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Outdoors Scenic Drive, Capitol Reef

Capitol Gorge Trail

An outdoor spot in Scenic Drive, Capitol Reef, free to visit and worth about 1.5 hours. Best time to go: Afternoon.

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Capitol Gorge Trail in Scenic Drive, Capitol Reef
Photo: Jesse Chappell · Google

Why go

Flat walk through a narrow canyon to the Pioneer Register and natural water tanks.

It is one of 10 curated places we feature in Capitol Reef, alongside 3 sights, 2 activities and 2 places to eat. The closest of our other picks is Scenic Drive, 4.2 mi away as the crow flies.

Type
Outdoors · Nature
Neighborhood
Scenic Drive
Price
Free
Time needed
1.5 hr
Best time
Afternoon

Nearby

The 6 closest curated picks in Capitol Reef, measured as straight-line distance.

  1. 1
    Scenic Drive

    Paved road south along the Waterpocket Fold's cliffs; small entrance fee.

    Sight · 4.2 mi straight-line
  2. 2
    Cassidy Arch Trail

    Steep 3.4-mile round trip up to a large arch you can stand above.

    Activity · 4.6 mi straight-line
  3. 3
    Hickman Bridge Trail

    Two-mile round trip to a 133-ft natural bridge with views of Capitol Dome.

    Outdoors · 6.3 mi straight-line
  4. 4
    Gifford Homestead

    Restored pioneer farmhouse selling small fruit pies and cinnamon rolls.

    Food · 6.7 mi straight-line
  5. 5
    Fremont Petroglyphs

    Boardwalk along Highway 24 with Fremont-culture rock art figures.

    Sight · 6.7 mi straight-line
  6. 6
    Fruita Orchards

    Historic orchards where you can pick cherries, apricots, peaches and apples in season.

    Activity · 6.9 mi straight-line

On these curated routes

Capitol Gorge Trail is a stop on our Utah Mighty Five route. Open it to see the full day-by-day plan.

More to do in Capitol Reef

Capitol Gorge Trail is our only outdoors pick in Capitol Reef; here is what else we recommend there. See the full Capitol Reef guide.

When to go

Average daily highs in Capitol Reef run from 42°F in December to 92°F in July; July is usually the wettest month. For Capitol Gorge Trail itself, we suggest: Afternoon.

Modelled monthly averages for Capitol Reef from NASA POWER, not a forecast. Full Capitol Reef weather by month.

Getting there

Map links open a live search for Capitol Gorge Trail, so hours and directions come straight from the map app.

Address
Torrey, UT 84775, USA
Coordinates
38.20958, -111.16917
Destination
Capitol Reef, Utah

Capitol Gorge Trail: quick answers

How much time do you need at Capitol Gorge Trail?

Plan on about 1.5 hours at Capitol Gorge Trail. That is our curated estimate for a typical visit; groups that linger will want more.

When is the best time to visit Capitol Gorge Trail?

Our pick: Afternoon. Insider tip: Dirt access road closes after rain.

Is Capitol Gorge Trail free?

Yes, we list Capitol Gorge Trail as free to visit. Check locally before you go, since special exhibits, parking or tours can carry a fee.

Where is Capitol Gorge Trail?

Capitol Gorge Trail is at Torrey, UT 84775, USA, in Scenic Drive. The Google Maps and Apple Maps links on this page open it for directions.

Which TripsCircle routes include Capitol Gorge Trail?

Capitol Gorge Trail appears on Utah Mighty Five, a curated route you can open on TripsCircle and plan with your group.

Add Capitol Gorge Trail to your crew's plan

Save it to a shared TripsCircle itinerary, settle the timing with a quick poll, and split the costs with everyone going to Capitol Reef.

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Lists & regions

Also in Capitol Reef

Curated recommendation, not live listing data. Confirm hours, prices, bookings and access before you go.