How to Spend One Day in Capitol Reef National Park with Kids

About Capitol Reef National Park

Not a reef nor a capitol, but one of Utah’s “Mighty Five” National Parks. We drove from southeast Utah through pretty barren lands and arrived to find both canyons and orchards. Yes, orchards!

We spent about four hours here. We visited in July as part of our Fourth Grade Pass tour.

History

Native American cultures, including the Fremont and Ancestral Puebloans, inhabited the region for centuries, leaving behind rock art panels and cliff dwellings. European explorers, such as Spanish missionaries and Mormon pioneers, ventured into the area in the 19th century and established the community known as Fruita. The area's rugged landscape presented significant challenges for settlers, and they named the towering white sandstone cliffs the "Waterpocket Fold" due to the scarcity of water. In 1937, President Franklin D. Roosevelt designated the area as a national monument, and in 1971, it was elevated to national park status.

Gifford House

Originally constructed in the early 1900s by the Gifford family, it served as a residence, store, and gathering place for early settlers in the region. It’s a fun shop with a few artifacts.

One of the most famous aspects of Gifford House is its delicious homemade pies. The pie-making tradition at Gifford House began in the 1960s when a park ranger's wife started baking pies using the original Gifford family recipes. Sadly, they put up a “we’re out of baked goods for the day” sign as soon as we walked up. Get there early for pie!

Fruita

This fabulous podcast taught us a lot about the history of the orchards and efforts to revive them. Mormon settles in Fruita (great name) planted the orchards to sustain their community. The park horticulturalists use heirloom grafting and delicate soil preservation methods to keep the orchards going.

We were a bit early for the “you pick” fruit harvest, but we found some apricots that had fallen off the trees and enjoyed those.

My kiddo loved playing in the shallow stream nearby. We also checked out the schoolhouse, which functioned as a school, gathering place, and church.

Capitol reef orchards — *Apricot Orchard*

Scenic Drive

Before you do the drive, try to catch the ranger talk about geology. I learned a lot about the formation of the park and all its layers. My 9yo liked it because she got to touch various types of rocks at the end.

The scenic drive in Capitol Reef National Park stretches for 25 miles along the park's main road. We used the audio tour on the NPS app and it was very informative as we drove. The Waterpocket Fold, a massive wrinkle in the Earth's crust, is very cool. The drive showcases the diverse colors and textures of the park, with layers of red, orange, and yellow sandstone that have been carved by the forces of wind and water over millions of years. We had to skip a few of the dirt off-shoot trails because it was raining (flash flooding is no joke!), but it was a fascinating experience nonetheless.

*Diagonal folds created by tectonic shifts*

Mesa Farm Market

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Mesa Farm Market in nearby Caineville. It looks like a shack, but it has delicious cheese! We stopped for a cheeseboard lunch. We got to sample their various goat cheeses, then added salami, fresh sourdough, and sun-brewed tea. Highly recommend.

Small But Mighty

Some folks skip this park while doing the Mighty Five, but it really is worth a visit. It’s quite unique, especially the orchards.