Best Hiking Trails in Capitol Reef National Park, Utah

Capitol Reef is the least visited of Utah’s Mighty 5. The south-central Utah park, with it’s colorful cliffs and hidden canyons has a lot more to offer than a scenic drive. For those in the know, the trails here are in fact a definitive highlight of any Southwestern US trip. Here’s an overview of the best hikes Capitol Reef has to offer.

Capitol Reef Trails and Orientation Map at the bottom!

Grand Wash Trail

Capitol Reef’s family-friendly hike

LENGTH	ROUTE TYPE	ELEVATION CHANGE	DIFFICULTY
2.2 mi (3.6 km)	Out & back	200 ft	Easy

Grand Wash is one of the park’s most visited trails, and it’s easy to see why. Its gentle slope and massive canyon walls make for a relaxed 2 hours hike that is great for people of all ages.

Rushing rainwater has carved the Navajo Sandstone to create this wash and its impressive vertical walls. After leaving the parking at the entrance, you’ll observe how quickly you can feel like an ant in a giant’s world. The trail begins quite wide and filled with gigantic boulders. The canyon unfolds and slowly narrows until it becomes a smaller replica of the Zion Narrows. The most enthralling part of the trek is in the narrows, and, to be honest, it’s not worth walking past this section since the final half mile becomes slowly wider before meeting the Fremont River.

The Grand Wash trail is best visited from March through November, although it is an excellent option for those searching for a winter hike in the area. Looking for a longer walk? You can easily add on the Cassidy Arch, as both trails share the same trailhead. Besides offering gorgeous views of the deep canyon, this hike can let you glimpse Bighorn sheep in their natural habitat. (if you’re not too distracted by the towering rocks!)

Sunset Point Trail

One of Capitol Reef’s best photography locations

LENGTH	ROUTE TYPE	ELEVATION CHANGE	DIFFICULTY
0.4 mi (0.6 km)	Out & back	<50 ft	Easy

The beauty of the sunlight as it hits red-rock landscapes is a staple of the Southwestern US. Capitol Reef National Park is no exception, and the hike to Sunset Point makes this essential experience quite accessible. 

The comparison to other nearby national park doesn’t end with the Grand Wash hike and Zion; the fantastic views at the end of this short trail makes the comparison of the lookout to a pocket-sized Grand Canyon appropriate. The Point offers unparalleled sights of the park’s cliffs and the canyon below. Considering 0,4 miles isn’t much of a hike, the trail can be combined with the adjacent Goosenecks trail (0,1 mile), which offers more spectacular gorge views.

Thanks to its topography, perfect for the golden hour light, Sunset Point has a lot of outstanding opportunities for photographs. I recommend getting there at least 45 minutes before sunset to have plenty of time to enjoy the show. Although the well-marked trail can be hard to find at dawn, watching the sunrise from Sunset Point is a great alternative.

Hickman Bridge Trail

The hiking trail that has it all

LENGTH	ROUTE TYPE	ELEVATION CHANGE	DIFFICULTY
0.9 mi (1.4 km)	Out & back	400 ft	Moderate

Hickman Bridge reminds me of many other hikes I did in Utah. While the natural bridge is a clear highlight, it showcases many excellent features that make it a well-rounded trek.

Beginning with a lovely walk along the Fremont River, the path quickly becomes an uphill rocky climb that can initially feel a little steep. The trail then brims with magnificent canyon views and fun nooks to explore. Offering nice topography demanding you to bend and turn, the sandy path feels truly satisfying to hike. Nonetheless, the nicest thing about it is assuredly the possibility of going right underneath the 133-foot arch once you reach its end.

Before leaving, make sure to download a map of the trail. It’s easy to turn around without noticing and miss the bridge.

Cassidy Arch Trail

The best hike in Capitol Reef National Park

LENGTH	ROUTE TYPE	ELEVATION CHANGE	DIFFICULTY
1.7 mi (2.8 km)	Out & back	670 ft	Strenuous

For a challenging hike that offers great views and an even greater payoff, head to Cassidy Arch Trail. Despite its steepness, the well-maintained path should be no problem for hikers who fear heights.

The trail begins with a steep ascend on a narrow path of never-ending stairs that takes around 20 min. to complete. Once you summit, the track becomes a lot more level. Contrary to what you’d think, the best views of the Cassidy Arch are not at the top but ¾ of the way up. Much wider than it looks in the pictures, the geological feature giving its name to the hike is as impressive as you’d expect, and the canyon views behind are a real treat. Nonetheless, the park allows people to walk onto the famous arch, and it’s always a joy to get a picture there. This alone makes it one of the best trails in Capitol Reef.

The Cassidy Arch trail offers no shade and can get extremely hot in the summer. If you’re visiting during this time of the year, I recommend hiking in the morning or late afternoon. Starting early will let you avoid the crowd that arrives around lunchtime.

Navajo Knobs Trail

The best hike in Capitol Reef for adrenaline junkies

LENGTH	ROUTE TYPE	ELEVATION CHANGE	DIFFICULTY
4.7 mi (7.6 km)	Out & back	1,620 ft	Strenuous

The Navajo Knobs trail is not for the faint of heart, that’s for sure. This epic trail has impressive 360-degree views.

Beginning at the same trailhead as the Hickman Bridge, saying the path becomes steep would be an understatement. After all, you can’t expect a trail that brings you above the famous Capitol Reef Castle to be flat! The last 2 miles of the trek are an absolute pleasure, as you can see the whole way ahead of you. Luckily the trail is mostly downhill on the way back, letting you appreciate the scenery at a much more reasonable heart rate. If you’re brave enough to climb onto one of the pinnacles, you’ll have one of the most beautiful panoramas in the Southwest. The best views, however, sometimes demand standing uncomfortably close to the edge.

The Navajo Knobs is a harsh place to explore. It offers no shade and is quite windy at the top once you reach the highest elevations. Pack accordingly. This hike can seem daunting but can be done by anybody reasonably fit if they follow the usual advices: take breaks as needed and drink plenty of water.

Camping in Capitol Reef National Park

The Fruita Campground is Adjacent to the Fremont River and surrounded by historic orchards. It’s 65 sites are reservable from March 1 to October 31 on www.recreation.gov.

The national park also has two primitive campgrounds: Cathedral Valley and Cedar Mesa Campground

The nearest private campground are located in Torrey,  11 miles (18 km) west on Highway 24. I went to Thousand Lakes RV Park in 2023 and loved it!

Flash flood in Capitol Reef National Park

Flash floods are always possible during the monsoon season (from mid-June to mid-October). I could write all of this here, but honestly, the Capitol Reef National Park official page has got it all. Flooding and road damage might make you change your plans like we had to during my trip through Utah, but they’re not a significant danger. Use your common sense, have a rain jacket in your backpack and check the weather forecast before hiking.