Capitol Reef National Park

Sweet Treats & Ancient History: Capitol Reef National Park

Our next stop on our Summer 2025 Road Trip through the "Mighty 5," we spent time in Capitol Reef National Park, and it ended up being the a standout surprise of the trip. While the other parks are famous for their dramatic arches and canyons, Capitol Reef offered us something unexpected: history you could taste.

An Oasis in the Red Rock

Driving into the Fruita Historic District, we were stunned to see lush green trees standing in stark contrast to the red cliffs of the Waterpocket Fold. These are the historic orchards, originally planted by Mormon pioneers in the 1880s. Walking among the 2,000+ fruit trees (cherries, apricots, peaches, and apples) felt like finding a secret garden in the middle of the desert. It was incredibly peaceful to wander through the rows, with the massive rock walls towering right above the greenery.

Stories in Stone

We visited the Petroglyph Panel Boardwalk along Highway 24. I had seen pictures and videos of these ancient carvings before the trip, but honestly, they didn't do it justice.

Seeing them in person was a completely different experience. Standing on the boardwalk, looking up at the sheer cliff face, we could clearly distinguish the bighorn sheep and the trapezoidal anthropomorphic (human-like) figures carved by the Fremont Culture nearly 1,000 years ago. The scale and clarity of the carvings were mesmerizing. It felt like a direct connection to the people who lived in this canyon centuries before us.

A Hidden Gem

Capitol Reef often gets labeled as the "stepchild" of the Utah parks, but for us, it was a highlight. Between the sweet taste of the orchards and the silent power of the petroglyphs, it offered a quieter, more intimate experience than the crowded trails of Zion or Arches.