the living soil is affected by foot traffic. And be extra careful not to step on the biological soil crusts.
• Put your trash in designated trash receptacles. If there are none where you are, be sure to pack your trash out with you.
• Protect any cultural heritage sites that you visit or come across. There are tons of these in Southern Utah, and they are important to the American Indian tribes that have ancestral ties to these places. Don’t deface them, and don’t remove any part of them. Besides being a jerk thing to do, it’s also illegal, and will land you in a lot of trouble.
• Observe fire notices. Sometimes in some places you will not be allowed to have campfires. And when you do, be sure to be safe and minimize their impact. You don’t want to start any wildfires.
• Finally, don’t mess with the wildlife. They don’t like it. Plus, it’s dangerous.

Practice Ethical Posting –
With the amount of people coming to Utah, it can sometimes be a bit of a headache for the local wildlife, environment, and Utahans to keep up with the traffic. This can be made worse when tourists post about certain locations that don’t have the infrastructure to support large amounts of visitors. We’ve written about this before in our Ethical Tourism post. But the quick version is: be mindful of what you share when posting to social media.

But when you do post about the many great established sites in our great state, be sure to tag it #ForeverMighty!

Photo by Yansi Keim via unsplash.com.

Southern Utah is Mighty Because of You

Only with the help of all the millions of visitors just like you can we all keep Southern Utah’s national parks mighty! So thank you for all of your help in this endeavor. We’ll see you out there!

Slot canyons are everywhere in Southern Utah. We’ve written about them plenty of times like here and here. And of course there are the super famous canyons in places like the Zion National Park. Obviously, these are great places to explore and play in (safely), but if you slow down for a moment or two, you just might hear something magical – the Sounds of the Canyon.

The Narrows in Zion National Park. Photo by Anna Sullivan via unsplash.com.

Life is All Around You

The deserts of Southern Utah are surprising teeming with life. Unfortunately, it’s all just really good at avoiding humans. So not everybody realizes the world of flora and fauna that surrounds them when they are out hiking. This page on the Capitol Reef website has a (mostly) complete list of all the animals that live in this area. Be sure to check out that link before your next trip to the park. But out of the myriad creatures that you might encounter when exploring slot canyons, we wanted to highlight one of our favorite: the canyon wren.

Here he is! Our friend, the canyon wren! Photo by iStockphoto.com.

Little Guy, Big Song

The canyon wren is a songbird that inhabits most of the American Southwest. It loves rocky outcroppings, cliffs, and, unsurprising, canyons. As you can see, it’s coloring helps it blend in to the sandstone environments where it resides. Which might make it difficult to spot when you’re maneuvering a squeeze in a slot canyon. But not to worry, because even if you can’t see the little fellow, he will likely put on a show for you. The canyon wren has a truly beautiful, and quite loud, song. And he likes to perform. So stop for a moment and see if one will start singing the next time you are canyoneering.

Can You Give Us A Sample?

We’re glad you asked! It just so happens that we recorded a canyon wren this summer. The quality is only so-so (all we had was an iPhone) but it will give you a good idea of what to listen for when you’re out there. Plus, it’s very cool! Just click that little play button below to hear our 20-second clip:

You just might hear a canyon wren in Antelope Canyon. Photo by Dirk Spijkers via unsplash.com.

Endless Forms Most Beautiful

There is something sublime about the connections you can suddenly make in the natural world. The joy and magic of experiencing a wren’s serenade is something that is hard to capture in a quick blog post. It makes you feel lucky – special, even – that you, yes you, got to hear a song in person what most of the world will never get to hear. A concert for the chosen few. It also tends to make the listener feel linked to all the life around them, in all its forms most beautiful. And then it’s over, and you pack up and go home…

But you return a little bit changed.

This is where we heard the canyon wren. Photo by Red River Ranch.

If you’ve ever driven from Salt Lake City to Capitol Reef National Park, then you’ve seen Pando – earth’s largest organism! Pando is a tree. Or more accurately, Pando is a clonal tree colony. What appears to be a forest of thousands of single quaking aspen trees is actually one living organism – Pando, the Trembling Giant. Located about a mile outside of Fish Lake, Pando is clearly visible from Utah State Road 24, near the Koosharem reservoir.

By SoloTravelGoals via Unsplash.com

Lots of Awards

Judging by the genetic markers taken from trunks all over the colony, Pando is estimated to span over a hundred acres. And it weighs about 6,600 tons – making it both the largest and the heaviest known single organism in the world! Determining Pando’s age is a little tricker, but most studies estimate it to be about 80,000 years old (although some suggest that it may be as old as one million years.) Its age easily ranks Pando among earth’s oldest organisms.

