Utah · Rock climbing · Torrey

Capitol Reef

Capitol Reef in Utah has 13 climbing routes across 10 difficulty grades.

Photo: runt35, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

13 routes

5.3 – 5.11

Trad · Bouldering · Sport

Is Capitol Reef open right now?

Alert in the area

The National Park Service lists 2 alerts for Capitol Reef National Park.

Elevated E. Coli levels - Fremont River and Sulphur Creek
Park alert covering Capitol Reef National Park · NPS · Capitol Reef National Park
Monsoon Season & Flash Floods
Park alert covering Capitol Reef National Park · NPS · Capitol Reef National Park

As of Oct 24, 7:30 pm MDT · Source: NPS · Capitol Reef National Park. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Best time to visit Capitol Reef

Best months: April–June and August–October. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

Jan
38° / 22°
5 wet
Feb
43° / 26°
5 wet
Mar
53° / 32°
5 wet
Apr
60° / 38°
4 wet
May
70° / 46°
5 wet
Jun
82° / 56°
4 wet
Jul
87° / 62°
8 wet
Aug
85° / 60°
8 wet
Sep
76° / 53°
5 wet
Oct
62° / 41°
3 wet
Nov
48° / 29°
3 wet
Dec
37° / 21°
5 wet

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Torrey 7 E, UT, 2.3 mi away at 6,204 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Capitol Reef is a climbing area inside Capitol Reef National Park in Utah, managed by the National Park Service. The park itself is a National Park Service unit, and the climbing area sits within its boundaries. The climbing area has 13 routes, and the styles run from traditional and bouldering to mixed and sport. The grade range runs from 5.3 to 5.11, with a median of 5.10-. Several routes stand out, including South Face Crack at 5.3, Phi Slamma Jamma at 5.11, and Behind Little Teaser, a sport route at 5.10+. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to visit. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Torrey show May highs around 70°F and October highs around 62°F, while July highs average about 87°F. A fee applies, and the area is open year-round. The closest neighbors include Fremont Gorge Overlook, the Fremont River and Visitor Center to Campground hikes, and the Fruita Area climbing area.