View source for Capitol Reef National Park

{{short description|National park in Utah, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2011}}
{{Infobox protected area
| name = Capitol Reef National Park
| iucn_category = II
| photo = Capitol Reef National Park.jpg
| photo_caption = Capitol Reef National Park
| map = USA#Utah
| relief = 1
| map_caption = Location in the United States##Location in Utah
| location = [[Wayne County, Utah|Wayne]],<ref name=WayneCoSDMap>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st49_ut/schooldistrict_maps/c49055_wayne/DC20SD_C49055.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Wayne County, UT|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|access-date=2024-09-28}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st49_ut/schooldistrict_maps/c49055_wayne/DC20SD_C49055_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref> [[Garfield County, Utah|Garfield]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/DC20BLK/st49_ut/county/c49017_garfield/DC20BLK_C49017.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: Garfield County, UT|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|access-date=2024-09-28|page=6 (PDF p. 7/47}}</ref> [[Sevier County, Utah|Sevier]], and [[Emery County, Utah|Emery]] counties,<ref name=WayneCoSDMap/> [[Utah]], United States
| nearest_city = [[Torrey, Utah|Torrey]]
| coordinates = {{coord|38|12|N|111|10|W|region:US-UT|display=inline, title}}
| area_acre = 241904
| area_ref = <br /><span style="font-size:87%;">{{convert|670|acre}} private</span><ref name="area">{{NPS area|year=2011|accessdate=2012-03-06}}</ref>
| established = {{start date and age|1971|12|18}}
| visitation_num = 1,422,490
| visitation_year = 2024
| visitation_ref = <ref name="visits">{{NPS Visitation |accessdate=2025-08-10}}</ref>
| governing_body = [[National Park Service]]
| website = {{official url}}
}}

'''Capitol Reef National Park''' is a [[List of national parks of the United States|national park of the United States]] in south-central [[Utah]]. The park is approximately {{convert|60|mi|-1}} long on its north{{endash}}south axis and just {{convert|6|mi|0}} wide on its east-west axis, on average. The park was established in 1971<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/travel/utahs-capitol-reef-national-park-is-like-zion-without-the-crowds/2019/10/16/667877a4-e930-11e9-9c6d-436a0df4f31d_story.html|title=Utah's Capitol Reef National Park is like Zion without the crowds|last=Randall|first=Laura|date=October 17, 2019|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=November 11, 2019}}</ref> to preserve {{convert|241904|acre|sqmi ha km2|2}} of desert landscape and is open all year, with May through September receiving the most visitors.

Partially in [[Wayne County, Utah]],<ref name=WayneCoSDMap/> the area was originally named "Wayne Wonderland" in the 1920s by local [[Boosterism|boosters]] Ephraim P. Pectol and Joseph S. Hickman.<ref name=history1>{{cite web |url=http://historytogo.utah.gov/utah_chapters/from_war_to_war/thefathersofcapitolreefnationalpark.html |title=The Fathers of Capitol Reef National Park |publisher=State of Utah |author=Charles Kelly |date=September 1, 1995 |access-date=February 23, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906162414/http://historytogo.utah.gov/utah_chapters/from_war_to_war/thefathersofcapitolreefnationalpark.html |archive-date=September 6, 2015}}</ref> Capitol Reef National Park was designated a [[national monument (United States)|national monument]] on August 2, 1937, by President [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] to protect the area's colorful canyons, ridges, [[butte]]s, and [[monoliths]]; however, it was not until 1950 that the area officially opened to the public.<ref name=history1/> Road access was improved in 1962 with the construction of [[Utah State Route 24|State Route 24]] through the [[Fremont River (Utah)|Fremont River]] Canyon.<ref name="NPShistoryculture"/>

The majority of the nearly {{convert|100|mi|km|abbr=off|adj=mid|sp=us|-long}} up-thrust formation called the [[Waterpocket Fold]]{{emdash}}a rocky [[Fold (geology)|spine]] extending from [[Thousand Lake Mountain]] to [[Lake Powell]]{{emdash}}is preserved within the park. Capitol Reef is an especially rugged and spectacular segment of the Waterpocket Fold by the Fremont River.<ref name="NPShistoryculture">{{cite web |url=https://home.nps.gov/care/learn/historyculture/index.htm |title=History & Culture |work=Capitol Reef National Park |publisher=National Pak Service |access-date=February 24, 2010}}</ref> The park was named for its whitish [[Navajo Sandstone]] cliffs with [[Dome (geology)|dome]] formations{{emdash}}similar to the white domes often placed on capitol buildings{{emdash}}that run from the Fremont River to Pleasant Creek on the Waterpocket Fold. Locally, ''reef'' refers to any rocky barrier to land travel, just as ocean reefs are barriers to sea travel.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nps.gov/care/learn/nature/geology.htm |title=Capitol Reef National Park – Geology |access-date=January 17, 2009 |year=2007 |work=Capitol Reef National Park web site |publisher=U.S. National Park Service }}</ref>

[[File:Cathedral Valley in Capitol Reef National Park.jpg|thumb|Cathedral Valley]]

==Geography==
[[File:NPS capitol-reef-national-park-map.jpg|thumb|Park map]]

Capitol Reef encompasses the [[Waterpocket Fold]], a warp in the [[Earth's crust]] that is 65&nbsp;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 [[plate tectonics|continental plates]] that created the [[Rocky Mountains]], has weathered and [[erosion|eroded]] over millennia to expose layers of rock and [[fossil]]s. The park is filled with brilliantly colored [[sandstone]] cliffs, gleaming white domes, and contrasting layers of stone and earth.

