I Found Utah’s Hidden Gem: Capitol Reef National Park + A Stop at Goblin Valley State Park

Capitol Reef National Park might be one of the most overlooked stops on Utah's Mighty 5 — and after hiking here, I can understand why it deserves more attention. In Part 3 of my 5-part Utah hiking series, I head into the incredible landscapes of Capitol Reef National Park, exploring towering sandstone cliffs, massive canyons, desert valleys, and some of the most surreal scenery of the entire trip. This section of Utah felt completely different from Zion and Bryce Canyon. The further we traveled, the more remote and otherworldly the landscape became. Along the way, we explored areas around Chimney Rock, Fruita, Hickman Bridge, Fremont Gorge, the Waterpocket Fold, and Navajo Knobs, taking in the incredible geology and scenery that make Capitol Reef so unique. And the best part? The crowds felt noticeably smaller than at some of Utah's more famous national parks. 🌄 UTAH HIKING SERIES — PART 3 OF 5 Part 1: Zion National Park Part 2: Bryce Canyon National Park Part 3: Capitol Reef National Park Part 4: Coming Soon Part 5: Coming Soon If you're planning a Utah hiking adventure, hopefully this video gives you a look at why Capitol Reef deserves a place on your itinerary. 📍 Capitol Reef National Park, Utah 00:00 - Intro 01:58 - The next day 03:08 - Chimney Rock Trail 09:23 - Speaking with Utah local 10:28 - Mile 1 10:52 - A man needs my help finding his wife 13:58 - Mile 2 19:50 - Mile 3 21:57 - Finished Chimney Rock Trail 22:16 - Fruita District Exploration 23:04 - Start of Hickman Bridge Trail 26:42 - Nels Johnson Bridge 27:51 - Hickman Bridge 30:11 - Start of Cassidy Arch Trail 34:31 - I feel lost 35:17 - Lunch at Slackers 36:13 - Fremont Gorge Hike 42:44 - Turning Back 44:00 - Petroglyphs 44:48 - Navajo Knobs trail 51:17 - Rim Overlook 56:26 - Reached the end 57:48 - Historic structures 59:30 - Goblin Valley State Park 1:05:22 - Descending down the lair 1:08:55 - Goblettes Lair #CapitolReef #Utah #UtahHiking #Mighty5 #NationalParks #Hiking #UtahRoadTrip #CapitolReefNationalPark #Adventure #Travel