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Capitol Reef National Park– an Introduction
The Capitol Reef National Park of Utah is one of the most wonderful national parks in U.S. The park is located at South Central Utah and is one of the most visited U.S national parks. The national park is indeed a place of beauty and bears countless beautiful natural splendors, such as, canyons, ridges, buttes, monoliths and several others. One of the most exciting structures happens to be Water pocket Fold, which is a thrust on the surface of the earth’s surface existing for about 65 million years. It is often said that, this fold had been created due to the collision of the continental plates that gave rise to the Rocky Mountains. The Capitol Reef National Park was designated as a national monument in the year 1937 and was officially been proclaimed as a USA national park in the year 1971. The principal aim behind setting up the national park was to safeguard the magnificent geological features of the region and also protect the cultural and historical heritage of the place.
Visiting Capitol Reef National Park
It is in true term a fascinating experience to explore the Capitol Reef National Park. There are several scenic spots spread throughout the place. One of the great things to do while you are visiting the park is to take a scenic drive starting from the visitor center. It will be a round trip of about 25 miles and it is better to travel both the northern and southern part of the Highway 24. The month of September is the best time for visiting the park. Hiking, Rock climbing, biking and back country horse riding are the popular activities to be indulged in the national park.
Camping: There are campgrounds in the Capitol Reef National Park where one can enjoy exciting camp nights and indulge in vibrant campfire. The Fruita Camp ground is one of the most developed campgrounds of the region and lies to the south of the visitor center. The Cathedral and the Cedar Mesa camp grounds are located at remote zones. There is no fee to be there. There are pit toilets and picnic table over there but no water supply.
Guided Tours: There are different forms of guided tour of Capitol Reef National Park available. The hiking trip through the park is one of the most enjoyable guided tours of the park.
Opening Hours
Capitol Reef National Park Visitor Center:
Open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m (except for some major holidays). During the summer season the hour is extended.
Ripple Rock Nature Center:
Open from Memorial Day through June 30, from 12:00 noon to 5:00 p.m. Again it is open from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm from July 1 through Labor Day weekend. The days are Tuesday through Saturday and it is closed on Sundays and Mondays
How to Reach
Air: The nearest airport in proximity to the Capitol Reef National Park is the Airport situated in the Salt Lake City, Utah. The airport lies at an approximate distance of about 250 miles to the north of the park.
Road: The Capitol Reef National Park is located i9n South Central Utah and can very well be reached by taking the Utah Highway 24. If, you have planned to reach the park by road then travel towards west taking the Interstate 70. After that take the Utah State Highway 24 and travel west bound to Hanksville. After traveling for about 95 kilometers, you will be reaching the Capitol Reef National Park Visitor Center.
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