So here we are at the start of June, which means Southern Utah is beginning to do its summer thing. The mornings are still pretty nice. The afternoons are starting to make their point. And over in Fruita, the orchards are doing something that is always worth paying attention to.

The cherries are beginning to redden.

Now, that does not mean you should throw a bucket in the car this minute and expect a full harvest. Fruit is funny that way. The trees do not read our calendars, and this spring has already had a say in things. According to the park’s May orchard update, apricots took a hit from cold temperatures later in the spring. But cherries looked like they came through pretty well, peaches were still expected to produce a good crop, and apples and pears were looking optimistic too. Which is a very orchard way of saying: keep an eye on it.

Cherries are usually the first fruit to get everybody’s attention in Fruita. Photo by Yume Photography, courtesy of Unsplash.

Check Before You Pick

If you have never picked fruit in Capitol Reef National Park before, the basic idea is pretty simple. When an orchard is open, you pick the fruit, weigh it, and pay at the self-pay station. And presto! you get one of the more unusual national park souvenirs: fruit you can eat before it gets warm in the backseat.

But the important part is that phrase “when an orchard is open.” The park posts orchard updates, and the fruit hotline is still the best friend you have if you are serious about picking. Call 435-425-3791 and follow the phone tree for harvest information before you make a plan. The park conditions page is also worth checking, since it carries current operations, road conditions, and orchard notes.

We’ve written about fruit season in Capitol Reef before, and for good reason. The orchards are one of the things that make Capitol Reef feel different from the rest of Southern Utah. They are not just pretty trees under red cliffs (although they are definitely that). They are part of the old Fruita settlement, part of the human story of this canyon, and part of why a drive through the park can suddenly feel like you have wandered into somebody’s very ambitious backyard.

The Scenic Drive and Fruita area make a pretty good morning before the heat settles in. Photo by Maciej Bledowski, courtesy of Shutterstock.

Make A Morning Of It

June is a good month for doing things early. Start with the orchards, stop by the Gifford House while it is open for the season, take the Scenic Drive, and maybe save the longer hikes for another day if the afternoon is looking especially toasty. Capitol Reef’s Visitor Center is open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. right now, and the Gifford House is open from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., so there is no need to make this complicated.

Pack water, wear a hat, check the fruit hotline, and don’t be disappointed if the trees are not ready on your exact schedule. That is part of the deal. The desert gives you what it gives you, and sometimes what it gives you is a pie from the Gifford House instead of a bag of cherries.

Not exactly a hardship.

People are often surprised by what the desert does in spring. The assumption — reasonable, if you’ve only seen Southern Utah in the summer — is that a landscape this arid and rugged blooms reluctantly, if at all. The truth is quite different. When the conditions are right, Capitol Reef and the surrounding canyon country put on a floral display that rivals almost anything in the American West. And it begins, quietly, in March.

This is the month when the desert starts its annual transformation. It doesn’t happen overnight, and it’s rarely dramatic in the Instagram-superbloom sense. But if you know what to look for and where to find it, March in Southern Utah is genuinely beautiful in ways that most visitors never get to see.

Photo courtesy of Shutterstock

Why the Desert Blooms When It Does

Desert wildflowers run on a schedule driven by two things: moisture and temperature. Winter precipitation — whether it fell as snow in the higher elevations or rain at the canyon floor — determines how robust the bloom will be. March’s slowly warming days start unlocking the soil moisture that’s been building up all winter, coaxing seeds that have been dormant for months (sometimes years) into action.

The lower elevations around Capitol Reef warm up earliest, so the first March wildflowers typically show up in south-facing washes, canyon bottoms, and desert scrub zones well below the park’s rim country. As the month goes on and temperatures climb, the blooms move higher.

