Capitol Reef National Park, UT

About Capitol Reef National Park

Surprisingly, Capitol Reef National Park is not located on the sea but in the desert of Utah. The confusing name came from the early settlers, many of whom came nautical backgrounds, who called the 87-mile long ridge of the Waterpocket Fold a “reef” since it was challenging to navigate across.

This gorgeous landscape has seen its fair share of people throughout the centuries, some of whom left parts of themselves behind. Native Americans carved petroglyphs into the rocks, and pioneers carved their names as a form of registry as they passed through.

Today, visitors can hike through the trails, stare in awe from the viewpoints, and pick fruit at the Historic Fruita.

If you are looking for a family-friendly national park, this is the one for you. There is easy car access to many locations and trails that can be traversed by any age so that the whole family can make beautiful memories together.