Captivating Capitol Reef: Full-Day Audio Driving Private Tour

Why choose this Utah tour ?

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.

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*
*Download the Shaka Guide app to access your purchased tours.*

Captivating Capitol Reef: Full-Day Audio Driving Private Tour

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What makes Captivating Capitol Reef: Full-Day Audio Driving Private Tour a unique experience ?

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 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.

If you don’t plan on doing any serious hiking today, don’t fret! There are several great viewpoints that don’t require miles of walking to enjoy. Panorama Point offers a great view just a few feet from your car.

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.

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.

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.

The Gifford home offers exhibits detailing what life was like in historic Fruita. They also serve up some fresh pies, made from fruit harvested in the Fruita orchards.

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.

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!

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.

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!

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?

These stops are really piling up on top of each other, aren’t they? Pull into a small parking lot here for views of Capitol Dome, where half of the name Capitol Reef comes from. The other half, the “reef,”comes from the raised portion of the waterpocket fold which reminded early pioneers of impassable reefs in the ocean. From this parking lot you can also take several hikes, including Rim Overlook, Navajo Knobs, and Hickman Bridge which gives you views of two more natural arches.

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!

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.

Tour Description & Additional Info:

Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Get Started Easily: • Book Your Tour: Receive a confirmation and easy instructions via email. • Download the App: Follow the simple steps in your email. • Redeem the Tour: Use the redeem code in your email to redeem the tour in the app. • Prepare Ahead: Download the tour using strong Wi-Fi.
Begin Your Journey: • Select Your Tour: Go to the My Stuff tab in the Shaka Guide app to launch the tour. • Start the Tour: Select the tour starting point and follow the GPS instructions. • Follow Shaka Guide: Stick to the suggested route and speed for the best experience.
Why Choose Our Audio Tour: • Cost-Efficient: One tour for the entire vehicle—no per-person fees! • Ultimate Flexibility: Start, pause, and resume on your schedule. • Convenience: Use the tour any day, over multiple days if needed.
Top Features: • Hands-Free: The tour works automatically – GPS-activated stories, directions, and music play as you drive for a seamless experience. • Works Offline: No need for continuous wifi or data. • Reliable Support: Get help via call, chat, or email.
Private and Personalized: • Crowd-Free: Enjoy a private tour with just your group. • Customizable Stops: Pick the stops you want and skip the ones you don’t!
The Ultimate Guided Tour: • Detailed Itinerary: Includes travel tips and recommendations. • Engaging Narration: Captivating stories and history.
What Our Users Say: • “A fantastic way to explore! Easy to use and very informative.” • “Loved the flexibility to stop and go as we pleased. Highly recommend!”

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Captivating Capitol Reef: Full-Day Audio Driving Private Tour
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