Fremont River Trail - Capitol Reef National Park

Fremont River Trail | Hiking in Capitol Reef National Park

Capitol Reef National Park is one of the hidden gems in the Southwest of the United States. Compared to all the other National Parks in Utah, there are no crowds at all. It’s a beautiful park to explore, and there are many beautiful trails. In this article, I’ll take you on a short hike on the Fremont River Trail.

Hiking in Capitol Reef National Park

Capitol Reef National Park is one of the hidden gems in the Southwest of the United States. Compared to all the other National Parks in Utah, there are no crowds at all. It’s a beautiful park to explore and there are some great things to do in Capitol Reef National Park.

Since there are many hiking trails in the park, it’s easy to explore the park on foot. In this article, I’ll take you on a short hike on the Fremont River Trail.

Start: Fruita Campground

Capitol Reef - fruita campground

Fruita campground is a first serve, first come campground in the middle of Capitol Reef National Park. It’s one of the most beautiful campgrounds I’ve ever stayed at. You can put your tent (or RV) in one of the big camping spots in the green valley and enjoy the views of the big red mountains around you. In the mornings and late in the afternoon, there’s a big chance of seeing deer walking around the campground.
Capitol Reef - hert

When you walk around the campground, you probably find some old attributes, that belong to the Mormons, who used to live in this valley.
Capitol Reef - landbouw

Fremont River Trail

Capitol Reef - fremont river trail 1
Along the campground, you can find a trail next to the river. This is the start of the Fremont River Trail. You won’t see a lot of the river, because of all the bushes. You will pass an orchard filled with apricot trees, and you can pick as many apricots if you like (as long as you eat them all). A nice snack during your hike!
Capitol Reef - abrikozenbomen

Capitol Reef - abrikoos
Capitol Reef - fremont river trail

Going up

Capitol Reef - pad omhoog

After a short hike along the river, it’s time to climb! When you’re walking uphill, don’t forget to look behind you every once in a while. The views are amazing! You will also be able to see the Fremont
River when you’re going up.
Capitol Reef - pad omhoog uitzicht

Capitol Reef - fremont river
Capitol Reef - rotsen

What an amazing view!

It won’t take long before you reach the top of the mountain, and it’s beautiful up here!

Capitol Reef - rotsformaties
Capitol Reef - pad op de berg

When you walk to the edge of the mountain, you will see the valley with the campground. A beautiful view, the green valley, and the colorful mountains surrounding it.

Capitol Reef - uitzicht
Capitol Reef - uitzicht op de vallei

The Fremont River Trail is very short and about 2 kilometers long. It’s a very nice hike when you’re staying at the Fruita Campground. It’ll show you the beauty of Capitol Reef National Park. As I mentioned earlier, compared to all the other National Parks in Utah, this park is very nice and quiet. A great place to relax for a while during a hectic (but awesome) road trip in the southwest of the United States.

Where to stay in Capitol Reef?

If you like camping, the Fruita Campground is your best option. Do you prefer to stay in a hotel? Check out the hotels in the small town of Torrey.

Would you like to read more about the National Parks in Utah?

Check out these articles:
5 gorgeous National Parks in Utah
Canyonlands National Park: Welcome to the wild wild west
Zion National Park Travel Guide – tips for your first visit

Or check out one of these great travel books about the US National Parks:


National Geographic Complete National Parks of the United States: 400+ Parks, Monuments, Battlefields, Historic Sites, Scenic Trails, Recreation Areas, and Seashores

Moon USA National Parks: The Complete Guide to All 62 Parks

Co

As a girl from a small town in the Netherlands, I always dreamed of traveling. I thought it would always be a dream, but nowadays, I travel 6 to 8 months a year and I hike thousands of miles on the most beautiful hiking trails. On this website you can read all about my favorite destinations.

View stories

Leave a reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.