General: This is likely the most popular campground in the park and has three loops. Our friends made reservations exactly 6 months ahead (the earliest date possible) and we were lucky to snag two sites. The campground was completely full on a weekend at the end of April and continued to be full on Monday night. 

Site Quality/Facilities: Each site has a double-wide concrete pad that can easily accommodate a camper and an extra vehicle. The picnic table and fire pit are also on concrete. Some sites have a bbq but not all of them do. The sites do not have a lot of separation, but we did not feel crowded. Generators are allowed so there will be noise but despite it being full with lots of kids and dogs, the campground was quiet (not counting generator use). Several hiking trails are accessible directly from the campground as is the Gifford House, which sells delicious pies and cinnamon rolls.

Bathhouse: Basic National Park bathhouse. No hooks but soap and paper towels provided. No showers. It was clean.

Activities/Amenities: Hiking! We hiked the Cohab Canyon trail, accessed directly across the street from Loops A and B and continued on to the Hickman Bridge Trail for a moderately strenuous 6-mile roundtrip hike. The Fremont River Trail is a one-mile out and back trail accessed directly from Loops A and B. We also hiked the Chimney Rock Trail, but you have to drive to the trailhead from the campground. There is an amphitheater with daily programs led by volunteers which were very informative. The Gifford House is within (too easy) walking distance from Loops A and B – the pies and cinnamon rolls will have you wanting to hike to burn off the calories but get there early– the cinnamon rolls sold out within 10 minutes of opening up at 8 am on the Saturday we were there so we made sure we were waiting in line before it opened on Sunday! 

Capitol Reef completes our tour of Utah’s“rock” national parks and it was stunning– well worth a visit.