Capitol Reef National Park

About three and a half hours south of Salt Lake City in south central Utah, Capitol Reef is built around the Waterpocket Fold, a nearly 100 mile wrinkle in the earth's crust. Its white Navajo Sandstone domes reminded early travelers of the U.S. Capitol, and that is where the park gets its name. Tucked into the desert at Fruita, a pioneer settlement, historic orchards still grow apples, peaches, and cherries that visitors can pick in season. Late spring through fall is the sweet time, with blossoms, green orchards, and harvest color against the white rock.