Every year, around 1.25 million people visit Capitol Reef National Park, a truly fascinating national park to visit in Utah. Its remote beauty and expansive history draw visitors from all over the world, but people have been visiting this area for thousands of years (albeit in much smaller numbers!).

Capitol Reef National Park was welcomed into the national park system in 1971, but people had already been visiting this place for thousands of years.
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The first people were Paleo-Indians, who were hunter-gatherers that likely lived in the area 12,000 years ago.
Desert Archaic Indians lived 8,000 years to 1,600 years ago. They moved around often, searching for the best hunting grounds. Ancient pictographs found in nearby Horseshoe Canyon give us some insight into how these people lived.
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During the Archaic period, people typically lived in caves. They moved frequently, gathering plants and hunting animals for food. Just east of Capitol Reef National Park, Horseshoe Canyon is part of Canyonlands National Park, but it's believed that the same people may have frequented the area around Capitol Reef, as well.
Fremont and Ancestral Puebloan people lived in Capitol Reef as many as 2,000 years ago.
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Generations of these peoples lived and thrived for more than 1,000 years. They lived in pit houses and farmed the land, growing squash, corn, and beans. Pictographs and petroglyphs from the people of this era are plentiful around the park, and they show a fairly advanced culture.
In 1776, Franciscan priests Fransisco Atanasio Dominguez and Silvestre Velez de Escalante came through the area.
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In 1853, explorer John Charles Fremont passed through, and John Wesley Powell brought his party of geologists through in 1871.
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On that expedition, Solomon Nunes Carvalho created what is now thought to be the first image of Capitol Reef. Part of the Fremont party, Carvalho was fascinated by the new technology of the daguerreotype, and he created this pen and ink drawing from his original photograph.
Capitol Reef National Park/Facebook
In the 1870s, the first Mormon settlers began making homes in the area, and in 1880, Nels Johnson claimed his stake in Fruita, and planted fruit orchards. He married Mary Jane Behunin, the daughter of another settler who would later donate land for the Fruita Schoolhouse.
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The Fruita School was built in the late 1800s, and educated the children of Fruita until 1941.
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Dewey and Nel Gifford settled into Fruita and raised their four children here, starting in the late 1920s. The last residents of Fruita, they moved out in 1969. You can visit their homestead at the park today.
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In 1937, President Franklin D. Roosevelt protected 37,711 acres and named it Capitol Reef National Monument. In 1971, President Richard Nixon set aside 254,000 acres and designated Capitol Reef as a national park.
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Today, when modern visitors come to Capitol Reef National Park to gaze at its wonders, they often feel as though they discovered something truly amazing. They certainly did - they just weren't the first to do so!
John McAnulty

Learn more about the people of Capitol Reef on the national park’s website. You might also give its Facebook page a follow to see more photos and learn about what’s new at the park. You’ll quickly discover why Capital Reef is considered the most fascinating national park to visit in Utah.

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national park to visit in Utah

Beth C. | January 10, 2022

What are the best national parks to visit in Utah?

Now that you've learned about the fascinating history of Capital Reef National Park, you might be curious to explore some other areas in the Beehive State. As you probably already know, Utah is famous for its collection of national parks, and each of them is worth a visit. These destinations include Arches National Park in Moab, Bryce Canyon National Park in Bryce, Canyonlands National Park in Moab, Capitol Reef National Park in Torrey, and Zion National Park in Springdale. If you're looking for an unforgettable adventure, we've outlined some of the best national parks in Utah in a customized road trip. Curious to learn more? Check out our previous article: The Ultimate Utah National Park Road Trip Is Right Here – And You’ll Want To Do It.

What are the top natural wonders in Utah?

With an incredible array of national and state parks to explore, Utah is perhaps one of the most naturally stunning states in the U.S. For proof of this, look no further than the natural attractions to be found throughout the state. One destination that tends to fly under the radar is known as Snow Canyon. Encompassing over 7,000 acres, this park is comprised of lava flows, desert landscape, and striking red rock cliffs. Parts of this southern Utah landscape will remind you of Zion National Park, although with way fewer crowds. Plus, there are 38 miles of hiking trails to enjoy. Some other noteworthy natural wonders in Utah include Mirror Lake, Little Wild Horse Canyon, Wind Cave, Angel's Landing, Brighton Lakes, Golden Cathedral, and Landscape Arch. Learn more about these impressive places when you read our previous article: The 10 Most Incredible Natural Attractions In Utah That Everyone Should Visit. Can't get enough of Utah's incredible outdoor destinations? We've got you covered. Check out the Nature Lovers Definitive Guide To Utah’s Natural Beauty – Parks, Beaches, Hikes, And More! There's truly something for everyone on this list.

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