Capitol Reef National Park

Capital Reef National Park does not get the visitation that the other better known Utah parks get, but that is part of its charm.  The scenery is spectacular but in a much subtler way.  The unique feature of the park is the Waterpocket Fold.  The fold has often been called a wrinkle in the Earth's crust but the dimensions of this fold go far beyond a simple "wrinkle". It extends almost 100 miles and through its history has always been a barrier for travel, similar to a barrier reef in the ocean.

The small visitor center is located in the Fruita Historical District.  In the 1880's a small group of Mormon pioneers established a small community here, which by necessity, had to be self-sufficient. They used the water from the Fremont River and Sulphur Creek to build an irrigation system that created an oasis for this hardy and independent group.  Always small, they grew apple, peach, pear, and apricots for themselves and for trade.  The park still maintains the historical orchards and a few of the pioneer buildings.  One of the most quaint and peaceful campgrounds you will ever find is also run by the Park Service next to the orchards.  Deer and turkey relax in the orchard and surrounding areas and campers are provided ladders and fruit poles if they wish to harvest some of the fruit.

Young bucks playfully spar with each other in the orchard.

The largest buck was beginning to get a bit more aggressive towards the smaller bucks as the rut progressed.

Petroglyphs, believed to be made by ancestors of the Hopi, Zuni, and Paiute tribes can be found in the park.  Animals and deities are easy to figure out while the other symbols probably describe travels, clan symbols and calendars.