This Lesser-known Utah National Park Is a Dupe for Zion—With Similar Colorful Canyons and Towering Cliffs But Fewer Visitors

As U.S. national parks face staffing shortages amid layoffs and hiring freezes ahead of the busy summer season, there’s uncertainty surrounding what the visitor experience may be like in the coming months. As Phil Francis, the chairman of the executive council at the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks, told Travel + Leisure, the recent changes “might affect the timeliness of opening certain facilities in the parks, such as the visitor center and campgrounds.” It could also result in dirty campsites and bathrooms and overflowing trash bins.

Among the destinations reportedly preparing for the crowds following staffing cuts are Utah’s Mighty Five: Bryce Canyon, Zion, Arches, Capitol Reef, and Canyonlands. That said, if you’re embarking on a Utah national park trip this summer, you may want to exercise patience and plan ahead as much as possible.

According to Francis, who shared his suggestion for visiting the parks with SFGate, “I would recommend that the people who do want to visit a national park call ahead and find out which facilities will be open while they’re there.” It may also be a good idea to seek out the lesser-known, less crowded destinations—and RVshare has a few recommendations for where travelers should go. The RV rental platform recently conducted a survey that found almost 70 percent of travelers prefer to “seek hidden gems off the beaten path rather than historic landmarks.”

Utah's Capitol Reef National Park could certainly be considered one of those “hidden gems.” While the park boasts colorful canyons, dramatic cliffs, and ancient petroglyphs, similar to Zion, RVshare notes that Capitol Reef sees around 1.3 million fewer visitors than its southwestern neighbor each year. So if you like having hiking trails to yourself and not struggling to find parking, you’ll likely find Capitol Reef to be a more pleasant experience, especially during the summer.

Located outside the town of Torrey, Capitol Reef covers about 377 square miles—significantly larger than the 229-square-mile Zion—and it’s filled with otherworldly scenery. Inside the park, you’ll find the Waterpocket Fold, a 100-plus-mile wrinkle in the earth that creates the famous canyons, cliffs, and even arches. Travelers can explore the park and its natural formations via its hiking trails or along the eight-mile Capitol Reef Scenic Drive.

Like Zion, Capitol Reef is an International Dark Sky Park, a designation it received in 2015. For the best views of the night sky, the park service recommends heading to the Fruita Area, the South (Waterpocket) District, or the North (Cathedral) District of the park.