Capitol Reef National Park: Beauty, Adventure, and Pie!

IN the Parks·Allison Martin·Aug 19, 2026·20 min

Show Notes

Join me and my family on a trip to Capitol Reef National Park near Torrey, Utah. We stayed in Conestoga wagons at Broken Spur Inn before spending the day in the park. The park's geology is very interesting and to truly understand it, be sure you stop at the visitor center.

Our "must do" trails include Goosenecks Overlook, Sunset Point, and Hickman Bridge. Plus, be sure to stop and see the petroglyphs. The trails we wish we had done include Cohab Canyon and Cassidy Arch trails. We also drove along the Scenic Drive and Grand Wash and got great pictures of Chimney Rock and Capitol Dome.

Capitol Reef is also known for the Fruita settlement's orchards in the park. Be sure you stop at Gifford House to buy some pie! And learn more about the orchards from the National Park Service.

You are going to learn about:

  • Why You Should Stay in Conestoga Wagons
  • The Geology of Capitol Reef
  • The Best Trails to Hike
  • History of the Orchards and Gifford House Pies
  • What Makes Capitol Reef Distinct

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Episode Details
Show
IN the Parks
Category
Travel & Outdoors
Topic
IN the Parks
Duration
00:19:45
Published
Aug 19, 2026
About the Host
Allison Martin
Allison Martin
Host · IN the Parks

Allison Martin tells the stories behind Indiana's state parks: the best trails, the campgrounds, the history and the corners worth the drive.

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Frequently asked

Quick answers.

The useful details, answered clearly and without the digging.

01

What is Capitol Reef National Park known for?

Its geology and its orchards. The rock formations are the reason to stop at the visitor center before you hike, and the park also holds the Fruita settlement's historic orchards. Gifford House, in the middle of it all, is where you buy the pie.

02

Where is Capitol Reef National Park?

Capitol Reef is in southern Utah, near the town of Torrey. It is one of the five Utah national parks IN the Parks visits this season.

03

What are the best trails at Capitol Reef?

Our must-do list is Goosenecks Overlook, Sunset Point, and Hickman Bridge, and you should also stop to see the petroglyphs. The two we wish we had made time for are Cohab Canyon and Cassidy Arch. If you would rather drive than hike, the Scenic Drive and Grand Wash give you Chimney Rock and Capitol Dome.

04

Can you buy pie at Capitol Reef National Park?

Yes. Gifford House in the Fruita area of the park sells pie, and it is worth planning your day around. The episode covers the history behind the pies and the orchards they came from.

05

What are the Fruita orchards at Capitol Reef?

They are the historic orchards of the Fruita settlement, still standing inside the park today. The National Park Service publishes the details and the current rules for visiting them on its Capitol Reef orchards page.

06

Where can you stay near Capitol Reef National Park?

We stayed in Conestoga wagons at Broken Spur Inn, which is in Torrey just outside the park. The episode gets into why the wagons are worth booking over a standard room.

07

Should you stop at the Capitol Reef visitor center?

Yes. The park's geology is genuinely interesting, and the visitor center is what makes sense of what you are looking at once you get out on the trails.

08

How long is the Capitol Reef episode of IN the Parks?

The episode runs 19 minutes and 45 seconds. You can listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

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