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Know before you go: Capitol Reef

How to stay safe here, what to pack and what to leave at home.

By The Green Adventures · Updated · How we check

Today at Capitol Reef

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Alerts: National Park Service, checked hourly. Forecast: National Weather Service, for Capitol Reef National Park Visitor Center. Always confirm on the official park site before you set out.

Stay safe

  • Wildlife: Keep at least 25 yards (23 m) from all wild animals, and 100 yards (91 m) from bears and wolves where they live. Never feed wildlife. Use pullouts to watch animals from the road.
  • Heat and water: Carry and drink at least one gallon (4 liters) of water per person per day, more when hiking in heat. Hike early or late in summer, eat salty snacks, and turn back when half your water is gone.
  • Flash floods: Rain miles away can flood canyons and washes. Check the flash flood forecast at the visitor center before narrow or slot canyon hikes and get to high ground if water rises.
  • Cell service: Coverage is patchy in most parks. Download offline maps and the park’s info before you lose signal.

What to pack

Start with the park service’s ten essentials:

  • Navigation: a paper map or offline map, plus a charged phone and battery pack
  • Sun protection: sunglasses, sunscreen and a hat
  • Layers: a warm layer and a rain shell, even in summer
  • Headlamp or flashlight
  • First aid kit
  • Fire starter (matches or a lighter) for emergencies
  • Repair kit and tools (a small knife, tape)
  • Extra food
  • Extra water and a way to treat it
  • Emergency shelter: a space blanket or tarp

For Capitol Reef also bring:

  • At least one gallon of water per person per day, plus electrolyte drinks or salty snacks
  • Lightweight long sleeves and a wide-brim hat
  • A cooler and shade for the car
  • A red light and a blanket for stargazing
  • Binoculars for wildlife watching from a safe distance
  • Camping: tent, sleeping bag rated for night temperatures, camp stove and fuel bought locally

What to leave at home

  • A drone: launching, landing or flying drones is banned in almost every national park site.
  • Firewood from home: it can carry tree-killing pests. Buy it where you burn it, ideally within 10 miles.
  • Pets: of the 5 hikes the park service lists here, 0 allow pets. Where pets are allowed they must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet.
  • Anything you plan to take home from the park: rocks, plants, antlers, artifacts and fossils must stay where you find them.
  • Food that wildlife can reach: store it as the park directs, in your car or a locker, never in a tent in bear country.

Weather

Weather is posted daily; check at the park visitor center for weather updates. Do not enter into narrow canyons if there is a threat of rain or if rain has been falling in the area. Rain and snow may also make dirt roads impassable to vehicles.

From the National Park Service (public domain).

Sources

Last checked 1 November 2026.

Frequently asked questions

What should I pack for Capitol Reef?
The ten essentials (map, sun protection, layers, light, first aid, fire starter, tools, extra food, extra water and emergency shelter), plus at least one gallon of water per person per day, plus electrolyte drinks or salty snacks.
Can I fly a drone in Capitol Reef?
No. Launching, landing or operating drones is prohibited in national parks unless the superintendent approves it in writing.