Established in 1971, Capitol Reef National Park in south-central Utah covers an area of 241,904 acres: at 100 miles (160 km) in length, it is a long park, but it is narrow.

Native Americans lived in the area from the 11th century to the 13th century when a long drought forced them to move. Later, explorers surveyed the area and in the 1880s Mormons began to settle here. One of the most amazing features of the park is the Waterpocket Fold which is a surface warp that dates back 65 million years.

Over many years of erosion, the fold now displays layers of rocks and fossils.

Arches National Park Zion National Park Monument Valley Great Salt Lake Canyonlands National Park Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument Homestead Crater Bear Lake Capitol Reef National Park Bryce Canyon National Park Mount Timpanogos Goosenecks State Park Grand Canyon North Rim Mesa Verde National Park Cedar Breaks National Monument Natural Bridges National Monument Heber City - Heber Valley Historic Railroad Dinosaur National Monument Dead Horse Point Golden Spike National Historic Site Timpanogos Cave National Monument Hovenweep National Monument Flaming Gorge Dixie National Forest Paria Canyon, Utah

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