The area was named for a line of white [[Dome (geology)|domes]] and cliffs of Navajo Sandstone, each of which looks somewhat like the [[United States Capitol]] building,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nps.gov/care/faqs.htm|title=Frequently Asked Questions - Capitol Reef National Park (U.S. National Park Service)|last1=HC 70|first1=Mailing Address|last2=Torrey|first2=Box 15|website=www.nps.gov|language=en|access-date=2019-11-12|last3=Us|first3=UT 84775 Phone: 435-425-3791 Contact}}</ref> that run from the [[Fremont River (Utah)|Fremont River]] to Pleasant Creek on the Waterpocket Fold.

The fold forms a north-to-south barrier that has barely been breached by roads. Early settlers referred to parallel impassable ridges as "reefs," from which the park gets the second half of its name. The first paved road through the area was constructed in 1962. [[Utah State Route 24|State Route 24]] cuts through the park traveling east-and-west between [[Canyonlands National Park]] and [[Bryce Canyon National Park]], but few other paved roads exist in the rugged landscape.

The park is filled with canyons, cliffs, towers, domes, and arches. The Fremont River has cut canyons through parts of the Waterpocket Fold, but most of the park is arid desert.

==History==
===Native Americans and Mormons===
[[File:CapitolGorgePetroglyphs.jpg|thumb|upright|left|Petroglyph in Capitol Gorge]]

[[Fremont people|Fremont]]-culture Native Americans lived near the perennial Fremont River in the northern part of the Capitol Reef Waterpocket Fold around the year 1000. They [[irrigation|irrigated]] crops of [[maize]] and [[squash (fruit)|squash]] and stored their [[cereal|grain]] in stone granaries (in part made from the numerous black [[basalt]] boulders that litter the area). In the 13th century, all of the Native American cultures in this area underwent sudden change, likely due to a long drought.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://npshistory.com/publications/care/newspaper/c1980s.pdf|title=This "Pleasuring Ground"—How Capitol Reef Became a National Park|work=Capitol Reef Scene|publisher=Capitol Reef Natural History Association|access-date=11 November 2021}}</ref> The Fremont settlements and fields were abandoned.

Many years after the Fremont left, [[Southern Paiute|Paiute]]s moved into the area. These [[Numic languages|Numic]]-speaking people named the Fremont granaries ''moki huts'' and thought they were the homes of a race of tiny people or ''moki''.

In 1872 [[Almon Harris Thompson|Almon H. Thompson]], a geographer attached to [[United States Army]] Major [[John Wesley Powell]]'s expedition, crossed the Waterpocket Fold while exploring the area. Geologist [[Clarence Dutton]] later spent several summers studying the area's geology. None of these expeditions explored the Waterpocket Fold to any great extent.

Following the [[American Civil War]], officials of [[the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] in [[Salt Lake City]] sought to establish [[Mission (Christian)|missions]] in the remotest niches of the [[Intermountain West]]. In 1866, a quasi-military expedition of Mormons in pursuit of natives penetrated the high valleys to the west. In the 1870s, settlers moved into these valleys, eventually establishing [[Loa, Utah|Loa]], [[Fremont, Utah|Fremont]], [[Lyman, Utah|Lyman]], [[Bicknell, Utah|Bicknell]], and [[Torrey, Utah|Torrey]].<ref name="NPShistoryculture"/>

[[File:Fruita School House, Capital Reef National Park.jpg|thumb|Fruita School House]]

[[Mormons]] settled the [[Fremont River valley]] in the 1880s and established Junction (later renamed [[Fruita, Utah|Fruita]]), [[Caineville, Utah|Caineville]], and [[Aldridge, Utah|Aldridge]]. Fruita prospered, Caineville barely survived, and Aldridge died.<ref name="NPShistoryculture"/> In addition to farming, [[Lime (mineral)|lime]] was extracted from local [[limestone]], and [[uranium]] was extracted early in the 20th century. In 1904, the first claim to a uranium mine in the area was staked. The resulting Oyler Mine in Grand Wash produced uranium ore.

By 1920 no more than ten families at one time were sustained by the fertile flood plain of the Fremont River, and the land changed ownership over the years. The area remained isolated.<ref name="NPShistoryculture"/> The community was later abandoned, and later still some buildings were restored by the [[National Park Service]]. [[Kiln]]s once used to produce lime still exist in Sulphur Creek and near the campgrounds on Scenic Drive.

===Early protection efforts===
Local [[Ephraim Portman Pectol]] organized a "[[booster club]]" in [[Torrey, Utah|Torrey]] in 1921. Pectol pressed a promotional campaign, furnishing stories to be sent to periodicals and newspapers. In his efforts, he was increasingly aided by his brother-in-law, Joseph S. Hickman, who was the [[Wayne County, Utah|Wayne County]] High School principal. In 1924, Hickman extended community involvement in the promotional effort by organizing a Wayne County–wide Wayne Wonderland Club. That same year, Hickman was elected to the [[Utah State Legislature]].<ref name="NPSpeople">{{cite web |url=https://www.nps.gov/care/historyculture/people.htm |title=People |work=Capitol Reef National Park |publisher=National Park Service |access-date=February 24, 2010}}</ref>

In 1933, Pectol was elected to the presidency of the Associated Civics Club of Southern Utah, successor to the Wayne Wonderland Club. The club raised $150 ({{Inflation|US|150|1933|fmt=eq}}) to interest a Salt Lake City photographer in taking a series of promotional photographs. For several years, the photographer, J.&nbsp;E. Broaddus, traveled and lectured on "Wayne Wonderland".<ref name="NPSpeople"/>

