Alerts & Conditions

Alerts

Caution

• Scenic Drive Rehabilitation Project

  Alert, Severity, caution, Scenic Drive Rehabilitation Project The Scenic Drive is open through Capitol Gorge. Please drive carefully in construction areas. The road will fully close again in the spring, dates to be determined.more

Information

• Special Use Permits

  Alert, Severity, information, Special Use PermitsSpecial Use Permits are typically needed for activities that benefit a specific group. Examples include: Groups of 40 or more, trips organized by scouting groups, churches, or academic institutions, photography, weddings, and first amendment activitiesmore

Capitol Reef National Park Operations

Capitol Reef National Park is fully open.

• The park is open 24 hours a day.
• The visitor center is open from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, daily.
• The Gifford House is open for the season.
  • Operating hours are 9:00 am to 12:00 pm and 12:45 pm to 4:30 pm, daily.
• Operations are subject to change at any time.
• Ranger programs will be listed at the visitor center and on bulletin boards.
• Backcountry camping permits can be obtained at the visitor center, during open hours. Please arrive early enough to complete the permit process before closing.
• Most Canyoneering routes are open (with a permit). Check alerts above for seasonal closures.
• The Fruita Campground is reservable year-round. Reservations for the Fruita Campground, including the Group Site, are available through recreation.gov. Dates are available up to six months in advance (one year in advance for the group site). Generators are only permitted in the C loop except during the winter closure of the C loop, then they are permitted in A and B loops.

 

Current Road Conditions

Select from the three park districts below to see road conditions. Please be advised that road conditions on the website are updated weekly. The park road condition phone line has the most up to date information. Conditions may change due to weather at a moments notice. Road conditions update as of 3/23/2025.
 

Condition:	Definition:
2WD	Two Wheel Drive. Accessible to standard vehicles.
HC2WD	High Clearance Two Wheel Drive.
HC4WD	High Clearance Four Wheel Drive.
Closed	Road is closed for travel.
Impassable	Conditions are too dangerous for travel.
Unknown	Conditions are unknown at this time.
Likely Impassable	While unknown, the road may be impassable.
Not recommended	High danger of travel on road.

High Clearance: Capitol Reef National Park defines high clearance as 8 inch minimum. Many outside agencies define it as 9 inches or more. In some situations, car length can make a difference, since washouts can get long-wheelbase cars stuck.

Fruita Historic District

Road Name	Condition	Updated on
Scenic Drive	2WD	3/23/25
Grand Wash	2WD	3/23/25
Capitol Gorge	2WD	3/23/25
South Draw	Very rough, unmaintained, not recommended	3/23/25
Pleasant Creek	HC2WD	3/23/25
Sulphur Creek Rd	HC2WD	3/23/25
Gooseneck Rd	2WD	3/23/25

Waterpocket District

Road Name	Condition	Updated on
Notom-Bullfrog Rd	2WD	3/23/25
Burr Trail Rd	2WD	3/23/25
Strike Valley Overlook Rd	HC4WD	3/23/25
Halls Creek Overlook Rd	HC4WD	3/23/25
Bullfrog Creek Crossing	2WD	3/23/25

Cathedral Valley District

Road Name	Condition	Updated on
River Ford	HC2WD, 12" deep	3/23/25
Hartnet Rd	HC2WD	3/23/25
Bentonite Hills Area	HC2WD	3/23/25
Cathedral Valley Rd	HC2WD	3/23/25
Baker Ranch Rd	HC4WD	3/23/25
Polk Creek Rd	Impassable	3/23/25
Oil Well Bench Rd	HC2WD	3/23/25

 

Call 435-425-3791 to reach the automated phone tree, which has the weather forecast recorded daily; updates on road conditions as they change; and the fruit hotline for flowering and harvesting information.

Press #1 for information, then press:
#1 to have information mailed to you
#2 for campground information
#3 for the daily weather forecast
#4 for road conditions
#5 for orchard and fruit information
#6 for the visitor center bookstore
#7 for visitor center information
#8 to leave a message for visitor center staff