Park Archives: Capitol Reef National Park

A vibrant palette of color spills across the landscape before you. The hues are constantly changing, altered by the play of light against the towering cliffs, massive domes, arches, bridges, and twisting canyons. Over millions of years geologic forces shaped, lifted, and folded the earth, creating this rugged, remote area known as the Waterpocket Fold.

Capitol Reef's defining geologic feature is a wrinkle in Earth's crust, extending nearly 100 miles from Thousand Lake Mountain to Lake Powell. It was created over time by three gradual, yet powerful processes—deposition, uplift, and erosion. The result is a classic example of a monocline, or one-sided fold, in the otherwise horizontal rock layers.

Deposition The climate and geography changed dramatically over the past 280 million years. The environment was once oceans, deserts, swamps, and riverbeds, creating nearly 10,000 feet of sedimentary rock made of limestone, sandstone, and shale.

Uplift Between 50 and 70 million years ago, an ancient fault was reactivated during a time of tectonic activity, lift in the layers to the west of the fault over 7,000 feet higher than those to the east. Rather than cracking, the rock layers folded over the fault line. Continued uplift occurred again some 20 million years ago.

Erosion Erosive forces sculpted uplifted rock layers. Much of the carving occurred between one and six million years ago. Water, along with the pull of gravity, is the primary erosive force here. Powerful rains, flash flooding, and freeze-thaw cycles loosen, crack, and wash away stone, creating canyons, cliffs, domes, and bridges.

Look closely. This landscape can be deceiving. It may appear barren and lifeless, but it is home to a rich diversity of plant and animal species. Variations in topography, geology, elevation, and precipitation combine to create seven zones teeming with life. This high desert is a patchwork of pinyon-juniper forest; ponderosa and mixed conifer forest; grasslands; riparian habitats; mixed-shrub; and badlands—home to over 100 species of mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and fish; 239 species of birds; over 900 species of plants; and 33 ecological systems.

Living here has its challenges. Plants and animals have adapted, physically and behaviorally, to survive in this land of excessive heat, seasonal flash floods, winter snow, and variable, low precipitation. Climate change is resulting in increasing temperatures, more erratic precipitation, and intense solar radiation. How will they cope and adapt?

American Indians
Carvings (petroglyphs) and paintings (pictographs) on rock walls are reminders of the people who lived here from about 300 to 1300 Common Era (CE) and even earlier. They were ancestors of the modern-day Hopi, Zuni, and Paiute tribes. The stories told on these rock walls depict maps, journeys, clan symbols, deities, animals, and calendars. People farmed the fertile land adjacent to the Fremont River and other nearby creeks. They supplemented crops by hunting wildlife and harvesting nuts, berries, and seeds. After 1300 CE no evidence of this culture is found.

Travelers of the Past
The Waterpocket Fold territory was the last to be charted in the contiguous 48 states. Throughout the 1800s numerous travelers ventured into this land. Some were defeated by the imposing conditions. Others prospered. Many left their mark on the Pioneer Register as they passed through Capitol Gorge.

Pioneers
In the 1880s, Mormons established the small settlement of Fruita at the confluence of the Fremont River and Sulphur Creek. They built irrigation systems to water orchards and pastures, and sustain a self-reliant agricultural lifestyle for decades. Families tended the apple, peach, pear, and apricot trees. The park maintains the orchards, schoolhouse, blacksmith shop, and the Gifford Homestead as reminders of pioneer times.

Preserving the Past
Capitol Reef National Monument was established in 1937 and became a national park in 1971. Today, millions of visitors from around the world marvel at the majesty of the Colorado Plateau, the Waterpocket Fold, and the rich natural and cultural features preserved for future generations.

Welcome to dark sky country where open skies and the desert landscape provide the perfect theater for stars to shine, twinkle, and amaze: Take a seat as daylight dims and the stars take center stage.

Truely dark skies are becoming rare. This natural lightscape is a critical nocturnal habitat. Many species of animals rely on natural patterns of day and night for navigation, to cue behaviors, and hide from predators. Ask a ranger what you can do to help protect the night sky.