In 1933, Pectol was elected to the legislature and almost immediately contacted President [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] and asked for the creation of "Wayne Wonderland National Monument" out of the federal lands comprising the bulk of the Capitol Reef area. Federal agencies began a feasibility study and boundary assessment. Meanwhile, Pectol guided the government investigators on numerous trips and escorted an increasing number of visitors. The lectures of Broaddus were having an effect.<ref name="NPSpeople"/>

[[FIle:Capitol Gorge - 2016-07-01.jpg|thumb|upright|250px|Capitol Gorge]]
Roosevelt signed a proclamation creating Capitol Reef National Monument on August 2, 1937.<ref>{{cite wikisource |title=Proclamation 2246: Capitol Reef National Monument-Utah |wslink=Proclamation 2246 |date=2 August 1937}} [https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Page:United_States_Statutes_at_Large_Volume_50_Part_2.djvu/970 50 Stat. 1856].</ref> In Proclamation 2246, President Roosevelt set aside {{convert|37711|acre|ha}} of the Capitol Reef area. This comprised an area extending about {{convert|2|mi|0|spell=in}} north of present [[Utah State Route 24|State Route 24]] and about {{convert|10|mi|km|abbr=on}} south, just past Capitol Gorge. The [[Great Depression]] years were lean ones for the National Park Service (NPS), the new administering agency. Funds for the administration of Capitol Reef were nonexistent; it was a long time before the first rangers arrived.<ref name="NPShistoryculture"/>

===Administration of the monument===
Administration of the new monument was placed under the control of [[Zion National Park]].<ref name="NPSpeople"/> A stone ranger cabin and the Sulphur Creek bridge were built and some road work was performed by the [[Civilian Conservation Corps]] and the [[Works Progress Administration]]. Historian and printer [[Charles Kelly (historian)|Charles Kelly]] came to know NPS officials at Zion well and volunteered to watchdog the park for the NPS. Kelly was officially appointed custodian-without-pay in 1943.<ref name="NPSpeople"/> He worked as a volunteer until 1950, when the NPS offered him a civil-service appointment as the first superintendent.<ref name="NPSpeople"/>

During the 1950s, Kelly was deeply troubled by NPS management acceding to demands of the [[United States Atomic Energy Commission|U.S. Atomic Energy Commission]] that Capitol Reef National Monument be opened to [[uranium]] prospecting. He felt that the decision had been a mistake and destructive of the long-term national interest. It turned out that there was not enough ore in the monument to be worth mining.<ref name="NPSpeople"/>

In 1958, Kelly got additional permanent help in protecting the monument and enforcing regulations; Park Ranger Grant Clark transferred from Zion. The year Clark arrived, fifty-six&nbsp;thousand visitors came to the park, and Charlie Kelly retired for the last time.<ref name="NPSpeople"/>

During the 1960s (under the program name [[Mission 66]]), NPS areas nationwide received new facilities to meet the demand of mushrooming park visitation. At Capitol Reef, a 53-site campground at Fruita, staff rental housing, and a new visitor center were built, the latter opening in 1966.<ref name="NPShistoryculture"/>

Visitation climbed dramatically after the paved, all-weather [[Utah State Route 24|State Route 24]] was built in 1962 through the Fremont River canyon near Fruita. State Route 24 replaced the narrow Capitol Gorge wagon road about {{convert|10|mi|km}} to the south that frequently washed out. The old road has since been open only to foot traffic. In 1967, 146,598 persons visited the park. The staff was also growing.<ref name="NPShistoryculture"/>

During the 1960s, the NPS purchased private land parcels at Fruita and Pleasant Creek. Almost all private property passed into public ownership on a "willing buyer-willing seller" basis.<ref name="NPShistoryculture"/>

Preservationists convinced President [[Lyndon B. Johnson]] to set aside an enormous area of public lands in 1968, just before he left office. In Presidential Proclamation 3888, an additional {{convert|215056|acre|ha}} were placed under NPS control. By 1970, Capitol Reef National Monument comprised {{convert|254251|acre|ha}} and sprawled southeast from [[Thousand Lake Mountain]] almost to the [[Colorado River (US)|Colorado River]]. The action was controversial locally, and NPS staffing at the monument was inadequate to properly manage the additional land.<ref name="NPShistoryculture"/>

===National park status===
[[File:Navajo Dome in Capitol Reef National Park, Utah.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|[[Navajo Dome]] formation]]
[[File:CapReefMerged.jpg|thumb|Tower and rock layers at Capitol Reef]]

The vast enlargement of the monument and diversification of the scenic resources soon raised another issue: whether Capitol Reef should be a [[U.S. national park|national park]], rather than a [[U.S. National Monument|monument]]. Two bills were introduced into the [[United States Congress]].<ref name="NPShistoryculture"/>

A House bill (H.R. 17152) introduced by [[Utah]] Congressman [[Laurence J. Burton]] called for a {{convert|180000|acre|ha|sigfig=3|adj=on}} national park and an adjunct {{convert|48000|acre|ha|sigfig=3|adj=on}} [[national recreation area]] where multiple use (including [[grazing]]) could continue indefinitely. In the [[United States Senate]], meanwhile, Senate bill S. 531 had already passed on July 1, 1970, and provided for a {{convert|230000|acre|ha|sigfig=3|adj=on}} national park alone. The bill called for a 25-year phase-out of grazing.<ref name="NPShistoryculture"/>

