Capitol Reef National Park is an evocative world of spectacular colored cliffs, hidden arches, massive domes, and deep canyons. It is a place that includes the finest elements of Bryce and Zion Canyons in a less crowded park that can offer a more relaxing experience than either of those more-famous Utah attractions. It is named for a particularly colorful section of the fold where rounded Navajo sandstone forms capitol-like domes and sheer cliffs form a barrier to travel, often referred to as a reef. The park stretches from north-northwest to south-southeast for 70 miles (112 km) and generally narrows in width (east-west) from up to 12 miles (19 km) in the north to as little as 1 mile (1.6 km) near the southern end. It lies along the northwestern edge of the Colorado Plateau, where it encompasses about three-fourths of the nearly 100-mile- (160-km-) long Waterpocket Fold.

credit: sharshman

The Waterpocket Fold is a straight, 100 mile long ridge of tilted and layered rock stretching from the Fishlake Mountains in central Utah to Lake Powell in the south. Most is preserved in Capitol Reef National Park, which contains multicolored cliffs, narrow canyons, ridges, arches, spires and domes. That landscape makes Capitol Reef Country perfect for outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, horseback riding, ATV tours, hunting, fishing, wildlife viewing, or just a quiet picnic. Capitol Reef encompasses the Waterpocket Fold, a warp in the earth\’s crust that is 65 million years old. It is the largest exposed monocline in North America. In this fold, newer and older layers of earth folded over each other in an S-shape. This warp, probably caused by the same colliding continental plates that created the Rocky Mountains, has weathered and eroded over millennia to expose layers of rock and fossils.

credit: Peter Stabolepszy

Rainbow Bridge is the largest natural bridge in the world at 290 feet (88 meters) tall and 270 feet (83 meters) across. The bridge has been formed by erosion of the sandstone by water flowing from Navajo Mountain towards the Colorado River. The bridge can be reached by a two-hour boat ride on Lake Powell from either of two marinas near Page, Arizona. It is located in one of the most rugged and remote regions of the United States, it was discovered in 1909 by an expedition that set out to find the great stone arch rumored by the Native Americans.

credit: Hansen, W.R.

Zion National Park is located in the southern Utah regions of Dixie and Canyon Country. Park was designated in 1919 and it is the oldest national park. National Park area is 229 square miles (593.1 km) and it includes a spectacular cliff-and-canyon landscape. Zion National Park provide a wonderland for unparalleled camping, hiking, canyoneering, climbing, biking and horseback riding. Zion is Utah’s most heavily used park with three million visitors per year. All visitors are required to purchase a recreational use pass upon entering Zion National Park.

Entrance fees:
Private Vehicle: $25. Valid for 7 days.
Motorcycle: $12. Valid for 7 days.
Per Person: $12. Valid for 7 days.

Credit: Michael Seljos