Our one day in Capitol Reef totally surprised us! It’s one of Utah’s “Mighty 5” that I feel like a lot of people skip, but we had an incredible time eating a huge cinnamon roll, spotting petroglyphs, and doing a really rewarding hike with otherworldly views. (Best spot for lunch ever??)
When we visited in May of 2024, the $20 scenic drive, where you can also access the Capitol Gorge Trail, was closed. We definitely wanted to do that. However, our hike on the Grand Wash Trail, which we might not have done if the scenic route was open, was so epic. Just a reminder to always stay flexible when traveling because it often leads to unexpected, unplanned treasures!
We started and ended our day with breakfast and then dinner at our hotel, The Broken Spur Inn and Steakhouse. It’s super close to the National Park entrance, and it was so nice to only have a 2 second walk to dinner after a long day exploring. We loved our steaks! Definitely recommend staying here for your one day in Capitol Reef.
We entered the park and checked out the view at Goosenecks Overlook. We could tell we were starting to get into the part of Utah with towering red cliffs. Then we stopped at Gifford House to try and snag one of their famous cinnamon rolls. I read numerous warnings while doing my research that they are very known to sell out. Plan to get there as early in the day as you can.
We enjoyed our cinnamon roll in the yard of Gifford House surrounded by green grass and massive red rocks. It was interesting to learn about the Mormon family who lived and worked on the homestead 100 years ago. You can also buy fruit pies, and I think the fruit is grown on the farm!
Then it was off to find the ancient petroglyphs, which are always incredible to see. They estimate they are from 600-1300 A.D. Truly mind blowing to witness up close after all this time, wondering what stories and messages they were trying to convey.
The only hike we did during our one day in Capitol Reef was the Grand Wash Trail to Cassidy Arch. I think it ended up being about 4 and 1/2 miles there and back, with some steep elevation gain. If you don’t do Cassidy Arch, it is a very flat and easy trail. But I definitely recommend heading to Cassidy Arch if you are able! We felt like we were hiking on another planet at some points, and the view of the arch and surrounding area was amazing.
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