Captivating Capitol Reef: Full-Day Audio Driving Private Tour in Utah booking from $9.99

Captivating Capitol Reef: Full-Day Audio Driving Private Tour

Overview

Avoid the crowds and visit Capitol Reef on a self-guided audio driving tour with Shaka Guide! With stunning geology and loads of history- this captivating national park has a rightful spot in the Utah Mighty 5. We’ll guide you to petroglyphs, the Scenic Drive, Fruita Orchards and even take you to see the Waterpocket Fold - a 100-mile long wrinkle in the earth’s crust.

What is Shaka Guide? It’s your personal tour guide, in an app! You get all the benefits of a guided tour with the freedom to explore on your terms.

Here’s how it works - the app uses GPS to give you directions to popular stops in the park. Along the way we’ll share stories about the places you’re visiting, give you important travel tips, and play music to keep you entertained the entire time.

All Shaka Guide Tours...
• Never expire - take the tour when you want!
• Work 100% offline - no data or wifi needed
• Allow you to travel at your pace

*Must use the link in your confirmation email to download the app*

City: Utah

Sun 23 Feb

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Starting at $9.99

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Sun 23 Feb

Starting at $9.99

Make a reservation

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What's Included

Tours NEVER expire

Capitol Reef National Park GPS Audio Driving Tour

Freedom to explore at your own pace

Offline map (map and GPS work completely offline - no wifi or data needed)

Tour highlights with activity and restaurant recommendations

Audio narration with stories, travel tips and music

Turn-by-turn directions using GPS

Additional Info

Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
All tours are completely socially distanced and done in the comfort of your car/rental car. Please adhere to local Covid-19 protocols.

What To Expect

Torrey

It’s a good idea to make sure you’ve got all the supplies you need for the tour before you leave town. Torrey has the last gas stations you’ll see until you reach Hanksville. There are also several picnic opportunities inside the park so now’s the time to stock up on food and water.

Chimney Rock Trail

Chimney Rock is the first rock formation on the tour as well as the first hiking opportunity. Chimney Rock Loop Trail is a strenuous 3.6 mile hike that climbs 590 feet in elevation. But at the top, you’re rewarded with a stunning panoramic view from atop the Mummy Cliffs. There’s no need to wear yourself out right away, though. There will be plenty of hiking opportunities throughout the day. Consider coming back and doing this one later as the views get even better at sunset.

Goosenecks Overlook

The views just don’t stop coming! A short and easy 600-foot walk from your car will take you to Goosenecks Overlook with views over Sulphur Creek and beyond. Just try to imagine a time when the creek was at the same elevation as you before it eroded the rock and dug down some 600 feet to where it is today. Once you’ve soaked in that view, there’s a second vantage point just a little further away called Sunset Point. As the name might suggest, views here at sunset are simply incredible.

Capitol Reef National Park Visitor Center

You’ll pass two more named rock formations on the way to the Visitor Center. Feel free to stop in the turnouts near each for photos or drive directly to the Visitor Center. Here you can view the exhibits and watch a brief film about the park. Don’t miss this opportunity to speak with a park ranger. Ask about any ranger-led activities for the day like a geology lesson or night sky presentation.

Ripple Rock Nature Center

As you leave the Visitor Center, you’ll find yourself driving through the historic Fruita Orchards. Planted well over 100 years ago by Mormon settlers, the orchards are still producing fruit which you can pick and eat today! Please be sure to follow the orchard rules and regulations. An easy place to park to enjoy the orchards is the Ripple Rock Nature Center. If you have kids and you’re visiting during the summer, the Nature Center has programs and activities your children are sure to enjoy.

Scenic Drive

The Scenic Drive is a 7.9 mile road showcasing fantastic sights. There are also two unpaved spur roads that branch off into canyons. Don’t worry, normal passenger cars will do just fine—unless the park has closed the roads due to weather. Flash floods are a real danger. If you see storm clouds, think twice before entering any canyons. Be mindful of the speed limit and take your time on these roads. Entry to the Scenic Drive costs $20 per car.

Grand Wash Road

The spur roads at Capitol Reef offer the chance to see some spectacular geology by car and on foot. Grand Wash spur road ends at the trailhead for Grand Wash trail and Cassidy Arch trail. Grand Wash is an easy hike over flat ground that passes through narrow canyon walls. Cassidy Arch is a strenuous hike that rises over 400 feet up to the top of Cassidy Arch, named for Butch Cassidy himself. A turnout along the road also offers a view of Cassidy Arch. There are additional stops at abandoned uranium mines and Echo Cliff where, you guessed it, you can hear your echo!

Capitol Gorge Trail

The Scenic Drive ends at the entrance to Capitol Gorge. This is a much longer and winding spur road than Grand Wash. Once again there will be hiking opportunities at the end and I highly recommend you take Capitol Gorge trail, at least a little ways in. A 5-10 minute walk will take you to ancient petroglyphs left by the Fremont culture who lived in the area hundreds of years ago. Another 10-15 minutes further and you can see the Pioneer Register where pioneers and settlers carved their names into the rocks. From there you can continue to The Tanks - large divots in the sandstone that collect water and create micro-ecosystems. You can also hike to a viewpoint of Golden Throne, an impressive mountain peak just north of the gorge.

Fruita Schoolhouse

A visit to Fruita isn’t complete without a stop at the Fruita schoolhouse. Peak inside while looking back in time to when a 12 year old girl was the first and only school teacher in the village!

Fremont Petroglyphs

Right down the road from the schoolhouse are more petroglyphs. These are in much better shape than the ones in Capitol Gorge. Walk the two short wooden walkways to see the images etched into stone. You can see human figures, animals, and geometric patterns. What kinds of animals can you make out?

Behunin Cabin

The Behunin cabin is a small sandstone structure that once housed a family of 15. Most of the children had to sleep outside - the girls in the wagon and the boys in a sandstone alcove behind the cabin. Talk about roughing it!

Waterpocket Fold

From atop a hill near some primitive camping sites, this is a terrific view of the Waterpocket Fold from the east. From here, you can really see the steep angle at which the land rose. At times, the rock layers are nearly 45 degrees to the horizon. This is a must-see view as we head east and leave the Waterpocket Fold behind.

Mesa Farm Market

If you didn’t have a picnic lunch at the park, you might be pretty hungry by this point! If you started your tour at 8:00 am and you’re here on the right day, consider stopping for a bite to eat at Mesa Farm Market. It’s local and organic!

Hanksville

Many prospectors staked claims for gold, silver, copper, and more in this area. Few were as ambitious as Ewin T. Wolverton who built his mill in 1921. The Wolverton Mill, located just a half-mile of route 24, is unique in the area both for its design and its multifunction as a lumber mill and gold ore processor.

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Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Captivating Capitol Reef: Full-Day Audio Driving Private Tour

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