What’s Blooming in March

The early-season palette at Capitol Reef leans toward purples, yellows, and whites — the cool-temperature bloomers that can handle nights still dipping below freezing. Here are some of the species you’re most likely to encounter this month:

• Desert Phlox — Low, spreading mats of white-to-pale-pink blossoms on rocky slopes and canyon rims. One of March’s most reliable wildflowers — it blooms early and can survive light frosts.
• Sagebrush Buttercup — One of Utah’s earliest spring flowers. Bright yellow and cheerful, showing up at the edges of sagebrush flats and in open desert terrain as early as late February in mild years.
• Cryptantha (White Forget-Me-Not) — Tiny white flowers in sandy wash bottoms and open desert flats. Easy to overlook, genuinely lovely up close.
• Utah Milkvetch — A striking native with deep rose-purple flowers that starts blooming in late March in sandy desert soils. Look for it along Hwy 24 in good spring years.
• Cliffrose — A native shrub that produces fragrant cream-colored blossoms in late March and early April. Beloved by pollinators and one of the signature plants of the Waterpocket Fold ecosystem.
• Filaree (Stork’s Bill) — A small pink-purple wildflower that carpets roadsides and open ground throughout Southern Utah in early spring. Technically introduced, but unmistakably a sign of the season arriving.

Photo by Annie Spratt via unsplash.com

The Fruita Orchards: A Bloom Worth Watching

One of the most anticipated spring events at Capitol Reef isn’t a wildflower at all — it’s the blossoming of the Fruita orchards in the park’s Historic District. The roughly 1,900 fruit trees maintained by the National Park Service include cherries, apricots, peaches, apples, and pears, all planted originally by Mormon settlers in the late 1800s.

The cherry and apricot trees are typically the first to bloom, often in late March or early April depending on the year’s weather. A row of cherry trees in full bloom, set against red sandstone cliffs with the Fremont River running nearby — it’s one of those scenes that genuinely stops people in their tracks. There’s nothing quite like it in Utah’s national park system. Stop in at the Visitor Center to check current orchard conditions; the rangers are usually happy to point you toward whichever trees are looking their best on any given day.

Tips for Making the Most of Wildflower Season

• Get low and slow — A lot of the most beautiful desert wildflowers are only an inch or two tall. Slowing down, crouching beside the trail, and actually spending time with what’s around you makes a dramatic difference in what you notice. The macro setting on your phone camera opens up a whole other world.
• Explore varied terrain — In desert ecosystems, wildflower communities are tightly tied to soil type and drainage. Sandy wash bottoms, rocky slopes, and clay flats will often host completely different species within a few hundred feet of each other. The more terrain you cover, the more you’ll see.
• Stay on the trail — The dark, crusty soil surrounding many desert plants is biological soil crust — a living community of organisms that takes decades to regenerate once disturbed. Stepping off-trail to get closer to a flower causes more damage than it looks like. The best wildflower viewing happens from the trail itself.

Photo courtesy of Shutterstock

Spring at the Ranch

The grounds around the Lodge at Red River Ranch get in on the season too. The meadows along the Fremont River see their own early-spring bloom, and guests who take a quiet morning walk along the water often find themselves catching the first small signs of a desert spring — a cluster of pale flowers in the rocky bank, a fresh green flush of grass, the faint fragrance of something blooming just around the bend in the trail.

Out here, the seasons don’t announce themselves with much noise. They arrive gently, incrementally, and with a quiet beauty that rewards attention. March is when it all begins. And if you’re here for it — well, that’s what we’re here for too. Come stay, and be here when the desert blooms.

Spend a winter at Capitol Reef and the desert can feel pretty still. The cottonwoods are bare. The light comes in low and cold. And aside from the occasional raven or coyote, the landscape seems to belong mostly to rock and wind. Then March arrives — and all of that starts to change.

March is when Southern Utah’s wildlife begins its spring emergence, and it offers some of the most rewarding wildlife watching of the entire year. The animals are active, the crowds are thin, and the quiet of early spring makes it a lot easier to notice what’s moving around you.

Why March Is Such a Good Month for Wildlife

Spring migration is underway. Breeding seasons are starting for a lot of resident species. And animals that slowed through the winter are ranging wider and showing up in more predictable places. The lower elevations around the Fremont River corridor and the park’s shrubland zones are especially active right now, since that’s where the first green growth appears.

There’s also something to be said for the light. The low angle of March sun — especially in early morning and late afternoon — makes everything easier to see. Animals that blend into the summer haze are much more visible against the crisp, cool air. It’s a great month to slow down and pay attention.

