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General Information
A few suggestions for your stay at Capitol Reef:
Hiking
Short day hikes in and around Fruita give hikers an intimate look
at Capitol Reef. Several I hikes are self-guided, with brochures
available at trailheads or the visitor center. Capitol Reef's
trails cover a wide variety of terrain. They wind through narrow
canyons, lead to natural arches and bridges, and climb to overlooks.
Trails vary from easy strolls through the historic orchards and
along the Fremont River to strenuous climbs 1,000 feet above the
Fremont River Valley.
Backpacking
Explore the park's back country on longer trips. Before leaving
for the back country, check with a ranger about trail, route,
and road conditions, and weather and water concerns. Many of these
trips follow washes or traverse slickrock. A free back country
permit is required for overnight trips. Maps are highly recommended.
A detailed back country hiking map is available at the visitor
center or can be ordered from Capitol Reef Natural History Association.
Mountain Biking
Even though bikes are permitted on roads only, bikers can get
away from crowds and automobile traffic by traveling dirt roads
in the park. A free biking handout is available at the visitor
center, and a ranger can help you choose the most appropriate
ride for your time, interests and ability.
Vehicle Travel
The quickest way to see Capitol Reef is by vehicle. Several printed
guides, available at the visitor center, provide maps and descriptions
of the most popular routes. Most of the roads in and out of the
park are dirt. Due to changing road conditions, 4WD vehicles are
recommended. Only highway U-24, the Scenic Drive, and short portions
of the Notom-Bullfrog road are paved. Check with a ranger for
road conditions.
Ranger Guided Activities
During the spring, summer and fall, rangers provide a variety
of guided walks, talks and evening programs. Check park bulletin
boards for a listing of these free activities.
Fruit Picking
The historic Fruita district includes approximately 3,000 fruit
trees, which gave the settlement its name. These orchards date
back to the late 1800's when Mormon pioneers settled this area.
Apples, peaches, apricots and pears are abundant. Cherries, plums,
grapes, nectarines, and a variety of nuts are also harvested annually.
Pick, sample, and enjoy the fruit! For more details concerning
harvest times, fees, and availability of fruit, refer to page
13.
Visitor Services
The visitor center is open daily, including most federal holidays.
Hours are 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. with extended summer hours between
Memorial Day and Labor Day. It is located at the junction of Utah
Highway 24 and the Scenic Drive.
The visitor center staff provides travel information, road and
trail conditions, weather reports and back country information
as well as Golden Age, Eagle and Access passports.
A small museum and orientation program are available at the visitor
center, as well as bookstore operated by the Capitol Reef Natural
History Association.
The Fruita schoolhouse is furnished, and a short recorded message
recounts the experiences of a former school teacher.
The blacksmith shop (1/2 mile south of the visitor center on the
Scenic Drive) displays tools of a trade almost nonexistent today.
A recorded message tells of life in this pioneer community.
Historic Orchards
In an effort to keep the legacy of Fruita alive, the National
Park Service preserves the historic orchards as part of Capitol
Reef National Park. Old trees are replaced with historic varieties,
if available. As a result, fruit is available much of the summer
and fall months.
Signs direct the way to orchards with fruit ready for picking.
For almost a century, these orchards were harvested just as they
are today.
You may eat as much fruit as you wish in an orchard open for public
harvest. However, any fruit taken from the orchard must be purchased
at a self-pay station. There is a scale for weighing fruit and
plastic bags for your convenience. Please select only ripe fruit
and leave the rest to ripen for the next visitor.
Three-legged ladders are provided, but require special care to
use. To insure safe use of ladders, please read all safety signs.
The following dates, covering 1984-1994, show the range of flowering
and harvest times for various fruit grown in the Capitol Reef
orchards and can help you plan your visit:
| FRUIT |
FLOWERING |
HARVEST |
| Cherries |
03/31 - 04/19 |
06/11 - 07/07 |
| Apricots |
|
|
| (early) |
02/27 - 03/20 |
06/27 - 07/22 |
| (regular) |
03/07 - 04/13 |
06/28 - 07/18 |
| Peaches |
03/26 - 04/23 |
08/01 - 09/06 |
| Apples |
04/10 - 05/06 |
09/04 - 10/17 |
| Pears |
03/31 - 05/03 |
08/07 - 09/08 |
Camp Among the Historic Fruita Orchards
Fruita's seventy-site campground is just one mile south of the
visitor center on the Scenic Drive. Campsites are available on
a first-come, first-served basis; sites cannot be reserved or
held for late arrivals. Up to eight people may stay at a campsite
for $8.00 per night. Campers may stay in the campground a total
of fourteen days each year. Camping is permitted only in designated
campsites. All vehicles must be parked in the parking area adjacent
to each site, not on the grass or along the road. The campground
speed limit is five mph.
Campground facilities include restrooms with flush toilets and
sinks, water spigots, gray water disposal, pay telephone, and
an RV dump station and water fill-up. Hook-ups and showers may
be purchased for a nominal fee at private campgrounds in nearby
communities.
Each campsite has a picnic table and grill. Wood gathering is
not permitted in the park, but firewood may be purchased at nearby
stores. Campground hosts live in the campground from early April
through late October in sites number one and four in loop A. Please
contact them if any problems arise. For emergencies, dial 911.
Phones are located at the A loop restroom and the visitor center.
Water from solar showers, dish washing and bathing must be collected
and deposited in the gray water sink located at each restroom.
Washing of any kind is not permitted at the spigots and drinking
fountains. Use of clotheslines and hammocks is discouraged. Such
devices may only be used within your own campsite during daylight
in such a way that no resource damage occurs. Quiet hours are
from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Generators may be operated only from 9
to 11 a.m. and 4 to 6 p.m. Checkout time is 11 a.m. From late
spring through early fall, campground sprinklers are sometimes
left on twenty-four hours a day. If a sprinkler is impacting your
campsite, move it to another area in your site or turn down the
water volume, but please do not turn it off. Contact the campground
host if water is a problem in the campsite.
Pets may not be left unattended. They must be restrained on a
leash (6' or less in length) at all times and may be walked along
roads or in orchards, but are not permitted on hiking trails.
Feeding of any wildlife is prohibited. Deer are common in the
campground year round. Please resist their begging and allow them
some space; thirty feet or more is appropriate. Remember, does
with fawns are aggressively protective. Skunks are often seen
in the campground scavenging for food. If they don't find what
they are looking for, they will quickly move on, so keep a clean
camp. Keep food in closed containers, and do not leave pet food
outside overnight. If a skunk wanders through your site, do not
attempt to shoo it away. Keep tents zipped and RV and car doors
closed. Remember, wildlife can provide us with much enjoyment,
but this is THEIR home. Think safety, and please help us keep
them wild!
For More Information
- Contact
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- Capitol Reef National Park
HC 70 Box 15
- Torrey, Utah 84775
Phone: 435-425-3791
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