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Red River Ranch


Our Blog

Our Blog.
Insider Information.

We love Southern Utah. And we love writing about all the adventures we have. So we combined our two passions, and created this – the Blog at Red River Ranch.

Our blog has hundreds of articles, detailing the exciting things you can do in Southern Utah. Think of it like a casual, travel-advice column written by those with insider information. We hope you find it helpful.

September, 2025
Education, Historical places, Nature

The Orchards of Fruita — Capitol Reef’s Living History and U-Pick Tradition

Just inside Capitol Reef National Park is the Fruita Historic District, and it’s a little different from anything else you’ll find in red rock country. Tall cottonwoods shade lush green fields, pioneer homesteads sit right up against the sandstone cliffs, and over a thousand fruit trees still produce where early settlers once made their living. […]

Hiking Capitol Reef in the Fall; Trails, Colors, and Cooler Days

Fall is honestly one of our favorite times to be out in Capitol Reef. September and October bring cooler mornings, those long golden afternoons, and a stretch of yellow cottonwoods down in the Fremont River valley that’s hard to beat. […]

August, 2025
Outdoor adventures

Rolling Out the New Scenic Drive

If you love an easy cruise through big desert scenery, this is a good moment to come. Capitol Reef’s Scenic Drive just wrapped up a full rehabilitation, and the classic route down to Capitol Gorge is back open — smoother, safer, and every bit as good as it always was. […]

What Makes Capitol Reef a Dark Sky Park, And Why It Matters

When the sun drops below the cliffs at Capitol Reef, something shifts. The red rock goes to shadow, the air cools, and one by one the stars start showing up. […]

Why Capitol Reef Is Utah’s Most Underrated National Park

So maybe you’ve heard about the crowds at Utah’s big parks — the entrance lines, the packed parking lots, the trails where you’re basically walking in a conga line. We get it. But just down the road from us is Capitol Reef National Park, and it doesn’t work like that. […]

The Best Scenic Drives Near Capitol Reef

Southern Utah has a lot going for it: red rock, big sky, and roads that were basically made to be driven. Whether you’re road-tripping through and passing by, or just looking for something to do after breakfast, these are our favorite scenic drives near Capitol Reef. […]

July, 2025
Education, Travel

AI is Ruining Your Vacation

Artificial Intelligence is everywhere. It’s been embraced by every major tech company. But the problem with AI is that it’s not always accurate. (Although sometimes pretty hilarious.) And all this low-quality AI slop flooding the web could be ruining […]

Torrey Apple Days, 2025!

The 4th of July has landed on a Friday this year, giving us a four day week and a weekend packed with good weather, good food, and good company. It’s shaping up to be an excellent bank holiday, and we at The Lodge at Red River Ranch […]

Goosenecks and Panorama Point

Capitol Reef boasts a multitude of hikes for people of all ages and fitness levels. Two short yet rewarding trails that the whole family can enjoy are Goosenecks Point and Sunset Point. Make them one of your first stops in Capitol Reef when visiting the park! Access both hikes from the Panorama Point parking lot off […]

Summer Plans for 2025!

Memorial Day was on Monday, which means it’s now “officially” unofficially the start of summer! We hope you had a great weekend with plenty of good food, and time with family and friends. But if not, don’t worry. Summer is here! And it’s time to start planning for a great summer trip […]