Photo courtesy of Red River Ranch

What to Look For in March

There’s a lot stirring out there right now. Here are some of the wildlife highlights worth keeping an eye out for this month:

• Mule Deer — Still moving at lower elevations before spring green-up draws them higher. Early morning and dusk are the best times to spot them near the Fruita meadows and along the river. Patient observers are often rewarded with long, close-up views.
• Peregrine Falcon — One of Capitol Reef’s most celebrated residents. Peregrines return to their cliff nesting sites in early spring. Watch the high sandstone faces along the Waterpocket Fold for circling pairs — and listen for that sharp, rattling call echoing off the walls.
• Canyon Wren — You’ll hear one before you see it: a cascading, descending whistle that echoes off canyon walls in a way that’s honestly hard to forget. Canyon wrens are active year-round but get noticeably more vocal in March as they establish territories for the breeding season.
• Migrating Songbirds — The Fremont River corridor is a reliable migratory stopover. Warblers, vireos, and sparrows start passing through in mid-to-late March. Binoculars and patience are very well rewarded here.
• Coyote — Resident and active all year, but March is breeding season, so you’re more likely to hear them at dawn and dusk, and to see them moving through open terrain in pairs. A classic Capitol Reef sound on a spring morning.
• Collared Lizards — Still mostly dormant in early March, but by mid-to-late month on warmer afternoons, you may catch the first lizards out on sun-warmed rocks. One of the surest signs that spring has actually arrived in the desert.

Where to Go

The Fruita Campground and Orchard Area is one of the most reliable spots in the park for mule deer, especially in the low light of morning. The deer are drawn to the grass and the water near the Fremont River, and in March they’re often relaxed and visible for extended stretches before the day warms up.

For birds, the Fremont River Trail is excellent. It follows the river through a riparian corridor of cottonwoods, willows, and tamarisk — exactly the kind of habitat that migratory songbirds favor. Walk it slowly in the early morning with binoculars and you’ll encounter more species than you’d expect from a desert park.

The Grand Wash and the lower portion of the Capitol Gorge Trail are both good spots for raptors and canyon-adapted species. Both routes pass under towering sandstone walls that provide nesting habitat for falcons and ravens, and both are accessible on foot with no technical skills required.

Photo courtesy of Red River Ranch

A Few Tips for Better Wildlife Watching

• Go early, go quiet — The most active hours are the first two after sunrise and the last hour before sunset. Move slowly, speak softly, stop frequently to listen. In the desert, sound travels remarkably far.
• Look up — Cliff faces, spires, and high ledges are active habitat. Peregrine falcons, golden eagles, and white-throated swifts all nest or roost on vertical sandstone. Scan the high country with binoculars, not just the ground level.
• Keep your distance — The NPS recommends staying at least 25 yards from most wildlife. The animals you observe without disturbing are the ones you’ll remember longest. (Also, don’t startle the deer.)

Wildlife at the Ranch

You don’t have to go far. The grounds surrounding the Lodge at Red River Ranch — bordered by the Fremont River and open desert terrain — see their share of spring activity. Guests who sit quietly on the porch in the early morning regularly spot mule deer in the meadow, raptors overhead, and the first songbirds moving through the trees along the water. It’s a good reminder that out here, you’re not just visiting nature. You’re staying inside it. Plan your spring trip here.

Just inside Capitol Reef National Park is the Fruita Historic District, and it’s a little different from anything else you’ll find in red rock country. Tall cottonwoods shade lush green fields, pioneer homesteads sit right up against the sandstone cliffs, and over a thousand fruit trees still produce where early settlers once made their living. For a lot of visitors, walking Fruita’s orchards turns out to be just as memorable as hiking Hickman Bridge or driving the Scenic Drive. Sometimes more so.

Photo courtesy of NPS

How the Orchards Got Here

The orchards go back to the late 1800s, when Mormon pioneers planted apples, apricots, peaches, cherries, and pears along the Fremont River. These were families who knew what they were doing — they selected hardy heirloom varieties suited to the high desert, some of which are now rare outside Fruita. Today Capitol Reef maintains about 1,900 fruit trees across multiple orchards, which is a pretty remarkable thing when you think about it. The fruit and the history both got preserved. (NPS; KUER)

How the U-Pick Program Works

If you’re looking for U-Pick fruit in Utah, Fruita is about as unique as it gets. Here’s what you need to know:

• Only orchards with “U-Pick Fruit” signs are open for harvesting.
• Self-pay stations with scales are set up at each orchard.
• Ladders and picking poles are provided — just pick ripe fruit and follow the park guidelines. (NPS; Visit Utah)

What’s in season when:

• Cherries and apricots: June through July
• Peaches: Late July through August
• Apples and pears: September through October

In a good year you can basically taste the seasons changing as you work your way through the orchards. It’s a pretty cool way to experience the park.

