Natural Attractions

Bentonite Hills

Colorful striped badlands in gray, red, and purple—Cathedral Valley's remote geology. High-clearance 4WD required.

Capitol Dome

White sandstone fins that named Capitol Reef. Visible from Hickman Bridge Trailhead, especially in late afternoon light.

Capitol Reef National Park’s Scenic Drive

Tilted rock layers and river canyons along a scenic 8-mile paved drive. No hiking required.

Capitol Reef Orchards

Heirloom orchard from 1880 Fruita settlement. Pick seasonal fruit or sample free.

Cathedral Valley

Remote Cathedral rock formations in colorful layers; 57.6-mile loop through rugged Fremont River valley.

Fluted Wall Viewpoint

Eroded red stone pillars with deep alcoves: Moenkopi Formation showcasing 240-million-year-old trace fossils.

Fruita Schoolhouse

Restored 1896 schoolhouse where a 12-year-old teacher shaped pioneer children's education.

Gifford House

Restored 1900s farmstead depicting early Mormon settlement in Utah's Fruita oasis.

Gypsum Sinkhole

A 200-foot gypsum sinkhole sculpted by ancient groundwater. High-clearance vehicle access only.

★ 4.8 509 reviews

Head of the Rocks Overlook

Head of the Rocks Overlook: Slickrock Navajo Sandstone at 5,648 ft with a drive-up view on Scenic Byway 12.

★ 4.8 507 reviews

Hickman Natural Bridge

133-ft Navajo Sandstone arch—erosion in action beneath Capitol Reef.

★ 4.8 611 reviews

Larb Hollow Overlook

Waterpocket Fold panorama with the Henry Mountains in the distance. Uplift and erosion shaped the scene.

Merin Smith Implement Shed

Weathered sandstone workshop packed with 1930s tools and the curious Eimco tractor.

Navajo Dome Viewpoint

Capitol Dome's narrow fin rises above the river. A textbook monocline on Capitol Reef's scenic drive.

Panorama Point

360-degree monocline views of red cliffs. Sunset colors peak here; excellent stargazing year-round.

Petroglyph Panel

Ancient handprints carved in stone by the Fremont Culture. View via easy boardwalk.

Pioneer Register

Historic names carved into Capitol Gorge walls from 1871 onward. Walk 0.8 miles to see 150 years of explorer signatures.

★ 4.8 154 reviews

Sunset Point

Sunset Point: erosion-carved layered overlook in the Waterpocket Fold; sunset light reveals deep time.

Temple of the Sun and Temple of the Moon

Massive buff-pink Entrada Sandstone monoliths in remote Cathedral Valley. 4WD high-clearance vehicle required.

The Castle Viewpoint

Isolated Wingate castle looms with striped rock strata above the scenic drive corridor.

Twin Rocks Viewpoint

A white boulder perches on a shrinking pedestal of orange rock—watch differential erosion in action.

Waterpocket District

Utah's most remote 124-mile scenic drive reveals folded rock strata—the Waterpocket Monocline.