A Dusting of Powdered Sugar: When Snow Comes to Capitol Reef National Park

Utah is blessed to have five officially designated national parks. The geographic center of Utah's national parks is Capitol Reef, a seventy-mile-long wrinkle in the earth's crust with incredible surrounding landscapes that bear descriptive names such as Mars, Bicknell Bottoms, Moonscape, Cathedral Valley, and the Dirty Devil. Situated primarily within Wayne County, the park was first called Wayne's Wonderland until designated a national monument in 1937 and a national park in 1975.

Wonder in the Winter

Wayne County boasts elevations that range from 3,700 feet to over 11,000 feet, and this diversity creates many different winter weather conditions. Wayne County, also known under the name of Capitol Reef Country, could be described as a giant wedge that flows downhill from the western highlands to the desert lowlands in the east.

Naturally, the highest elevations of Boulder Mountain and Thousand Lakes Mountain are blanketed with deeper snow, while the lower desert rarely sees snow that lasts for long. Capitol Reef National Park is situated in a midzone and is frequently dusted with snow in a manner that resembles powdered sugar on a multilayer velvet cake.

Exploring in Winter

Upper Reaches: Prepare your winter attire as you normally would for the higher elevations. Outdoor enthusiasts will relish cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and hiking amidst the pines and aspens while taking in the views of distant valleys, canyons, and mountain ranges.

Capitol Reef: If you're walking and the sun is shining, you'll want to wear layers that are easily removed and carried, but bring a neck buff, gloves, and warm beanie that will fit well in a light day pack.

East Desert: As long as there hasn't been significant moisture, the flatlands, canyons, and plateaus of this portion of Capitol Reef Country are perfect for exploration. Even in winter, daytime temperatures can be in the forties and fifties and conducive to traveling in open-air vehicles when attired in appropriate clothing.

In the crossroads desert community of Hanksville, you'll find UTV rentals (HanskvilleTours.com) that will enable you to more easily explore the terrain surrounding Factory Butte, Robbers Roost, Poison Springs, and the San Rafael Swell.

This region of Utah is so diverse and so unique that it has become one of my favorite destinations. I especially love the solitude that can be found here in winter. Learn more at CapitolReefCountry.com.