In September 1970, [[United States Department of Interior]] officials told a house subcommittee session that they preferred about {{convert|254000|acre|ha}} be set aside as a national park. They also recommended that the grazing phase-out period be 10 years, rather than 25. They did not favor the adjunct recreation area.<ref name="NPShistoryculture"/>

It was not until late 1971 that Congressional action was completed. By then, the [[92nd United States Congress]] was in session and S. 531 had languished. A new bill, S. 29, was introduced in the Senate by Senator [[Frank E. Moss]] of Utah and was essentially the same as the defunct S. 531 except that it called for an additional {{convert|10834|acre|ha}} of public lands for a Capitol Reef National Park. In the House, Utah Representative [[K. Gunn McKay]] (with Representative Lloyd) had introduced H.R. 9053 to replace the dead H.R. 17152. This time, the House bill dropped the concept of an adjunct Capitol Reef National Recreation Area and adopted the Senate concept of a 25-year limit on continued grazing. The Department of Interior was still recommending a national park of {{convert|254368|acre|ha}} and a 10-year limit for grazing phase-out.<ref name="NPShistoryculture"/>

S. 29 passed the Senate in June and was sent to the House, which dropped its own bill and passed the Senate version with an amendment. Because the Senate was not in agreement with the House amendment, differences were worked out in [[Conference Committee]]. The Conference Committee issued its report on November 30, 1971, and the bill passed both houses of Congress. The legislation—"An Act to Establish The Capitol Reef National Park in the State of Utah"—became Public Law 92-207 when it was signed by President [[Richard Nixon]] on December 18, 1971.<ref name="NPShistoryculture"/>
{{clear}}

== Dark Sky Park ==
 [[File:Capitol Stars.jpg|thumb|The Milky Way at Capitol Reef]]In April 2015, Capitol Reef National Park was designated a "Gold Tier" Dark Sky Park due to its remote location and minimal use of artificial lighting.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |last2= |first2= |last3= |first3= |last4= |first4= |title=Capitol Reef National Park Receives International Dark Sky Designation - Capitol Reef National Park (U.S. National Park Service) |url=https://www.nps.gov/care/learn/news/capitol-reef-national-park-receives-international-dark-sky-designation.htm |access-date=2024-10-11 |website=www.nps.gov |language=en}}</ref>
==Climate==
According to the [[Köppen climate classification]] system, the Capitol Reef Visitor Center has a [[cold semi-arid climate]] (''BSk'').

{{Weather box|width=auto
|location = Capitol Reef National Park, Utah, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1938–present
|single line = Y
|Jan record high F = 69
|Feb record high F = 72
|Mar record high F = 80
|Apr record high F = 91
|May record high F = 97
|Jun record high F = 104
|Jul record high F = 104
|Aug record high F = 102
|Sep record high F = 99
|Oct record high F = 91
|Nov record high F = 77
|Dec record high F = 69
|year record high F =
| Jan avg record high F = 54.1
| Feb avg record high F = 59.7
| Mar avg record high F = 71.8
| Apr avg record high F = 80.3
| May avg record high F = 87.9
| Jun avg record high F = 97.0
| Jul avg record high F = 99.2
| Aug avg record high F = 96.0
| Sep avg record high F = 91.0
| Oct avg record high F = 81.6
| Nov avg record high F = 65.3
| Dec avg record high F = 55.0
| year avg record high F = 99.7
| Jan high F = 40.6
| Feb high F = 46.8
| Mar high F = 57.3
| Apr high F = 64.7
| May high F = 74.3
| Jun high F = 86.4
| Jul high F = 91.2
| Aug high F = 87.8
| Sep high F = 79.7
| Oct high F = 65.9
| Nov high F = 51.0
| Dec high F = 40.2
|year high F = 65.5
|Jan mean F = 30.5
|Feb mean F = 36.2
|Mar mean F = 45.4
|Apr mean F = 51.9
|May mean F = 61.3
|Jun mean F = 72.3
|Jul mean F = 78.2
|Aug mean F = 75.3
|Sep mean F = 67.2
|Oct mean F = 54.5
|Nov mean F = 40.7
|Dec mean F = 30.4
|year mean F = 53.7
| Jan low F = 20.5
| Feb low F = 25.7
| Mar low F = 33.6
| Apr low F = 39.2
| May low F = 48.3
| Jun low F = 58.2
| Jul low F = 65.2
| Aug low F = 62.8
| Sep low F = 54.7
| Oct low F = 43.1
| Nov low F = 30.4
| Dec low F = 20.6
|year low F = 41.9
| Jan avg record low F = 8.6
| Feb avg record low F = 14.3
| Mar avg record low F = 22.5
| Apr avg record low F = 28.5
| May avg record low F = 36.2
| Jun avg record low F = 46.4
| Jul avg record low F = 56.9
| Aug avg record low F = 55.5
| Sep avg record low F = 43.1
| Oct avg record low F = 30.0
| Nov avg record low F = 18.4
| Dec avg record low F = 10.2
| year avg record low F = 6.8
|Jan record low F = -9
|Feb record low F = -7
|Mar record low F = 10
|Apr record low F = 18
|May record low F = 28
|Jun record low F = 35
|Jul record low F = 44
|Aug record low F = 42
|Sep record low F = 30
|Oct record low F = 12
|Nov record low F = 5
|Dec record low F = -8
|year record low F =
|precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation inch = 0.56
| Feb precipitation inch = 0.50
| Mar precipitation inch = 0.46
| Apr precipitation inch = 0.52
| May precipitation inch = 0.65
| Jun precipitation inch = 0.35
| Jul precipitation inch = 1.03
| Aug precipitation inch = 1.12
| Sep precipitation inch = 0.95
| Oct precipitation inch = 0.87
| Nov precipitation inch = 0.50
| Dec precipitation inch = 0.37
|year precipitation inch = 7.88
| unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
| Jan precipitation days = 3.3
| Feb precipitation days = 3.7
| Mar precipitation days = 3.6
| Apr precipitation days = 4.5
| May precipitation days = 4.9
| Jun precipitation days = 3.3
| Jul precipitation days = 7.7
| Aug precipitation days = 8.1
| Sep precipitation days = 5.3
| Oct precipitation days = 4.5
| Nov precipitation days = 2.7
| Dec precipitation days = 2.9
| year precipitation days = 54.5
|Jan snow inch = 3.8
|Feb snow inch = 1.5
|Mar snow inch = 1.7
|Apr snow inch = 0.2
|May snow inch = 0.0
|Jun snow inch = 0.0
|Jul snow inch = 0.0
|Aug snow inch = 0.0
|Sep snow inch = 0.0
|Oct snow inch = 0.0
|Nov snow inch = 1.5
|Dec snow inch = 2.2
|year snow inch = 10.9
|unit snow days = 0.1 in
|Jan snow days = 1.9
|Feb snow days = 1.3
|Mar snow days = 0.8
|Apr snow days = 0.3
|May snow days = 0.1
|Jun snow days = 0.0
|Jul snow days = 0.0
|Aug snow days = 0.0
|Sep snow days = 0.0
|Oct snow days = 0.0
|Nov snow days = 0.7
|Dec snow days = 1.8
|year snow days = 6.9
|source 1 = NOAA<ref>{{cite web
| url = https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=slc
| title = NOWData - NOAA Online Weather Data
| publisher = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]
| accessdate = June 12, 2021
| archive-date = May 20, 2021
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210520233857/https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=slc
| url-status = dead
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
| url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USC00421171&format=pdf
| title = Summary of Monthly Normals 1991-2020
| publisher = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]
| accessdate = June 12, 2021
}}</ref> }}