Photo courtesy of Shutterstock

About 2025: A Tough Year for the Harvest

The orchards are at the mercy of the weather, and 2025 was a rough one. An unusually early bloom came in, then freezing nights followed, and most of the blossoms didn’t make it. The result was that over 80 percent of the fruit harvest was lost, and the park closed U-Pick for the season. (National Parks Traveler) But here’s the thing — Fruita is still worth visiting. You can still walk the orchards, sit in the shade of the cottonwoods, and stop at the Gifford House for handmade pies, jams, and everything else they make there. The orchard tradition carries on even in a lean year.

Why Fruita Matters

It’s not just about the fruit, though the fruit is great. The orchards are a living connection to what life actually looked like in the Fremont River Valley 130 years ago — families who planted trees in the middle of the desert, tended them, and built a community around them. Capitol Reef has held onto that. And for visitors today, there’s something really grounding about walking among trees that have been producing in this canyon for generations. It slows you down in a good way.

Photo courtesy of Shutterstock

Worth Adding to Your Itinerary

Whether you’re hoping to pick fruit straight from the tree, stop for fresh peach pie at the Gifford House, or just wander under the golden cottonwood leaves in October — the orchards are worth it. Check the Capitol Reef U-Pick fruit page before you go to see which orchards are open and what’s in season. The situation changes year to year, so it’s good to know before you show up expecting apples.

We’re just a few minutes from Fruita at the Lodge, so guests here tend to build it into their mornings pretty naturally — a walk through the orchards, a stop at the Gifford House, then out into the park for whatever else the day holds. It’s a good routine.

When the sun drops below the cliffs at Capitol Reef, something shifts. The red rock goes to shadow, the air cools, and one by one the stars start showing up.

Photo courtesy of NPS

If you’ve spent most of your life under city or suburban skies, the first time you look up out here can be a little disorienting (in a good way). The Milky Way stretches all the way across, thick with light. Planets glow like lanterns. If you watch long enough, you can pick out satellites tracing their paths across the dark. This is what the night is supposed to look like. And Capitol Reef is one of the few places left where you can still see it.

What Does It Mean to Be a Dark Sky Park?

Back in 2015, Capitol Reef National Park earned the Gold Tier International Dark Sky Park designation — the highest level awarded by the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA). Getting there meant years of work: auditing the park’s lighting, replacing fixtures with night-sky-friendly ones that shield and direct light downward, expanding ranger programming on astronomy. These are the kinds of actions IDA looks for when certifying parks (NPS news release; NPS: Night Sky; DarkSky announcement; NPS: Dark Sky Park FAQs).

Photo courtesy of NPS

All that effort paid off. With the designation, Capitol Reef joined a global network of parks committed to protecting the natural night. For visitors, what that means is simple: you get to experience the kind of starlight our ancestors took for granted. Brilliant, unfiltered, and a little humbling.

Why Stargazing Is Getting Harder Everywhere Else

Step outside in Salt Lake City, Denver, or Los Angeles on a clear night and you’ll see maybe a handful of stars. That’s because over 80% of Americans — and 99% of people in the U.S. and Europe — can no longer see the Milky Way from home (TIME; National Geographic). About one-third of humanity lives under skies so bright that the Milky Way has simply disappeared (WIRED).

Photo by 21 Ariels via Shutterstock.com

That glow — skyglow — isn’t just a frustration for stargazers. It throws off migrating birds, changes how nocturnal animals hunt, and affects plant cycles too (National Geographic). And the cultural loss is real. For thousands of years people navigated by stars, used them to mark seasons, found meaning in their patterns. Losing the night sky means losing something we didn’t realize we were giving up.

What You’ll See in Capitol Reef

Out here, the view is something else. On a clear night the Milky Way spreads across the whole sky, dense with stars that feel almost close enough to touch. Depending on the season, you might pick out Orion, spot Jupiter or Saturn, or watch a meteor shower go by. Park rangers and astronomy volunteers run events throughout the year — setting up telescopes, guiding visitors through constellations, the whole thing (Visit Utah: Dark Skies in Capitol Reef).

