National Park · Utah, United States
Capitol Reef National Park
Capitol Reef National Park is a national park in Utah, United States, covering 241,904 acres (97,895 ha), established in 1971; it recorded 1,388,476 visits in 2025.
Photo: Wolfgang Staudt via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0. Cropped and resized for display.
Park facts
| Park type | National Park |
|---|---|
| Location | Utah, United States |
| Area | 241,904 acres (97,895 ha) |
| Established | 1971 |
| Annual visits (2025) | 1,388,476 |
| Coordinates | 38.2000° N, 111.1700° W |
| Managed by | National Park Service |
Every fact above is taken from the sources listed below; anything no source states is left blank rather than guessed.
About Capitol Reef National Park
Capitol Reef National Park is a national park of the United States in south-central Utah. The park is approximately 60 miles (100 km) long on its north–south axis and just 6 miles (10 km) wide on its east-west axis, on average. The park was established in 1971 to preserve 241,904 acres (377.98 sq mi; 97,895.08 ha; 978.95 km2) of desert landscape and is open all year, with May through September receiving the most visitors. Partially in Wayne County, Utah, the area was originally named "Wayne Wonderland" in the 1920s by local boosters Ephraim P. Pectol and Joseph S. Hickman.
Description from the park's Wikipedia article (CC BY-SA), linked in the sources below.
Planning your visit
Best time to visit
March to May and September to November — mild weather; summers are hot, winters cold
What to do
Getting there
| Nearest town | Torrey, Utah |
|---|---|
| Nearest airport | Canyonlands Field Airport |
Where to stay
| Campgrounds | Yes — 71 sites |
|---|
Famous trails
- Hickman Bridge Trail — 2.0 miles (3.2 km) — Moderate
- Cassidy Arch Trail — 3.4 miles (5.5 km) — Moderate
Like Capitol Reef National Park? Visit Capitol Reef National Park’s official park page for hours and current conditions before you travel.
Airports near this park
The airports a visitor would actually fly into, nearest first — each link opens its profile on our sister site AirportProfiles.
- Canyonlands Regional Airport (CNY) · Moab, United States · 85.6 miles away
- Page Municipal Airport (PGA) · Page, United States · 89.4 miles away
- Cedar City Regional Airport (CDC) · Cedar City, United States · 110.6 miles away
Parks nearby
More parks in Utah
Frequently asked questions
Where is Capitol Reef National Park?
Capitol Reef National Park is in Utah, United States (38.2000° N, 111.1700° W).
When was Capitol Reef National Park established?
Capitol Reef National Park was established in 1971, per the source listed at the foot of this page.
How big is Capitol Reef National Park?
Capitol Reef National Park covers 241,904 acres (97,895 ha).
How many people visit Capitol Reef National Park each year?
It recorded 1,388,476 recreation visits in 2025, the latest published figure.
When is the best time to visit Capitol Reef National Park?
March to May and September to November — mild weather; summers are hot, winters cold.
Does Capitol Reef National Park have campgrounds?
Yes — Capitol Reef National Park has campgrounds with 71 sites.
How do I get to Capitol Reef National Park?
The nearest town is Torrey, Utah. The nearest airport is Canyonlands Field Airport.
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_the_United_States_National_Park_System_official_units — Wikipedia list of National Park System official units — unit name, state, official designation.
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_areas_in_the_United_States_National_Park_System — Wikipedia list of National Park System areas — year established and gross area.
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_national_parks_of_the_United_States — Wikipedia list of US national parks — coordinates, established date, area, recreation visitors (2025), description.
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capitol_Reef_National_Park — Wikipedia article — description (CC BY-SA).
- https://www.nps.gov/care/ — Official park page.