There are a lot of national parks, and the top 5 get the lion’s share of attention. Everyone knows about Yellowstone, Yosemite and the Grand Canyon. These are iconic parks, that are matchless in their unique natural settings and huge yearly attendance. The Great Smoky Mountains have more visitors by far than any other national park. Glacier is a biosphere reserve and world heritage site, and amazing in beauty. Right now, there are 63 national parks, so what about the other 58? Is there one that stands out that doesn’t get a lot of press?

I would say yes, and my pick today (which may change tomorrow) is Capitol Reef National Park!

It is one of the great parks in Utah, and the second least visited. We visited a number of years ago on our national park road trip through Utah, seeing all five. We started by flying into Salt Lake City and then driving down to Zion, and then circled through Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, and then stayed in Moab, visiting Arches and Canyonlands. We then just drove back to Salt Lake City and flew home.

I would be foolish to say that the other parks are not noteworthy. Hiking Angel’s Landing in Zion and meandering through the Hoodoos in Bryce Canyon are priceless experiences. So is hiking around the Delicate Arch, in Arches NP of course, or the vista at Grand View Overlook in Canyonlands.

The thing that got me at Capitol Reef was the unexpected. I honestly did not know it existed until I was charting our course on the map. There is no nearby population center, and the driving distances are formidable. Maybe my expectations were low, but the landscape speaks for itself.

Amazing rock formations: it was at this national park that I realized that I am a rock geek and love the vast array of colors and shapes that come together to make the landscape.

Then there is the story of the indigenous people who lived here long ago and left their writing on the rock walls.

And the settlers who came here to survive.

I hiked two short trails and the views were amazing:

My daughter and I awoke early and did the Chimney Rock hike, which was a moderately strenuous 3 1/2 mile hike through a variety of rock formations. The views down the spine of the park are very memorable in the early day.

Later in the day, I hiked the Hickman Bridge Trail on my own through a short carved canyon of rock ending in a suspended bridge. Again, I was alone, and there was so little noise. The rock just lets you know that it will be hear long after your memory is a blip in a distant past. It’s a humbling place to hike.

I loved the quiet moments alone in a wilderness of rock with just my camera to record a memory. Maybe this is what the Fremont People felt a thousand years ago as they explored the same land, and surely checked out the same rock formations. I am thankful for our short stop in this magical place and recommend you do the same!

Remember that this is a desert environment which is dry, hot, and more exhausting than you think. Bring water and sun protection. I was glad to have sturdy hiking boots in the rocky terrain. There is limited overnight options, so plan ahead. As always, leave no trace. If you have been to this park, let me know in the comments section below to share your experience.

I enjoy the variety and beauty of all the national parks, and its fun to promote one of the hidden treasures that many folks just overlook.

National park website: https://www.nps.gov/care/index.htm

History of the Fremont people: https://historytogo.utah.gov/fremont-indians/