I am going from Sedona to Vancouver BC and love hiking and scenery and have seen all the big parks but not these two...which would you choose and which route..thanks les

Depends on your vehicle. Capitol Reef has excellent hiking and some good driving trails. The scenery is excellent too and the in park CG is better than most. In Torrey there are a couple of good FHU CG. There are a couple of great back country dirt roads, the Burr Trail for one. And there are supposed to be slot canyons in the area, tho we didn't get to any of them. The rocks in Capitol Reef are different than the red rock found in most of the other national parks in southern Utah. They are darker. To see Canyonlands you really need a vehicle that can at least drive on back country dirt roads far from any assistance. Some of the roads require a 4WD vehicle capable of rock crawling. Not a big 4WD pickup as we found out this last summer.

We were thru both last fall. I think Capital Reef might have more hiking, but I preferred Canyon Land - it was better than the Grand Canyon. And the BLM there let's you drive down into the canyons on all of the old mining trails.Bill

Hiking wise Capitol Reef. We have been to all the Utah parks and am going back to Capitol Reef this fall for another stay.

Capitol Reef for awesome hikes!

We've been to Capitol Reef 5 times in the last ten years. The last time was for 10 days. The hiking is like no other Park. Crowds just don't exist. We stayed in the NP campground in Fruita once. About as nice as they get especially in the spring with the fruit trees in bloom. In the fall you can pick fruit. The nicest FHU park in the area is Thousand Lakes in our opinion. If you have high ground clearance the drive across the river and out the NE corner of the Park is beautiful. Not technical wheeling. If you are an avid hiker do the Grand Wash, Upper Muley Twist and Spring Canyon. The slot canyons are great.

Canyonland of Capitol reef | Good Sam Community

16 Replies

Lauren
Explorer
Apr 19, 2015
Different strokes; that is what makes the world go round.
2gypsies1
Explorer III
Apr 19, 2015
For Needles we stayed in their campground. It's very nice and big rigs can fit.
agesilaus
Explorer III
Apr 19, 2015
We stayed at Monticello instead on Moab when we were visiting Needles district last summer. This was because it is a little closer, it is higher and somewhat cooler than Moab, and it isn't a tourist trap. I hate staying in those. Can't say that the CG was all that great but the ones we stayed at in Moab weren't any better. Monticello is also closer to some other interesting places but then so is Moab.
Lauren
Explorer
Apr 19, 2015
Up to God as for best colors but that should be about perfect. That is when we will again be there this year as well.

Needles is 80 miles from Moab - with 160 miles round trip; shorter from Monticello (not much there). I would rather be hiking that spending all that time driving to and fro.
reubenray
Explorer
Apr 19, 2015
Lauren wrote:
Thunder Mountain is right. And we are going their in Sept for the fall colors again this year - 5th time. We stay at Thousand Lakes.

Given the choice of the two it is Capitol Reef without question.

If you visit Island In The Sky section of Canyonlands it is a paved good road to drive around and see. The south section is a long ways from anyplace.

To compare go to www.LaurenBarbara.com and the Wanderings link to Utah to National Parks to see pix.

Enjoy.

When is the best time for the fall colors? We will be there in late September/early October.
LewBob
Explorer
Apr 18, 2015
Lauren wrote:
Only problem with Needles is that it is so far from Moab or anyplace.

Just me, but I consider that a plus.
Lauren
Explorer
Apr 18, 2015
Only problem with Needles is that it is so far from Moab or anyplace.
2gypsies1
Explorer III
Apr 18, 2015
Good choice for Capitol Reef but next time....do Canyonland Needles. Nice hikes there, too!
mexicokid
Explorer
Apr 18, 2015
thanks for the good answers I have decided it will Capitol reef and I look forward to the hiking there thanks so much les
LewBob
Explorer
Apr 18, 2015
I'd like to put in a good word (or more) for the Needles District of Canyonlands. The access road is paved to the visitor center and campground (27 sites, fills in spring and fall). Amazing hiking from the campground (7-12 mile day hikes) into the heart of the needles (magical red sandstone formations). Lots of boondocking options on BLM land adjacent to the park.