• Torrey - It’s wise to ensure all necessary supplies are gathered for the tour before departing town. Torrey offers the last gas stations until reaching Hanksville. There are also numerous picnic spots within the park, so it’s a great time to stock up on food and water.
• Chimney Rock Trail - Chimney Rock is the first rock formation on the tour and the initial hiking opportunity. The Chimney Rock Loop Trail is a challenging 3.6-mile hike with a 590-foot elevation gain. However, the summit rewards with a breathtaking panoramic view from the Mummy Cliffs. There’s no rush to exhaust yourself immediately, as there are plenty of hiking opportunities throughout the day. Consider returning later, as the views are even more spectacular at sunset.
• Panorama Point - If serious hiking isn’t on today’s agenda, don’t worry! There are several excellent viewpoints that require minimal walking. Panorama Point offers a fantastic view just a few feet from your vehicle.
• Goosenecks Overlook - The stunning views continue! A short and easy 600-foot walk from your car leads to Goosenecks Overlook, offering views over Sulphur Creek and beyond. Imagine a time when the creek was at your elevation before eroding the rock and carving down 600 feet to its current level. After enjoying that view, there’s another vantage point nearby called Sunset Point, where the sunset views are simply incredible.
• Capitol Reef National Park Visitor Center - On the way to the Visitor Center, you’ll pass two more named rock formations. Feel free to stop at the turnouts near each for photos or head directly to the Visitor Center. Here, you can explore exhibits and watch a brief film about the park. Don’t miss the chance to speak with a park ranger about any ranger-led activities for the day, such as a geology lesson or night sky presentation.
• Ripple Rock Nature Center - As you leave the Visitor Center, you’ll drive through the historic Fruita Orchards. Planted over 100 years ago by Mormon settlers, the orchards still produce fruit you can pick and enjoy today! Please adhere to the orchard rules and regulations. A convenient parking spot to enjoy the orchards is the Ripple Rock Nature Center. If visiting with children during the summer, the Nature Center offers programs and activities that kids will love.
• Gifford House & Museum Store - The Gifford home features exhibits detailing life in historic Fruita. They also serve fresh pies made from fruit harvested in the Fruita orchards.
• Scenic Drive - The Scenic Drive is a 7.9-mile road showcasing fantastic sights. There are also two unpaved spur roads leading into canyons. Don’t worry, regular passenger cars are suitable unless the park has closed the roads due to weather. Flash floods are a real danger, so if storm clouds appear, reconsider 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 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 through narrow canyon walls. Cassidy Arch is a challenging hike that ascends over 400 feet to the top of Cassidy Arch, named after Butch Cassidy. A turnout along the road also offers a view of Cassidy Arch. Additional stops include abandoned uranium mines and Echo Cliff, where you can hear your echo!
• Capitol Gorge Trail - The Scenic Drive concludes at the entrance to Capitol Gorge. This spur road is longer and more winding than Grand Wash. Once again, there are hiking opportunities at the end, and it’s highly recommended to explore Capitol Gorge trail, at least a short distance. A 5-10 minute walk leads to ancient petroglyphs left by the Fremont culture, who lived in the area hundreds of years ago. Another 10-15 minutes further, you can see the Pioneer Register, where pioneers and settlers carved their names into the rocks. From there, 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 stopping at the Fruita schoolhouse. Peek inside to glimpse a time when a 12-year-old girl was the first and only school teacher in the village!
• Fremont Petroglyphs - Just down the road from the schoolhouse are more petroglyphs. These are in much better condition than those in Capitol Gorge. Walk the two short wooden walkways to see the images etched into stone. You can spot human figures, animals, and geometric patterns. What animals can you identify?
• Capitol Dome View Area - These stops are really accumulating, aren’t they? Pull into a small parking lot here for views of Capitol Dome, where half of the name Capitol Reef originates. The other half, the “reef,” comes from the raised portion of the waterpocket fold, which reminded early pioneers of impassable ocean reefs. From this parking lot, you can also embark on several hikes, including Rim Overlook, Navajo Knobs, and Hickman Bridge, which offer views of two more natural arches.
• 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 fantastic view of the Waterpocket Fold from the east. Here, you can truly 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.
• Notom - This is an optional stop but recommended if time permits. There’s not much left to see on the way to Hanksville, but there are plenty of fascinating stories to share if you’re interested. The town of Notom, now little more than a ghost town, was once a thriving community like Fruita. Here, you can visit a curious and unique historical marker and the grave of another Behunin child.
• Mesa Farm Market - If you didn’t have a picnic lunch at the park, you might be quite hungry by now! If you started your tour at 8:00 am and are here on the right day, consider stopping for a bite at Mesa Farm Market. It’s local and organic!
• Factory Butte - Factory Butte stands solitary and beautiful. Don’t miss this amazing viewpoint! If you’re feeling adventurous and driving an appropriate vehicle, consider heading a bit further north to Moonscape Overlook. However, a word of caution: plan ahead if deviating from the recommended route, as many roads in the area, even within the park, require high-clearance 4-wheel-drive vehicles.
• 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 half a mile off Route 24, is unique in the area for its design and multifunction as a lumber mill and gold ore processor.

• 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

• Entry fees
• Rental car
• Meals & Refreshments

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.

• 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!”

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