Scenic Drive Rehabilitation Project

The Scenic Drive at sunset

NPS Photo

 

Project Overview

The National Park Service (NPS), in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), is proposing a project to rehabilitate the Scenic Drive and multiple parking lots in Capitol Reef National Park.

The project seeks to:

• Expand parking capacity and delineation of parking spots. This aims to improve safety and access while reducing the number of vehicles parked along the highway and Scenic Drive.

• Improve drainage due to the area’s flood-prone landscape.

• Slightly widen the road especially in tight curve areas; allowing larger vehicles to pass each other without leaving the road surface.

• Make accessibility improvements including additional accessible parking spaces, sidewalks, and low-slope grading.

Many of the park’s parking lots were originally designed and built in the 1960s when the park received about 160,000 visitors per year. Currently, more than 1.2 million visitors experience Capitol Reef National Park annually and improvements are needed for park infrastructure to accommodate the increased visitation. Parking lots are routinely overcrowded, resulting in visitors parking along adjacent roadways causing resource and safety concerns. The parking lot at Chimney Rock trailhead and Scenic Drive show signs of pavement cracking, shoulder erosion, and damage to various drainage structures.

The majority of the park will be open and accessible during this project. Visitors will still have access to the Fruita area, including the campground, Gifford House, visitor center, and trails along SR 24. The 2024 Fruita Area Map and Guide has been updated to aid in planning a visit during this project. Expect congestion in parking areas and at popular trailheads such as Hickman Bridge and Grand Wash off of State Route 24. Consider hiking earlier or later in the day to make finding parking less stressful.

State Routes 12 and 24 will remain open during this project. Visitors will still be able to travel between Bryce Canyon and Torrey on Route 12. They will also still be able to travel east and west across the park on SR 24.

 

Updates and Next Steps

The contract for this project has been awarded to Harward and Rees Construction based in Loa, UT. The project start date was April 29, 2024. The current plan is listed below but is subject to change as the project progresses. Updates will be posted on this page.

Updated November 15, 2024

The Visitor Center parking lot is being expanded and reconfigured. The parking lot is partially closed to facilitate this work. There is only one vehicle entry and exit point and vehicles larger than 20 feet in length will not be able to park in the lot. The vehicle entrance to the parking lot is at the south end of the lot. There is a sign indicating the entrance. There is a bus loading area along the Scenic Drive and large vehicles can park in designated areas along the side of road or at the picnic area, 3/4 mile south of the visitor center on the Scenic Drive.

The Chimney Rock parking lot and trail is closed to parking and hiking for construction. The parking lot is being reconfigured and new accessible vault toilets installed. Paving will take place between November 15 and 17. During paving, there will be flaggers and one way traffic near the parking lot on SR 24. There is no access to Chimney Rock trail or Spring Canyon from this trailhead during construction. Spring Canyon is still open for hiking but must be accessed in alternate locations. Access to Upper Spring Canyon is from Holt Draw, west of the park on SR 24. Access to Lower Spring Canyon is from SR 24 near mile marker 83. This access point requires wading across the Fremont River. Check back here for updates on reopening.

The Scenic Drive is closed beyond the turn for the amphitheater and C loop of the campground through to Capitol Gorge. This closure includes the Grand Wash and Capitol Gorge roads. There is no vehicle, bicycle, or pedestrian access beyond the closure. The Scenic Drive is expected to reopen in December 2024.

Turning around at the closure will be difficult for larger vehicles. There are several parking areas between the visitor center and campground for vehicles to park or turn around before reaching the closure.

Visitors can park or turn around at the Merin Smith Implement Shed (blacksmith shop), picnic area, Gifford House parking lot, or the dirt parking area just past the Gifford House across from the Pendleton Barn (Jorgenson Pasture). Large vehicles may have difficulty turning around in the Gifford House and amphitheater parking lots. See parking locations on the map below.

Hikers can still access the Grand Wash and Cassidy Arch trails from SR 24. See the Fruita Area Map and Guide for details on hikes and other things to do in Fruita during this project.

During the Scenic Drive closure, the Pleasant Creek/South Draw Road will not have through access. The South Draw Road is a rough, unmaintained road. It is not recommended. If visitors choose to access the Pleasant Creek area of the park on this road, they will have to return the same way.

Throughout this project, visitors can expect heavy truck traffic on State Route 24 and on the Scenic Drive past the visitor center and campground as construction materials are transported to the work site.

The Fruita Campground is open through the remainder of this project. Campground reservations are available through recreation.gov.

 

Map of the Fruita area showing parking locations where vehicles may park or turn around before reaching the Scenic Drive closure.

 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)

Why is the project being conducted over the summer?

The road needs to be rehabilitated during the warmer months of the year since the pavement needs to cure at at least 50°F (10°C). 

Did the park consider using flaggers to avoid a full closure of the Scenic Drive?

Yes, the park did consider using flaggers and keeping the road partially open. However, using flaggers and keeping the road partially open would likely delay the project and cause the road to be impacted for two seasons instead of just one season.

What areas will still be accessible during construction?

Most of the park will still be open – the projects would occur only in a small percentage of the park. Trailheads and parking areas along SR 24 will be open and accessible aside from short closures of Chimney Rock trailhead, Hickman Bridge and Petroglyph Panel parking lots, and roadside pullouts. The Fruita area of the park will be open, including the visitor center, orchards, Gifford House, picnic area, and Fruita Campground. The northern Cathedral Valley and southern Waterpocket districts of the park will be unaffected by this project. These remote, dirt backcountry roads do take more planning to visit and usually require a high clearance vehicle. More information on these areas can be found on the roads page.

How will this project change the Scenic Drive?

This project seeks to rebuild the entire road foundation and slightly widen it to allow two large oncoming vehicles to pass without leaving the road surface. Currently, the road is 17 to 22 feet wide and the project will result in a consistent 20 foot road width. Some curves will be widened to approximately 21 to 23 feet. Scenic Drive will retain the look and feel of a narrow backcountry byway. The road width will remain largely unchanged as will the alignment including curves. This will continue to encourage low vehicle speeds. 

What parking lots are being improved and why?

The visitor center, Chimney Rock trailhead, Hickman Bridge and Petroglyph Panel parking lots are being redesigned and repaired to improve access and flow, as well as accommodate larger vehicles and RVs. The goal is to also reduce traffic backups onto Scenic Drive and SR 24. Additional parking at the junction of Grand Wash Road and Capitol Gorge Road will provide more formal parking when these roads are closed due to flooding.

 

Link to Project Details

For more information on this project, please visit the project's page on PEPC (Planning, Environment & Public Comment).