Fruita Historic District
Includes the Fruita schoolhouse, blacksmith shop, the Gifford House store and museum, and other buildings and features.

Orchards have apple, peach, cherry, pear, plum, apricot, and almond trees. Historic and heirloom varieties are found here. You may pick and eat fruit free of charge while in the orchards. A nominal fee is charged to take fruit with you. Harvest times vary. Check at the visitor center or call the fruit hotline 435-425-3791.

Facilities, Fees, and Services
Visitor Center The visitor center is open year round 8 am to 4:30 pm, with extended summer hours. Closed some federal holidays. Information, orientation movie, exhibits, and bookstore are available. Park entrance fees are collected at the north end of Scenic Drive and at the visitor center. Nearby picnic area has picnic tables, grills, restrooms, and drinking water.

Accessibility We strive to make mil facilities, services, and programs accessible in all. For information go to the visitor center, ask a ranger, call, or check our website.

Things To Do
Explore the beauty of Capitol Reef. Ranger led activities are offered spring through fall. Schedules at the visitor center and on bulletin boards. Ripple Rock Nature Center has interactive displays. Check at the visitor center for hours.

The paved, 8 mile Scenic Drive offers breathtaking views of the Waterpocket Fold. Entrance fee is charged beyond Fruita campground. Allow about two hours for the round-trip drive.

A variety of trails from easy to strenuous offer many options to explorer the park. Please remember hiking in canyon country can be dangerous. • Hike with others and tell someone of your hiking plan. • Check at the visitor center for trail conditions. • Monitor weather and be prepared for extreme temperatures. • Sudden rains can cause flash floods. • Carry one gallon of drinking water per person per day. • Do not drink unpurified backcountry water. • Trail guides are sold at the bookstore.

Pets are permitted in developed park areas only, not on hiking trails. They must be restrained on a leash, six feet or less, at all times. Clean up pet waste and place in a dumpster.

Camping
Fruita Fee. Developed site, 71 spaces. Picnic tables, fire grates/grills, restrooms, water, and RV dump station. First-come, first-served. Limits: eight people per site.

Cathedral Valley and Cedar Mesa No fee. Primitive sites. Picnic tables, fire grates/grills, pit toilets, no water. First come, first served. Cathedral Valley has six sites and Cedar Mesa has five.

Backcountry Camping Free backcountry permit is required. Available at the visitor center.

Safety and Regulations
Safety is your responsibility. • Be careful near cliff edges. • Carry one gallon of drinking water per person per day. Do not drink unpurified backcountry water • Watch for flash floods. Avoid canyon washes and exposed areas when storms approach • Do not feed or disturb wildlife. • Do not litter. Pack out all trash. • Hunting is prohibited in the park. • For firearms regulations ask a ranger or check the park website. • Off-road vehicle use is not permitted in the park. • Check road conditions at the visitor center. • Ground fires are only allowed in grates provided in campgrounds. • Do not disturb or collect plants, animals, fossils, artifacts, and minerals.

The contents of brochures, site bulletins and trading cards (denoted with a colored caption) can be viewed by clicking on the cover. Most modern-day brochures, however, are cover only (denoted by a white caption) due to photograph copyrights. These items are historical in scope and are intended for educational purposes only; they are not meant as an aid for travel planning. The dates under each brochure do not reflect the complete range of years that a particular brochure was issued.

1951		1954		1958
1962	1963	1965	cover only 1969	1971	1973
1974	cover only 1977		1979
cover only 1981		1983		1985
1987
cover only Date Unknown		cover only 1989		cover only 1990-1995
cover only 1998-2001		cover only 2003-2011		cover only 2013
2015-2020

