Head into the heart of the red rock country and see the beauty that Capitol Reef National Park has to offer. 

Located in south-central Utah, Capitol Reef was established in 1971 to protect the stunning canyons, ridges, buttes, and monolithic rock formations. 

The many hiking trails and paths (54 to be precise) take you up, down, around, and through the gorgeous red rocks, both large and small, that are found throughout the park.

With so many hiking trails to choose from, Parks and Landmarks did some research and looked into 5 breathtaking hikes that you need to make sure you take when you visit Capitol Reef.

These hikes are in no particular order, so even if you can only choose 1 or 2, make sure to enjoy the sights on the trails and throughout the park.

Sulphur Creek Waterfall Hike

This is the perfect place to spend a few hours on a hot day. Sulphur Creek has you following the water through this winding trail. 

Get a great view of the beautiful waterfall that could be large or small depending on the time of year you get onto the trail. Make sure to bring some water resistance footwear as you will find yourself walking over a few spots of water from the creek. 

Keep an eye out for drought that might hit the park; it will cause most of the waterways and waterfall to be nothing more than a pile of red mud. 

Total Distance: 1.8 miles 

Elevation Gain: 180 feet 

Difficulty: Easy - Walking, Hiking 

Route Type: Out & Back 

Other Info: 

• The park charges a fee in order to enter
• Water footwear recommended 

Rim Overlook Trail

Stunning views and gorgeous vistas are what to expect on the Rim Overlook trail.

The longest maintained trail connects with the Navajo Knobs trail; Rim Overlook gives you up-close looks at the reddish Kayenta sandstone covering the rocks. 

Be prepared for a steep incline to get to the beautiful view of one of the best looks of the land in the park. The rest of the hike is all downhill from there, so enjoy a break on your way back. 

Total Distance: 4.1 miles 

Elevation Gain: 1053 feet 

Difficulty: Moderate - Hiking 

Route Type: Out & Back 

Other Info: 

• Bring lots of water 
• Bring sunscreen on hot days 
• Significant incline, wear proper hiking footwear

Hickman Bridge Trail

With flowing water and gorgeous views, Hickman Bridge is the perfect place to take your family on a short but beautiful hike. 

Get a look at the Fremont River and Highway 24 from 300 feet above, but the unique Waterpocket fold will still be above you. This hike is perfect for the kids because it’s short and won’t require a lot of uphill climbing. 

Total Distance: 1.6 miles 

Elevation Gain: 416 feet 

Difficulty: Easy - Hiking 

Route Type: Out & Back 

Other Info: 

• Moderate incline, wear proper hiking footwear

Navajo Knobs Trail

You might see a few similar views as both Hickman Bridge, and Rim Overlook but don’t be fooled by the crossover, Navajo Knobs is not for the faint of heart. 

With overlayer with both of the previous hiking trails until about the halfway point, Navajo Knobs trail is a long hike with an extremely nice payoff. 

After climbing over lots of slick rocks (make sure you have great hiking footwear), and following the rolling trail, once you reach the top, you find an amazing 360-degree view of the entire Capitol Reef park that you can sit and enjoy. 

Total Distance: 9.07 miles 

Elevation Gain: 2139 feet 

Difficulty: Hard - Hiking 

Route Type: Out & Back 

Other Info: 

• Significant incline, wear proper hiking footwear
• Bring lots of water
• Not recommended for inexperienced hikers 

Cassidy Arch Trail

Make sure to have that camera ready when you take on the Cassidy Arch trail. 

Your legs will get a bit of a workout at the start of the trail with a decent incline, but after you get through it, it’s a smooth moderate ride up to see a few panoramic views and beautiful arches

You might even spot a few rock climbers on this trail, many spots are perfect for bouldering and near the end of the trail are a few slick rocks, so make sure you bring a good pair of shoes. 

Total Distance: 3.1 miles 

Elevation Gain: 666 feet 

Difficulty: Moderate - Hiking 

Route Type: Out & Back 

Other Info: 

• The park charges a fee to enter

• Moderate incline near the start, wear proper hiking footwear
• Bring lots of water 

We hope you can enjoy at least one of the many trails that Capitol Reef National Park has to offer. With the beauty of the red rocks and the sun creating huge shadows off some of the large arches, getting stunning photos is easy on many of these trails.

Is there another trail you hiked that you think should be in our top 5? Let us know and enjoy the wonder and beauty that is Capitol Reef.