Photo courtesy of NPS

And you don’t need expensive gear. Even with the naked eye, Capitol Reef is one of the clearest windows to the universe you’re likely to find. Bring binoculars or a small telescope and you can start picking out lunar craters, Jupiter’s bands, the faint glow of distant galaxies. Really cool stuff.

Where to Go for the Best Skies

Honestly, almost anywhere in Capitol Reef is good. But a few spots stand out:

• Fruita Campground — Right in the heart of the park. Walk out of your tent and you’re already there. Convenient and genuinely dark.
• Panorama Point — Just off Highway 24, easy to reach, sweeping horizon views. Good for catching the Milky Way rise or set.
• Cathedral Valley — For the adventurous. Remote, backcountry, some of the darkest and most pristine skies in the whole park. If you want real solitude with your stargazing, this is the one.
• Torrey, Utah — The gateway town to Capitol Reef, and in 2018 it became Utah’s first certified Dark Sky Community. Even from town, you’re seeing more stars than almost anywhere in the country.

That last one is worth noting. Torrey’s commitment to night-sky protection makes the whole region — not just the park — a place that takes this seriously (USU Extension: Economy of a Dark Sky Town).

Why Protecting Dark Skies Matters

Protecting the night sky isn’t just about the view. It’s about habitat, about cultural history, and about giving people the chance to feel genuinely small in the best possible way. “Astrotourism” is a real and growing thing — more people every year traveling specifically to places where the stars still come out (Conde Nast Traveler). We can all do our part: shielded fixtures, warm bulbs, lights off when they’re not needed (DarkSky lighting guide).

The Lodge Connection

For guests at the Lodge at Red River Ranch, the dark-sky experience doesn’t stop at the park gate. Step outside your room and the stars are already overhead. Take a walk to the hot tub and watch more of them emerge as your eyes adjust. The Lodge is far enough from any city glow — and keeps its outdoor lighting low and warm — that you don’t need to drive anywhere to get the experience. And of course, being just minutes from Capitol Reef means you can spend the day in the canyons and the evening watching the Milky Way come up. For a lot of our guests, that combination is what they end up remembering most.

Plan Your Visit

Capitol Reef’s skies are part of what makes this place itself — as essential as the Navajo sandstone domes or the pioneer orchards in Fruita. They’re a little overwhelming the first time, in the best way. Take a moment to look up. That’s really all you have to do.

Southern Utah has a lot going for it: red rock, big sky, and roads that were basically made to be driven. Whether you’re road-tripping through and passing by, or just looking for something to do after breakfast, these are our favorite scenic drives near Capitol Reef. Some you’ve probably heard of, some maybe not. All of them are worth your time.

1. Scenic Byway 12

Might as well start with the obvious one. Scenic Byway 12 is Utah’s premier scenic route — it connects Capitol Reef to Bryce Canyon and winds through slickrock canyons, high mountain forests, red desert cliffs, and everything in between. The U.S. Department of Transportation has even designated it an All-American Road, which is a pretty big deal as these things go.

Photo by Donald Giannatti via Unsplash.com

If you’re starting from Torrey, head south through Boulder and then Escalante. If you have time, pull off and hike down to Lower Calf Creek Falls — you won’t regret it. And when you hit the Hogback, brace yourself: a narrow ridge with steep drop-offs on both sides. It’s the kind of road that makes you grip the wheel just a little tighter. Worth it.

2. Burr Trail

For something with a little more adventure to it, there’s the Burr Trail — a winding 67-mile route through some of the most remote stretches of the park. It starts in Boulder and cuts through the southern end of Capitol Reef. Along the way you’ll pass narrow canyons, petrified sand dunes, and the famous Burr Trail Switchbacks, which drop dramatically down into the Waterpocket Fold.

Photo by Intricate Explorer via Unsplash.com

It’s a stunning drive and rarely crowded. Bring snacks, water, and a camera. But fair warning: only the first 30 miles are paved. After that it turns to dirt, so a capable vehicle with good clearance is a must, and four-wheel drive is always a smart call out here. Check the latest conditions at the NPS page for the Burr Trail before you go.

3. Cathedral Valley Loop

This one’s gotten more popular in recent years, but it’s still pretty off the beaten path — and for good reason. The Cathedral Valley Loop takes you up into the secluded northern section of Capitol Reef, where you’ll find monoliths like the Temple of the Sun and Moon that honestly don’t look real. And the solitude is real too. It’s also one of the darkest spots in the park after sunset, which makes it excellent for stargazing. If you want a local guide for the area, Meridian Tours runs jeep and stargazing tours out that way.