==Geology==
{{main|Geology of the Capitol Reef area}}
[[File:Big Thomson Mesa, Capitol Reef National Park, Utah.jpg|thumb|Waterpocket Fold from the [[International Space Station|ISS]]]]
The area including the park was once the edge of a shallow sea that invaded the land in the [[Permian]], creating the [[Cutler Formation]].<ref>{{Cite book|title=Sedimentary Geology|last1=Kamola|first1=Diane L.|last2=Chan|first2=Marjorie A.|publisher=Elsevier B.V.|year=1988|pages=Volume 56, Issues 1–4, Pages 341–356}}</ref> Only the [[sandstone]] of the youngest member of the Cutler Formation, the White Rim, is exposed in the park. The deepening sea left [[carbonate]] deposits, forming the [[Kaibab Limestone]], the same formation that rims the [[Grand Canyon]] to the southwest.

During the [[Triassic]], streams deposited reddish-brown [[silt]] that later became the [[siltstone]] of the [[Moenkopi Formation]]. [[Tectonic uplift|Uplift]] and [[erosion]] followed. [[Conglomerate (geology)|Conglomerate]], followed by logs, sand, mud, and wind-transported [[volcanic ash]], then formed the [[uranium]]-containing [[Chinle Formation]].

The members of the [[Glen Canyon Group]] were all laid down in the middle- to late-Triassic during a time of increasing aridity. They include:
* [[Wingate Sandstone]]: [[sand dune]]s on the shore of an ancient sea
* [[Kayenta Formation]]: thin-bedded layers of sand deposited by slow-moving streams in channels and across low plains
* [[Navajo Sandstone]]: huge fossilized sand dunes from a massive [[Sahara]]-like [[desert]].

[[File:GoldenThrone.JPG|thumb|The [[Golden Throne (mountain)|Golden Throne]]. Though Capitol Reef is famous for white domes of [[Navajo Sandstone]], this dome's color is a result of a lingering section of yellow [[Carmel Formation]] carbonate, which has stained the underlying rock.]]
The [[San Rafael Group]] consists of four Jurassic-period formations; from oldest to youngest, they are:
* the [[Carmel Formation]]: [[gypsum]], [[sand]], and limey [[silt]] laid down in what may have been a [[graben]] that was periodically flooded by [[sea water]];
* the [[Entrada Sandstone]]: sandstone from [[shoal|barrier islands/sand bars]] in a near-shore environment;
* the [[Curtis Formation]]: made from conglomerate, sandstone, and shale; and
* the [[Summerville Formation]]: reddish-brown mud and white sand deposited in tidal flats.

Streams once again laid down mud and sand in their channels, on lakebeds, and in [[swamp]]y plains, creating the [[Morrison Formation]]. Early in the [[Cretaceous]], similar non-marine sediments were laid down and became the Dakota Sandstone. Eventually, the [[Cretaceous Seaway]] covered the Dakota, depositing the Mancos Shale.

Only small remnants of the [[Mesaverde Group]] are found, capping a few [[mesa]]s in the park's eastern section.

