The national park of Capitol Reef ( Capitol Reef National Park ) is located in the southern center of the Utah at the the United States. Capitol Reef impresses with its red rocks on more than 120 km between its borders north and south. Inside this reserve, you will find formations of sandstone astonishing and cliffs completely surprising. The names on the chart cannot describe the vastness and the beauty of the various sites of red rocks of Capitol Reef: Capitol Dome, Hickman Bridge, Waterpocket Fold and Cathedral Valley. A visit of 2 or 3 days of Capitol Reef, which is located at only 4 hours of road of Salt Lake City, allows many steps and excursions, camp-site and excursions in " 4x4.".

Waterpocket Fold, one of the geological formations most impressive, is a bulge of the long earth's crust of more than 160 km. It was formed and eroded in several deep, narrow and twisted canyons, with massive domes, high sandstone rocks and cliffs. Cathedral Valley, one from the point of view more isolated from all the national parks of Utah, can be reached by a difficult ensablée road, and you must cross the Fremont river to arrive there. Of course, that requires to use a driving four-wheeled vehicle!

To go to Capitol Reef National Park

From Salt Lake City: To take highway 15 in the south on the left then highway 70. At the level Richfield to take the road 24 until Torrey. De Bryce Canyon: To go back to north by the 88 then to take highway 70 on the line. At the level Richfield to take the road 24 until Torrey. De Moab: To go back to north by the 181 then to take highway 70 on the left. To fork road 24 until Torrey on the left.

Entrance fee

The entrance fee is fixed at 10 dollars per vehicle and 4 dollars per pedestrian or cyclist. The rights of admission are valid for seven days. There is no refunding due to bad weather. The individual charts `National Parks Not' (50 dollars) and `Golden Eagle Passport' (65 dollars) are available to the entry of the park and offer an import duty in all the national parks.

Camp-site

The park proposes three camp-sites open all the year to Fruita, Cathedral Valley and Cedar Mesa. Only first is paying (10 dollars per site).

History

The Valley of Fremont crosses Capitol Reef and it is inside this valley that you will find traces of the prehistoric cultures of the American natives, just as of the farm communities of today. The Fremont culture engraved Pétroglyphe S (art on stone) on the high walls of the canyons to the beginning of the millennium. At the end of XIXe and the beginning of the XXe century, the Mormon pioneers tried to change their poor existence in the town of Fruita, thus named because the principal means of subsistence was the production of fruits. Even if today Fruita and the pioneers left, their orchards, always maintained very well inside the National park, produce delicious fruits. You can gather apples, pears, cherries, fishings and apricots in season, the middle of the park!

External bonds

• Official site
• Official site (detail of the park)
• Official site of Utah
• Capitol Reef National Park Guides of visit of the park stages by stages, attractions by attractions with photographs, charts, indications to go there and distances, bonds…
• Guide and French practical informations on Capitol Reef
• Photos of Capitol Reef National Park - Terra Galleria
• Photos
• Fiche of the park on site UNEP-WCMC

Gallery

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