Photo by Robin Canfield via Unsplash.com

You’ll need high clearance — four-wheel drive depending on conditions. Same drill as the Burr Trail: check road conditions at the visitor center before heading out. The NPS keeps current info here. If you’re feeling up for it, this is one of the more rewarding drives in the whole area.

4. Notom–Bullfrog Road

Want something quieter but still want the full Southern Utah experience? The Notom–Bullfrog Road runs along the eastern edge of Capitol Reef, giving you a close-up look at the Waterpocket Fold the whole way. It’s mostly dirt but usually in decent shape for most vehicles. Just watch the weather — it gets muddy fast. The Capitol Reef Visitor Center can give you the latest on conditions.

This drive feels genuinely wild. Empty desert valleys, rocky ridgelines, almost no other cars. It’s the kind of road where you feel like you’re actually discovering something, even when it’s right there on the map. If you have the time and the spirit for it, don’t skip this one.

5. Fishlake Loop

And if you want to cool off completely, head north to Fishlake. This high-elevation drive takes you through alpine lakes, aspen groves, and grassy meadows — about as different from the red rock of Capitol Reef as you can get while still being just up the road. It almost doesn’t feel like the same state. Perfect for a hot summer day or early fall when the aspens are turning.

Photo by Strauss Western via unsplash.com

Pack a picnic, stop at the lake, and if fishing is your thing, this is one of the best spots in Utah for it. You can even swing by and see Pando, the world’s largest living organism (it’s an aspen grove — yes, really). More on the Fishlake Scenic Drive here.

Hit the Road

There are hundreds of miles of scenic road near Capitol Reef. These five are just our favorites. Pick one, pick all of them, pack some snacks, and go. And if you need a comfortable spot to come back to at the end of the day, we’ve got rooms right in the middle of it all — check availability at the Lodge.

Artificial Intelligence is everywhere. It’s been embraced by every major tech company. But the problem with AI is that it’s not always accurate. (Although sometimes pretty hilarious.) And all this low-quality AI slop flooding the web could be ruining your vacation.

Photo by Mitchell Luo via unsplash.com

How AI Works. Very Simplified.

Here’s the problem: Large Language Models (LLMs) are the type of AI that are used to scour the web and generate text about any subject. They work kind of like the auto-complete function on your phone. And to be fair, it is very impressive technology. However, since it’s mostly concerned with making grammatically correct, complete sentences and paragraphs, it will often just “make up” whatever is convenient for the article it has been asked to write. This phenomenon is called “hallucinating.” And when you search on Google for travel ideas and it summarizes what the internet says about that location, you can get a lot of hallucination. And it can be even worse when you visit a travel site that has used AI to generate itineraries.

Photo by Red River Ranch via Midjourney. An AI-generated image of a man that is upset that his AI-generated itinerary ruined his AI-generated vacation. Plus, he’s probably upset that he has three feet.

So How Bad Is It?

A recent study found the following when looking at a representative sample of AI travel itineraries:

• 90% of AI-generated travel itineraries include at least one error, according to the research.
  Over half (52%) suggest visiting at least one attraction, restaurant or cafe outside of its opening hours.
• Nearly one in four (24%) recommend going to at least one restaurant, cafe or attraction that is permanently closed or closed until further notice.
• 30% of errors include a references to a Michelin-star restaurant.
• 1 in 4 (25%) of itineraries display a lack of logical planning, requiring travelers to backtrack or take unnecessary detours in order to reach places.

That can make for a pretty inconvenient, increasingly frustrating, and often more costly trip. So what can you do about it?

Photo by nps.gov. The National Park Service is your friend.

Find the Right Sources.

It can be a nightmare to try to determine what is AI-generated slop and what is good, old fashioned travel advice. So start with the prime sources as much as possible. Since the guests at the Lodge at Red River Ranch are coming to tour Southern Utah (and if you’ve read this far in the article we are assuming you’re also interested in a trip to Southern Utah) they should visit the official web pages of the national parks for all the most important information. Here’s the pages for Arches, Canyonlands, Bryce Canyon, Zion, and Capitol Reef.

Then check out the official tourism website for the state, or city, that you wish to visit. For us, that website is visitutah.com.