Near the end of the Cretaceous period, a mountain-building event called the [[Laramide orogeny]] started to compact and uplift the region, forming the [[Rocky Mountain]]s and creating [[monocline]]s such as the Waterpocket Fold in the park. Ten to fifteen&nbsp;million years ago, the entire region was uplifted much further by the creation of the [[Colorado Plateau]]. This uplift was very even. [[Igneous rock|Igneous]] activity in the form of [[volcanism]] and [[dike (geology)|dike]] and [[sill (geology)|sill]] [[intrusion (geology)|intrusion]] also occurred during this time.

The drainage system in the area was rearranged and steepened, causing streams to [[downcutting|downcut]] faster and sometimes change course. Wetter times during the [[ice age]]s of the [[Pleistocene]] increased the rate of erosion.

== Flora ==
There are more than 840 species of plants that are found in the park, and over 40 of those species are classified as rare and [[Endemism|endemic]].<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |last2= |first2= |last3= |first3= |last4= |first4= |title=Plants - Capitol Reef National Park (U.S. National Park Service) |url=https://www.nps.gov/care/learn/nature/plants.htm |access-date=2024-01-30 |website=www.nps.gov |language=en}}</ref>

==Visiting the park==
The closest town to Capitol Reef is [[Torrey, Utah|Torrey]], about {{convert|11|mi|km}} west of the visitor center on Highway 24, slightly west of its intersection with [[Utah State Route 12|Highway 12]].<ref name=CRmap>[https://www.nps.gov/care/planyourvisit/maps.htm "Capitol Reef National Park Maps: Brochure Map"]. ''nps.gov''. National Park Service. February 6, 2017. Retrieved June 5, 2018.</ref> Its 2020 population was less than 300.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Population and Housing Unit Estimates|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.2019.html|url-status=live|access-date=September 4, 2021|website=United States Census Bureau|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190726235959/https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.2019.html |archive-date=July 26, 2019 }}</ref> Torrey has a few motels and restaurants and functions as a gateway town to the park.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Where to stay near Capitol Reef, Utah|url=https://howtobookyourtrip.com/where-to-stay-near-capitol-reef/|url-status=live|access-date=September 4, 2021|website=Howtobookyourtrip|date=February 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210303090539/https://howtobookyourtrip.com/where-to-stay-near-capitol-reef/ |archive-date=March 3, 2021 }}</ref> Highway 12 and a partially unpaved scenic backway named the Burr Trail provide access from the west through the [[Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument]] and the town of [[Boulder, Utah|Boulder]].<ref name=CRmap/>

== Activities ==
A variety of activities are available to tourists, both ranger-led and self-guided, including auto touring, hiking, backpacking, camping,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nps.gov/care/planyourvisit/basicinfo.htm|title=Basic Information|publisher=National Park Service|website=nps.gov|language=en|date=October 4, 2019|access-date=November 11, 2019}}</ref> bicycling (on paved and unpaved roads only; no trails), horseback riding, canyoneering, and rock climbing.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nps.gov/care/planyourvisit/outdooractivities.htm|title=Outdoor Activities|website=nps.gov|language=en|access-date=November 11, 2019}}</ref> The orchards planted by Mormon pioneers are maintained by the National Park Service. From early March to mid-October, various fruit—cherries, apricots, peaches, pears, or apples—can be harvested by visitors for a fee.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20160913024734/https://www.nps.gov/care/planyourvisit/upload/orchards-Jan16-low-res-locked-for-web.pdf "Fruita Orchards"]. ''nps.gov''. National Park Service. January 1, 2016. Retrieved June 5, 2018.</ref>

=== Hiking and backpacking ===
A hiking-trail guide is available at the visitor center for both day hikes and [[backcountry]] hiking. Backcountry access requires a free permit.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.nps.gov/care/planyourvisit/trailguide.htm|title=Trail Guide|publisher=National Park Service|website=nps.gov|language=en|date=February 24, 2015|access-date=November 11, 2019}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.nps.gov/care/planyourvisit/hiking.htm|title=Hiking and Backpacking|publisher=National Park Service|website=nps.gov|language=en|date=September 20, 2019|access-date=November 11, 2019}}</ref>

[[File:Hickman Bridge Capitol Reef National Park USA.jpg|thumb|[[Hickman Natural Bridge]]]]

