Ranger Programs

 

Park rangers present daily interpretive talks.

NPS / S. Cotrell

Park staff offer a variety of interpretive programs daily, spring through fall. Program types, times, and locations vary throughout the year and are subject to last-minute changes due to weather or other factors. See the calendar, or check at the Capitol Reef Visitor Center upon arrival for more details.

Year-round Programs

• Ranger's Choice Talk
  Learn more about the natural and cultural resources of Capitol Reef National Park! 30 minutes. Daily. Check the calendar for start time and location.
• Junior Ranger Program
  Request a Junior Ranger activity book at the visitor center, and complete the activities to learn about the park and earn a badge.
  
  The Junior Ranger Booklet is also available in thirteen additional languages. Please ask at the visitor center or email the park for one of the following text-only translations: Arabic, Chinese, Dutch, French, German, Hebrew, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, or Spanish.

 

Summer Programs (mid May to mid August)

Check at the visitor center or campground bulletin boards for locations, topics, and times.

Note: programs may be cancelled depending on staffing levels, or weather.

• Archeology Talk - daily
  Learn about cultures that call this place home; 30 minutes.
• Ranger's Choice Talk - daily
  Learn more about the natural and cultural resources of Capitol Reef; 30 minutes.
• Evening Program - several nights per week, near sunset
  Topics and start times vary, check at the visitor center or campground bulletin boards for details. Meet at the Fruita Campground amphitheater; 45-60 minutes.
• Astronomy Program - several nights per week
  View the night skies on a constellation tour, or with telescopes. Start times vary, check at the visitor center or campground bulletin boards for details; 30 minutes to 2 hours.

 

Capitol Reef boasts incredibly dark night skies.

NPS / J. Zylland

Astronomy Special Events

Unfolding the Universe with NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope

Join NASA astrophysicist Dr. Amber Straughn for a special evening exploring one of the most powerful space telescopes ever built.

The James Webb Space Telescope is transforming how we understand the universe. This presentation offers a behind the scenes look at Webb’s engineering and a tour of its discoveries, from our solar system to the most distant galaxies ever observed. The program will also highlight upcoming NASA missions, including the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope.

Join us June 8, 2026 at 9:00 pm at the Fruita Campground Amphitheater. Seating is limited, and visitors may want to bring a chair.

About the Speaker

Dr. Amber Straughn is an astrophysicist at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center and Communications Project Scientist for the James Webb Space Telescope.

Inspired by dark skies growing up in rural Arkansas, she earned degrees from the University of Arkansas and Arizona State University. Her research focuses on how galaxies evolve, including how they form stars and black holes. She is an experienced science communicator featured on programs such as 60 Minutes, NOVA, and the Netflix documentary Unknown: Cosmic Time Machine.

Heritage StarFest

Heritage StarFest celebrates the incredible night skies of Capitol Reef and Wayne County. This two-day event takes place each fall with activities both in the park and in the neighboring town of Torrey.

In 2026, Heritage StarFest will take place on September 11 and 12. Check out the event page for details about 2025's event and stay tuned for updates for 2026!