And finally, rely on established brands that have been writing travel itineraries for years. The Lonely Planet website, National Geographic guide books, Frommer’s, etc. There is no guarantee that they won’t switch to AI, but they have a lot of brand-equity built into their continued reliability. Which means hopefully they fact-check things.

Photo by Red River Ranch.

And What About The Lodge? You Have Itineraries.

We do have itineraries, thanks for noticing! And we worked hard to make sure that they are accurate. You can check them out here. We also have about a billion blog articles which you can read here. All of which can help you build a better vacation.

And no, we don’t use AI to write anything on our website. We do it all by hand! But… we did use AI to make the main image on this blog post. It seemed fitting to use AI to make an image of a guy messing up his vacation by using AI to plan his trip.

“Wait,” we hear you say, “is it spelled Capital Reef or Capitol Reef?” Don’t worry, most people wonder the same thing. It’s spelled C-A-P-I-T-O-L Reef. With an O.

“Okay. But Why?”

Good question. To explain, let’s look at the definitions of both “capital” and “capitol.”

Capital –
1. of a letter: of or conforming to the series A, B, C, etc. rather than a, b, c, etc.
2. being the seat of government: London is the capital city of England.
3. chief in importance or influence
4. excellent: As in “a capital book”

Capitol –
1. a building in which a state legislative body meets or a group of buildings in which the functions of state government are carried out
2. the dome of the state capitol

“Hold up, that still doesn’t make that much sense,” again we hear you say. “There are no federal, state, or even local government buildings at this national park. Wouldn’t it be better if it was Capital Reef? With an A? At least that means ‘excellent.’ What’s going on?”

And you would be right. But allow us to make our rebuttal with these two images:

Photo by Michael via unsplash.com

Photo by LJ Coates via unsplash.com

You see, it turns out that Capitol Reef is named for its geology. The many white, sandstone domes in the park are reminiscent of the domes that appear on most capitol buildings. When the 19th-century explorers came to this region, that was the closest thing that they had to compare these geological features to.

“I Guess That Makes Sense. But What’s The Word ‘Reef’ Doing In There?”

Right. Another excellent question. This one is easier. “Reef” is just an antiquated term for any rocky, impassable barrier. Similar to our modern usage of the word, which is now almost exclusively used for marine barriers. So to put it all together, “Capitol Reef” is just a collection of domed rocks that you can’t travel across.

“Huh. Cool. But I CAN Travel Across Capitol Reef, Right?”

Yes! With current road building technology, we have indeed made these domed rocks passable. Which means you can come visit and see these amazing domes for yourself!

We just talked about all the fall colors you can see on a Southern Utah roadtrip. But let’s talk about a couple other awesome fall activities that you can do this month, right here in Capitol Reef National Park – let’s go apple picking and star gazing!

Photo by Diane Helentjaris via unsplash.com.

Apple Picking

Today is September 17, 2024 and it’s one of our favorite days of the year. Because today is the first day of the apple picking season! Is there anything more autumnal than a crisp, tree-ripened apple? We don’t think so. And it tastes so much better when you pick it yourself!

So if you’re looking for a truly fall-inspired activity, head to the orchards located near the visitor center entrance to the park. You’ll see the “U-Pick Fruit” signs posted outside of the orchards. There will also be a sign telling you what fruit is available to be picked. This time of year, September through to October, apples are the showstopper. (They do also have pears, if that’s you’re thing.) You can eat as many apples as you like inside the orchard – for free – but for any that you take back with you, please use the scale to weigh your fruit and deposit the required cash in the lockbox nearby. (It’s very inexpensive.)

Avoid climbing any of the trees, and no dogs or other pets allowed inside the orchards. But if you’re lucky, you’ll get to spot some of the local deer also perusing the orchards for a sweet snack.

Photo by Joseph Corl via unsplash.com.

Heritage StarFest 2024

It’s StarFest again! Capitol Reef is putting on a week of stargazing workshops and lectures to educate and entertain. Starting Wednesday, September 25 and running through Monday, September 29 you can participate in this fantastic opportunity to learn more about the night sky and our place in the cosmos. There are also classes on how to take pictures of the milky way, so if your an amateur nighttime photographer this might be for you.

Note from the Park: you need to register to attend these photography classes. It’s free but spaces are limited. Email care_information@nps.gov or by call 435–425–4112. If no answer, please leave a voice message. In your email or voice message, please include your name, phone number, email address, which day you would like to attend and how many people you are signing up.