Numerous trails are available for hiking and backpacking in the park, with fifteen in the Fruita District alone.<ref name=":1" /> The following trails are some of the most popular in the park:
* [[Cassidy Arch]] Trail: a very steep, strenuous, {{Convert|3.5|mi|sp=us|adj=on}} round trip that leads into the Grand Wash to an overlook of the Cassidy Arch.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://utah.com/hiking/capitol-reef-national-park/cassidy-arch-trail|title=Cassidy Arch Hiking Trail|website=Utah.com|language=en|access-date=November 11, 2019|archive-date=November 12, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191112022844/https://utah.com/hiking/capitol-reef-national-park/cassidy-arch-trail|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=":0" />
* Grand Wash Trail: a popular easy trail providing access to the Narrows area of the wash. Accessible both from Rt. 24 and from the end of Grand Wash Road, off of the Scenic Drive.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Grand Wash-Cassidy Arch |url=https://home.nps.gov/care/learn/photosmultimedia/images/510%20-%20Grand%20Wash-Cassidy%20Arch%20-%20final%20resize.jpg |access-date=2025-10-28 |website=National Park Service, Capitol Reef National Park}}</ref>
* [[Hickman Bridge]] Trail: a {{Convert|2|mi|sp=us|adj=on}} round trip leading to the [[Natural arch|natural bridge]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://utah.com/hiking/capitol-reef-national-park/hickman-bridge|title=Hickman Bridge Hiking Trail|website=Utah.com|language=en|access-date=November 11, 2019|archive-date=November 12, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191112022846/https://utah.com/hiking/capitol-reef-national-park/hickman-bridge|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* Frying Pan Trail: an {{Convert|8.8|mi|sp=us|adj=on}} round trip that passes the Cassidy Arch, Grand Wash, and Cohab Canyon.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://utah.com/hiking/capitol-reef-national-park/frying-pan-trail|title=Frying Pan Trail Hiking Trails|website=Utah.com|language=en|access-date=November 11, 2019|archive-date=November 12, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191112022844/https://utah.com/hiking/capitol-reef-national-park/frying-pan-trail|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* Brimhall Natural Bridge: a popular, though strenuous, {{Convert|4.5|mi|sp=us|adj=on}} round trip with views of Brimhall Canyon, the Waterpocket Fold, and Brimhall Natural Bridge.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://utah.com/hiking/capitol-reef-national-park/brimhall-natural-bridge|title=Brimhall Natural Bridge Hiking Trail|website=Utah.com|language=en|access-date=November 11, 2019|archive-date=November 12, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191112022842/https://utah.com/hiking/capitol-reef-national-park/brimhall-natural-bridge|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* Halls Creek Narrows: {{Convert|22|mi|sp=us}} long and considered strenuous, with many side canyons and creeks; typically hiked as a 2-3 day camping trip.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://utah.com/hiking/capitol-reef-national-park/halls-creek-narrows|title=Halls Creek Narrows Hiking Trail|website=Utah.com|language=en|access-date=November 11, 2019|archive-date=November 12, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191112022842/https://utah.com/hiking/capitol-reef-national-park/halls-creek-narrows|url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== Auto touring ===
Visitors may explore several of the main areas of the park by private vehicle:
* Scenic Drive: a {{convert|7.9|mile|adj=on}} paved road<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nps.gov/care/planyourvisit/scenicdrive.htm|title=Guide to the Scenic Drive|website=www.nps.gov}}></ref> winds through the middle of the park, passing the major points of interest; the road is accessible from the visitor center to approximately {{Convert|2|mi|sp=us}} into the Capitol Gorge.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://capitolreef.org/blog/the-scenic-drive-in-capitol-reef-national-park/|title=The Scenic Drive in Capitol Reef National Park|website=capitolreef.org|language=en|access-date=November 11, 2019|date=December 27, 2013}}</ref>
* Notom-Bullfrog Road: traverses the eastern side of the Waterpocket Fold, along {{Convert|10|mi|sp=us}} of paved road, with the remainder unpaved.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.nps.gov/care/planyourvisit/roads.htm|title=Roads|website=nps.gov|language=en|access-date=November 11, 2019}}</ref>
* Cathedral Road: an unpaved road through the northern areas of the park, that traverses Cathedral Valley, passing the Temples of the Sun and Moon.<ref name=":2" />

=== Camping ===
The primary camping location is the Fruita campground, with 71 campsites (no water, electrical, or sewer hookups), and restrooms without bathing facilities.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|url=https://www.nps.gov/care/planyourvisit/fruitacampground.htm|title=Fruita Campground|website=nps.gov|language=en|access-date=November 11, 2019}}</ref> The campground also has group sites with picnic areas and restrooms.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.recreation.gov/|title=Recreation.gov|website=recreation.gov|language=en|access-date=November 11, 2019}}</ref> Two primitive, free camping areas are also available.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20071012143637/http://www.nps.gov/care/planyourvisit/primitivecampsites.htm "Primitive Campsites"]. ''nps.gov''. National Park Service. May 26, 2016. Retrieved June 5, 2018.</ref>

=== Canyoneering ===
[[File:The First Rappel (140 ft).jpg|thumb|Taken from the top of the first rappel of the Cassidy Arch route.]]
Canyoneering is growing in popularity in the park. It is a recreational sport that takes one through [[Slot canyon|slot canyons]]. It involves [[rappelling]] and may require swimming and other technical rope work.<ref>{{Cite web|last1=HC 70|first1=Mailing Address|last2=Torrey|first2=Box 15|last3=answers|first3=UT 84775 Phone: 435-425-3791 Recorded park information available 24 hours a day Phones are answered when staff is available If no one|last4=Message|first4=Please Leave a|title=Canyoneering - Capitol Reef National Park (U.S. National Park Service)|url=https://www.nps.gov/care/planyourvisit/canyoneering.htm|access-date=2022-02-16|website=www.nps.gov|language=en}}</ref> Day-pass permits are required for canyoneering in the park and can be obtained for free from the visitor's center or through email. Each route requires its own permit. If one is planning on canyoneering for multiple days, then passes are required for each day. Overnight camping as part of the canyoneering trip is permitted, but a free backcountry pass must be requested from the visitor center.<ref>{{Cite web|last1=HC 70|first1=Mailing Address|last2=Torrey|first2=Box 15|last3=answers|first3=UT 84775 Phone: 435-425-3791 Recorded park information available 24 hours a day Phones are answered when staff is available If no one|last4=Message|first4=Please Leave a|title=Canyoneering - Capitol Reef National Park (U.S. National Park Service)|url=https://www.nps.gov/care/planyourvisit/canyoneering.htm|access-date=2022-02-17|website=www.nps.gov|language=en}}</ref>