By Andrea Reiman via Unsplash.com

See Pando Yourself

As we pointed out, Pando can clearly be seen on Utah State Road 24. But if you want to walk among the 40,000 trunks of Pando, then you should check out Fish Lake and Fishlake National Forest. The Fishlake Scenic Byway – also known as Utah State Road 25 – will reveal large swaths of Pando. Feel free to get out and stretch your legs on top of the Trembling Giant. (And while you’re up there, but sure to check out Fish Lake. It’s the largest fresh water lake in the state, and is pretty awesome too.)

Not Feeling So Well

Unfortunately, Pando has been exhibiting signs of stress. Some scientists believe it could be dying. The exact reasons for this are not known, but competition with encroaching conifers, wide-spread grazing, and drought are thought to be contributing factors. The Forest Service is currently trying various tests to see if we can’t help improve the health of this amazing organism.

The five national parks of Southern Utah – Arches, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, Bryce Canyon, and Zion – are collectively known as “The Mighty 5.” Together, they preserve the best parts of our amazing desert scenery. But the real question is, which ones will you visit this Memorial Day? Let’s take a look at each of The Mighty 5 parks, and what we recommend that you do in each of them, and see if we can’t help you plan a great Memorial Day Weekend Adventure!

Photo by Intricate Explorer via unsplash.com

Arches National Park

The main reason to visit Arches National Park is – you guessed it – arches! You’ll find a couple thousand arches and natural bridges in the park. And a lot of the best ones are easily accessible by relatively short and developed hiking trails. So grab your hiking boots! Here are some of the most popular arches in the park, and a couple of our favorites.

• Delicate Arch – we’re somewhat obligated to start with Delicate Arch, it’s probably the most famous geological feature in all of Utah. Heck, it’s on our license plates. But even though it’s very popular and very well photographed, we still believe it’s worth the effort to see it in person. There’s a reason it’s so famous, after all. The trail itself is a somewhat strenuous climb over bare slickrock. For a good section of it you will need to follow the cairns (and all the other people). Delicate Arch is best hiked in the cooler times of the day. Bring plenty of water. Roundtrip is about three miles.
• Double Arch – this is probably the best arch in the park if you’ve got kids. The trail is very short, only half-a-mile roundtrip, and flat. And the payoff is big! Two massive arches spurs that share the same base. They’re fun to play around. And you can pretend to be young Indiana Jones!
• Tower Arch – Tower Arch is one of our favorites. It’s a little more unique in appearance, compared to most of the arches in the park. (It’s got a massive sandstone tower rising from one side, hence the name.) But it’s also a great hike. The trail climbs for a bit, then just short of wanders through a cuts a sandstone valley. It’s also not too difficult, but still a decent hike. It’ll three-and-a-half miles roundtrip.

Arches National Park does require ticketed entry during the summer months. So go to this page on recreation.gov to get your tickets for Memorial Day 2024! And if you want more info on the park, visit the official site here.

Photo by Dann Petty via unsplash.com

Canyonlands National Park

Canyonlands is the sister park to Arches, since it’s located only a few miles to the south. The geography here is less arch-y, and more canyon-y. There is lots of open desert, with some truly breathtaking overlooks. Think “Grand Canyon meets Monument Valley” and you’ll have a rough idea of what to expect. If you’re heading to one of these members of the Mighty 5, then you should plan on seeing the other. Arches and Canyonlands are kind of a match set. So let’s talk a little about what you should see in Canyonlands:

• Mesa Arch – this is the big one, the most popular spot in the whole park. And when you’re there, you’ll understand why, it’s a tough view to beat: a sweeping desert vista hundreds of feet below you, framed by a massive arch. It’s only a short, half-mile roundtrip hike from the parking lot to Mesa Arch, so it’s perfect for even the most reluctant hiker.
• Grand View Point – another popular trail is Grand View Point. It’s a fairly easy, one-and-a-half mile roundtrip hike to a stunning overlook to a canyon drop-off. It’s a little bit like the Grand Canyon, only without nearly as many people.
• Murphy Point – This might actually be our favorite hike in the park. It really gives you an idea of the vastness of the whole region. There is nothing but canyons, and buttes, and open desert for as far as you can see. Candlestick Tower can be seen from the end of the trail. The whole thing is about 3.5-miles long.

You should also drive the White Rim Road if you get the chance! We’ve talked about the White Rim Road before, in great detail. So we’ll just say that it’s probably the single greatest road you can drive in Canyonlands, and maybe even in all of Southern Utah. It’s 100-miles of primitive, gravel road that unlocks the best scenery in the national park. It’s got lots of excitement, loads of good hiking spots, and plenty of memories-to-be-made.