Here’s the schedule of events for StarFest 2024, pulled straight from this page here on the official website. We hope you get the chance to attend this year, it’s always a blast!

Monday, September 23rd – Thursday, September 26th

Nightly at the Fruita Campground amphitheater. Programs begin near dusk.

Join park rangers to learn about a variety of night-related topics including astronomy and nocturnal creatures.

Friday, September 27th

Programs will take place in Capitol Reef National Park.

Guest Speaker Series
3pm at the visitor center theater: Dr. Qicheng Zhang, Lowell Observatory, Anatomy of a Great Comet. Comets occasionally produce spectacular visual displays with ghostly tails stretching many degrees across the night sky, and one such bright comet may only be a week away.

5pm at the visitor center theater: Dr. Anil Seth, University of Utah, The Nearest Massive Black Hole. Focusing on the recent detection of a black hole in the Milky Way’s most massive cluster, Omega Centauri, and why this black hole is unique and interesting.

7pm at the Fruita Campground amphitheater: Dr. Kyle Dawson, University of Utah, Mapping the Universe: 5,000 Galaxies at a Time. The cosmos hold a wealth of information about the earliest times in the universe and the fundamental laws of Physics.

Telescope Program
8:30pm – 11pm at the Fruita Campground amphitheater parking lot. Join park rangers and volunteers, and guest amateur astronomers as the Milky Way and other celestial wonders are brought to your eye with various telescopes.

Saturday, September 28

Events will take place at the Torrey Park (100 N. 75 East in Torrey, UT) and at the Entrada Institute’s Robber’s Roost (185 W. Main St. in Torrey, UT).

Special Speakers and Presentations
Throughout the afternoon and early evening at the Robber’s Roost in Torrey. Please see our community partner’s website at https://www.entradainstitute.org/ for more information and to register for a particular program at the Robber’s Roost.

Solar Viewing and Junior Astronomy Programming
4pm to 6pm at the Torrey Park. Join park staff and volunteers, and guest amateur astronomers to safely view our closest star with solar telescopes and participate in fun, child-focused astronomy activities.

Torrey Park Telescope Program
8:30pm – 11pm at the Torrey Park. Join park staff and volunteers, community partners and guest amateur astronomers to view the Milky Way and other celestial wonders through many different telescopes.

You’re ready to get outside. Like, really ready. Ready to hike and play in sunny Southern Utah! With Memorial Day Weekend only a few days away, it’s basically summer here in Southern Utah. And, as you no doubt know, summer here in the desert can be hot. Really hot. So it’s important to be safe when playing outdoors, and it’s important to learn how to spot some of the most common heat related problems – namely heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

Of the two, heat stroke is by far the more dangerous, requiring immediate medical attention. Here’s how to tell heat exhaustion and heat stroke apart – and what to do next. Let’s talk about them and what you can do to be prepared.

Photo by MK via unsplash.com.

Heat Exhaustion

Symptoms
Faint and/or dizzy
Excessive sweating
Cool or clammy skin
Nausea or vomiting
Rapid, fluttery, and weak pulse
Muscle cramps

What to do?
If you, or someone in your party, is displaying signs of heat exhaustion, take action to cool down. If possible, get to an air-conditioned place. If that’s not possible, find shade on the trail. Drink plenty of water and take a long break. And be ready to turn back. It’s not worth trying to “finish” the hike if someone isn’t feeling well.

Of course, the best cure is prevention. Don’t hike when the sun is strong, but instead plan your adventures for the mornings and evenings.

Heat Stroke

Symptoms
Strong, persistent headache
Not sweating
Hot skin, usually dry
Nausea or vomiting
Rapid, over-strong pulse
May lose consciousness

What to do?
Call 911. Then take immediate action to bring the body’s temperature down. If you have access to ice, make an ice bath, or place ice compresses under the armpits and between the thighs. If you’re on the trail, move into deep shade and use wet-cloth compresses in those same spots. Do everything you can to cool the person down, and wait for emergency services to arrive.

Heat stroke is serious. But there are plenty of observable warning signs before a person develops heat stroke. Be smart when hiking in the summer months. Don’t attempt activities beyond your abilities. And always, always carry plenty of water. Plan ahead and you’ll be perfectly fine playing outside this summer.