It is imperative to plan canyoneering trips around the weather. The Colorado Plateau is susceptible to flash flooding during prime rainy months.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Warning - Climb Utah|url=https://climb-utah.com/warning.htm|access-date=2022-02-17|website=climb-utah.com}}</ref> Because canyoneering takes place through slot canyons, getting caught in a flash flood could be lethal. Visitors are advised to consult reliable weather sources. The Weather Atlas shows charts with the monthly average rainfall in inches.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Aladin|title=Capitol Reef National Park, UT - Detailed climate information and monthly weather forecast|url=https://www.weather-us.com/en/utah-usa/capitol-reef-national-park-climate|access-date=2022-02-17|website=Weather Atlas|language=en}}</ref>

[[Excessive heat warning|Extreme heat]] during the summer months presents a danger to visitors, who can find weather warnings on the [[National Weather Service]] website.<ref>[https://www.wrh.noaa.gov/wrh/heatrisk/?wfo=slc# National Weather Service]</ref> The heat levels are detailed by a color and numerical scale (0–4).<ref>{{Cite web|title=NWS HeatRisk|url=https://www.wrh.noaa.gov/wrh/heatrisk/?wfo=slc#|access-date=2022-02-17|website=www.wrh.noaa.gov}}</ref>

One of the most popular canyoneering routes in Capitol Reef National Park is Cassidy Arch Canyon. A paper by George Huddart details the park's commitment to working with citizens to maintain the route as well as the vegetation and rocks.<ref>{{Citation|last=Huddart|first=David|title=Gorge Walking, Canyoneering, or Canyoning|date=2019|url=http://link.springer.com/10.1007/978-3-319-97758-4_5|work=Outdoor Recreation|pages=111–130|place=Cham|publisher=Springer International Publishing|language=en|doi=10.1007/978-3-319-97758-4_5|isbn=978-3-319-97757-7|s2cid=210300303|access-date=2022-02-17|url-access=subscription}}</ref> The canyon route is approximately {{Convert|2.3|mi}} long ({{Convert|0.4|mi}} of technical work), consisting of 8 different rappels, and takes between 2.5 and 4.5 hours to complete.<ref>{{Cite web|title=BluuGnome.com - Canyoneering - Cassidy Arch Canyon, Capitol Reef National Park, Utah.|url=http://www.bluugnome.com/cyn_route/cap-reef/cap-reef_cassidy/cap-reef_cassidy.aspx|access-date=2022-02-17|website=www.bluugnome.com}}</ref> The first rappel is {{Convert|140|ft}} and descends below the famous Cassidy Arch.<ref>[http://www.bluugnome.com/cyn_route/cap-reef/cap-reef_cassidy/cap-reef_cassidy.aspx Blue Gnome report]</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of national parks of the United States]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{NPS}}
* {{cite book|last1=Harris|first1=Ann G.|last2=Tuttle|first2=Esther|last3=Tuttle|first3=Sherwood D.|title=Geology of national parks|date=1997|publisher=Kendall/Hunt Publishing Co|location=Dubuque, Iowa|isbn=0-7872-5353-7|edition=Fifth}}
* {{cite book|last1=Frye|first1=Bradford J, NPS|title=From Barrier to Crossroads: An Administrative History of Capitol Reef National Park, Utah|publisher=U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Intermountain Region|location=Denver, CO|url=https://www.nps.gov/parkhistory/online_books/care/adhi/adhi.htm|access-date=2 May 2018|series=Cultural Resources Selections|volume=12|oclc=44648779}}
* {{cite book|author1=Reader's Digest|author-link1=Reader's Digest|title=Explore America: National parks.|date=1993|publisher=Reader's Digest Association|location=Pleasantville, N.Y.|isbn=9780895774477|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/nationalparks00read}}
* {{cite book|author1=United States National Park Service|author-link1=National Park Service|title=Capitol Reef : official map and guide|date=1989|publisher=Capitol Reef National Park, National Park Service, U.S. Dept. of the Interior|location=Washington, D.C.|oclc=649825634}}
* {{cite book|author1=United States National Park Service|author-link1=National Park Service|title=The National parks : index 2001-2003|publisher=Office of Public Affairs and the Division of Publications, National Park Service|location=Washington, D.C.|url=https://archive.org/details/nationalparksind000103|access-date=2 May 2018|oclc=53228516}}

==External links==
{{commons and category}}
{{wikivoyage}}
* {{Official website}} of the [[National Park Service]]
* [http://www.visitutah.com/parks-monuments/national-parks/capitol-reef/ Capitol Reef National Park |Utah Office of Tourism]
* [http://www.capitolreef.org/ Capitol Reef Country] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220907071637/https://capitolreef.org/ |date=September 7, 2022 }} Wayne County Tourism Services
* [http://capitolreefnha.org/ Capitol Reef Natural History Association] Support historical, cultural, scientific, interpretive and educational activities at Capitol Reef National Park.
* {{HAER |survey=UT-77 |id=ut0409 |title=Capital Reef National Park Roads & Bridges, Along State Route 24 between Torrey & Cainesville, Torrey, Wayne County, UT |photos=6 |color=4 |dwgs= |data= |cap=2}}

{{National parks of the United States}}
{{UT Parks}}
{{Utah}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Capitol Reef National Park| ]]
[[Category:Civilian Conservation Corps in Utah]]
[[Category:Colorado Plateau]]
[[Category:Protected areas established in 1971]]
[[Category:Protected areas of Wayne County, Utah]]
[[Category:Protected areas of Garfield County, Utah]]
[[Category:Protected areas of Sevier County, Utah]]
[[Category:Protected areas of Emery County, Utah]]
[[Category:Works Progress Administration in Utah]]
[[Category:National parks in Utah]]
[[Category:1971 establishments in Utah]]
[[Category:Badlands of the United States]]