Unlike Arches, you don’t need a ticket to get into the park. Be sure to check out the official site for lots more info!

Photo by Brady Stoeltzing via unsplash.com

Capitol Reef National Park

Capitol Reef National Park is next on our tour of Utah’s Mighty 5. And it just so happens to be our favorite park of the bunch! (Probably because we live right next to it. Speaking of which, if you are interested in staying with us on your Memorial Day adventures, you can check our availability here.) Capitol Reef has it all: soaring cliffs, narrow canyons, wide desert vistas, and jaw-dropping overlooks. Plus orchards!

The orchards were once part of a community known as Fruita. And the families that lived here planted lots of fruit trees. Once the area became the national park, the NPS took over management of the orchards, and they take care of them to this day. If you’re visiting during the summer and autumn, you can pick plenty of delicious fruit. Here’s some info on what and when to pick.

Here’s some of our favorite parts to explore in Capitol Reef:

• Kohab Canyon – this one connects the two main roads in the park. It’s a moderately easy canyon trail that has some narrow offshoots to explore. A great hike when it’s hot, since much of it is in shade in the afternoon. Plus it’s got one of the best views of Fruita anywhere in the park.
• Cathedral Valley Overlooks – sure, you might have to drive the rough road into Cathedral Valley, but these overlooks are pretty great. If you’re looking for a remote and wild spot of open desert, with a bunch of incredible sandstone monoliths, then you’ll hit the jackpot.
• Brimhall Bridges – this one is pretty remote, pretty strenuous, and pretty amazing. Located in the remote Waterpocket Fold, right down at the very bottom of the park, Brimhall Bridges is a fantastic double natural bridge in a crazy cool canyon.
• Burr Trail – this is a much longer drive, about 64-miles, but provides access to lots more scenery. You’ll get to drive around Capitol Reef, the Waterpocket Fold, the Escalante-Grand Staircase National Monument, and Boulder Mountain. Plus there are some pretty amazing switchback. We’ve written about this before, so check this post out for all the info.

Visit this official site here for more info on the park. And check out some of our Top Ten Things to do in Capitol Reef to get more ideas for your trip.

Photo by Tim Golder via unsplash.com

Bryce Canyon National Park

Bryce Canyon is a fairly small national park, in fact it’s the smallest of the Mighty 5. But it packs a lot of punch for its size! Bryce is world famous for its hoodoos – those fantastically eroded pillars of sandstone – and that’s what you should focus on when you visit.

There are four main observation points surrounding the main Bryce Amphitheater: Bryce Point, Inspiration Point, Sunset Point, and Sunrise Point. You’ll want to as many as you can. Start there, then hike down into the amphitheater. Here are a couple of our favorite:

• Fairyland Loop – if you’re up for a longer, more strenuous hike, check out the Fairyland Loop. It’s a bit less crowded, which we like, and it has some pretty cool views. It starts above the rim, and then drops down to reveal hoodoos and spires and features like the Chinese Wall and Tower Bridge.
• Peekaboo Loop – this one is a bit more popular, probably due to it’s shorter length, but it’s worth the compromise. The trail is steep, about 5-miles long and loops right through the middle of the park. You’ll get to see the famous Wall of Windows, as well as your fill of hoodoos.
• Thunder Mountain Trail– if you’re a mountain biker, then you’ve probably heard of this one before. The trail is located just outside of Bryce Canyon, down Thunder Mountain and into Red Canyon. It’s the ride of a lifetime. We’ve written a bit more about it here, if you’re interested.

Here is the link for Bryce Canyon’s official site, so that out for more info to help plan your trip.

Photo by Sterlinglanier Lanier via unsplash.com

Zion National Park

This is the last one! The crown jewel of Utah’s Mighty 5! Zion National Park is the most popular, the most visited, and the most loved park in Southern Utah. And who can doubt it? When you’re looking at the towering cliffs and the beautiful foliage of late spring, it seems almost magical.

The main attraction of Zion National Park is Zion Canyon – 90% of the images you’ve seen of Zion are from this central canyon. Throughout most of the year, the only way to get into Zion Canyon is via the shuttle system that operates in the park. So park the car, and get on the bus. There are stops at all the major trails.