cover only Safety tips for visitors to Capitol Reef National Park 1983	Date Unknown	Date Unknown	Bird Checklist 2/2015	Trip Planner Date Unknown	Trip Planner May 2015
Trip Planner 11/2018	Plant Checklist: Trees, Shrubs, Grasses 4/2015	Wildflower Checklist 4/2015	Wildlife Checklist 8/2015	Accommodations and Services near Capitol Reef Date Unknown
General Information (French edition) January 2000		General Information (German edition) January 2000		General Information (Spanish edition) 2009
The Scenic Drive of Capitol Reef National Park Date Unknown		General Information (Arabic edition) Date Unknown		General Information (Chinese edition) Date Unknown
General Information (Dutch edition) Date Unknown		General Information (English edition) Date Unknown		General Information (French edition) Date Unknown
General Information (German edition) Date Unknown		General Information (Arabic edition) Date Unknown		General Information (Arabic edition) Date Unknown
General Information (Italian edition) Date Unknown		General Information (Japanese edition) Date Unknown		General Information (Korean edition) Date Unknown
General Information (Portuguese edition) Date Unknown		General Information (Russian edition) Date Unknown		General Information (Spanish edition) Date Unknown
Hickman Bridge Trail Guide Date Unknown		cover only Hickman Bridge Trail Date Unknown		Hickman Bridge Trail Date Unknown
cover only The Hickman Natural Bridge Trail Date Unknown		cover only Fremont River Trail Date Unknown		Resources Updates 1990
Fruita Area Map and Guide June 2014		Historic Fruita 09/2011		Fruita Campground 11/2018
Fruita Campground Map 12/2017		Camping Alternatives 10/2014		Local Services April 2016
Canyoneering 4/2016		Rock Climbing 1/2016		Horse and Pack Animal Use 1/2016
Hiking Routes in Capitol Reef's Waterpocket District 5/2015		Hiking Routes in Capitol Reef's Cathedral District 5/2015		Hartnet Road River Ford 2/2015
Burro Wash, Cottonwood Wash, and Sheets Gulch 4/15		Halls Creek Narrows 5/2015		Lower Muley Twist Canyon 5/2015
Upper Muley Twist Canyon 5/2015		Pleasant Creek 5/2015		Spring Canyon 4/2015
Sulphur Creek 3/2018		Capitol Reef Trails Date Unknown		Capitol Reef Trails Date Unknown
Paleontology 1/2016		Gifford Homestead 1/2016		Cultural Landscape 1/2016
Fruita Orchards 1/2016		List of Fruit and Nut Varieties, Including Heirlooms Date Unknown		Geology 11/2015
Geologic Features of Capitol Reef 1/2016		Ecology 10/2015		Early Inhabitants 1/2016
Mammals of Capitol Reef The Predator and the Prey 9/2010
Trading Cards
(©Jefferson National Parks Association)

Hanks' Dougouts (Benjamin Brower, K. McKoy and Lee Kreutzer, 1996, revised 1998)

The following visual bibliography is just a sampling of the handbooks and books which have been published for this park. NPSHistory.com does not endorse these, but are merely presenting them for informational purposes only. As most are copyrighted, we are only able to provide the covers, and not contents, of these publications.

cover only Rock Glow, Sky Shine: The Spirit of Capitol Reef Stephen Trimble 1978	cover only This Ancient Rock: A Guide to the Scenic Drive 1982	cover only Red Rock Eden: The Story of Fruita George E. Davidson 1986	cover only The Geology of Capitol Reef National Park Michael Collier 1987
cover only Dwellers of the Rainbow: The Fremont Culture in Capitol Reef Country Rose Houk 1988	cover only Capitol Reef: Canyon Country Eden Rose Houk 1996	cover only Dwellers of the Rainbow: The Fremont Culture in Capitol Reef Country Rose Houk 2005	cover only Capitol Reef: The Story Behind the Scenery Virgil J. and Helen Olson 2016
cover only Exploring the Diverse Geology of Capitol Reef National Park Thomas H. Morris 2016	cover only Cathedral Loop Road Guide 2017	cover only Loop the Fold Road Guide 2017	cover only Capitol Reef National Park: The Complete Hiking & Touring Guide Rick Stinchfield 2019
cover only The Capitol Reef Reader Stephen Trimble, ed. 2019