• Canyon Overlook Trail – This trail is located to the east of the visitor center, just before crossing through the Zion-Mount Carmel Trail. It’s only a mile round-trip, with moderate elevation change. The trail leads to great views of the lower section Zion Canyon. There are some steep drop-off along the trail, but these are mostly fenced. Unlike the other trails in Zion Canyon, this one is access by personal vehicle. Parking is limited, so get there early.
• Angel’s Landing – If you know anything about Zion National Park, it’s probably that Angel’s Landing is the most popular, most famous hike in the park. You’ve undoubtedly seen pictures of the hike – that famous chain section – and the views from the top on social media. While Angel’s Landing is a very strenuous hike, it’s well worth the effort to make it to the top. We promise you’ll never forget it. The trail is now so popular that you will need tickets to do it, which you can apply for here.
• Emerald Pools – If you’re looking for something a little more low-key, then maybe just hang out on the Emerald Pools trail. The first pool, Lower Emerald Pool, is easily accessed on a paved path, making it perfect for kids, wheelchairs, and strollers. Plus, it’s got a waterfall. Middle and Upper Emerald Pools are a moderate hike up the hill. It’s only one mile roundtrip to the Upper Pool. The cool, green, shaded trail makes for an excellent summertime hike.
• The Narrows – The Narrows is, as the name implies, the narrowest canyon in the park. It’s a fun, dramatic, and very wet, hike. For most of the trail you’ll be hiking in the Virgin River. If you start at the Temple of Sinawava (where most people do) you can hike along the Riverside Walk for about a mile before you’ll have to hop in the water. Since there is some variation in the manner in which you can hike the Narrows, we suggest you look at this page here on the official Zion site.

And, of course, there is plenty more information to be found about Zion National Park here on the official site.

A Mighty Memorial Day!

That’s our whirlwind tour of each of the Mighty 5 parks! Hopefully you’ve got a good idea of which ones you want to visit. And don’t worry if you can get to them all, there’s always next Memorial Day, and the one after that!

It’s Valentine’s Day today! So we thought we’d take a moment to talk about how much we love our home – Southern Utah. It is, in our opinion, the best place on earth, full of remarkable beauty and endless adventures. And we love that we get to share it all with you, the guests who come to the Lodge at Red River Ranch from all over the world. So while we’re feeling sentimental about Southern Utah, allow us to elaborate on what makes it such a special place to visit.

Photo by Marc Phillips via unsplash.com

We Love the Beauty of the Desert

Southern Utah is located in one of the most geologically diverse deserts on earth. The sandstone formations of the region have been molded and eroded in different ways across millenniums of time to create every imaginable shape. The result is a stunning collection of arches, bridges, hoodoos, canyons, sheer cliffs, and checkerboard mounds. There is a very good reason that Southern Utah has five national parks, when many states don’t have any.

It’s hard to describe in just a few paragraphs just how affecting the desert of Southern Utah can be. We can talk about the rugged beauty, the soaring sandstone, the expansive overlooks, but in order to fully understand why so many people – including us – come to love Southern Utah, you need to stand here and experience it for yourself. Drive the Burr Trail, hike to Angels Landing, or raft the rivers of Canyonlands, then you’ll understand what we mean. Once this place takes hold of you, it never lets go.

Photo by Brady Stoeltzing via unsplash.com

We Love the Peace of Capitol Reef

Thinking more specifically about our favorite of Utah’s national parks, we love how quiet and peaceful Capitol Reef National Park can be. Sure, during the summer months the main section of the park, Fruita as it’s called, gets pretty busy. But head north to Cathedral Valley and you’ll practically have that whole section of the park to yourself. Or drive south, into the Waterpocket Fold and hike in the slot canyons there, and you’ll be lucky to find anyone else.

And that’s something that we have come to love and appreciate about Capitol Reef. You can still find places in the park to be alone with the people you love most, your thoughts, and the sublime feeling that Capitol Reef instills in its visitors.

Photo by RedRiverRanch via midjourney.com

We Love the Road Trips You Can Create

But lets say you’re not in a contemplative mood, and you’re itching to cram as much natural beauty as you can into your vacation. Then Southern Utah has you covered. We love a good road trip, and good road trips abound in Southern Utah. The Grand Circle, obviously. You can see all five parks, plus some very cool bonuses. Or else you can do the Capitol Reef to Bryce Canyon route through the Grand Staircase. We’ve written some guides here to help you start planning. But the main point is that we love the sense of adventure when it’s the open road, good company, and a whole itinerary of locations in Southern Utah to discover.

Happy Valentine’s Day

Maybe you’ve read other posts in our blog, maybe you’ve talked with us at the front desk at the Lodge, or maybe this is your first time on our site. But one thing we think you’ve noticed, one thing that we feel comes through in all our communications and interactions, online and off, is that we love Southern Utah. So Happy Valentine’s Day. And when you get the chance, come visit. You’ll end up loving this extraordinary place too.

Photo by Omer Salom via unsplash.com