Initially known as “Wayne Wonderland” in the 1920s, the region caught the attention of local boosters Ephraim P. Pectol and Joseph S. Hickman, and later, in 1937, it was designated a national monument by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The purpose was to safeguard the area’s stunning canyons, ridges, buttes, and monoliths. However, it wasn’t until 1950 that the park officially opened to the public, following the improvement of road access through the construction of State Route 24 in 1962.

The name “Capitol Reef” comes from the whitish Navajo Sandstone cliffs with dome formations, reminiscent of the domes often found on capitol buildings. These formations extend from the Fremont River to Pleasant Creek on the Waterpocket Fold. The term “reef” locally refers to any rocky barrier to land travel, analogous to ocean reefs acting as barriers to sea travel.

The process of elevating Capitol Reef from a national monument to a national park involved several congressional bills and debates. Ultimately, in December 1971, “An Act to Establish The Capitol Reef National Park in the State of Utah” (Public Law 92-207) was signed into law by President Richard Nixon, solidifying the park’s status as a national treasure. The legislation led to the protection of approximately 254,000 acres (103,000 ha) as a national park, with a 10-year phase-out period for grazing activities.

If you’re going to Capitol Reef National Park, Utah make sure to book your door-to-door airport shuttle ride with Point To Point Express for a stress-free trip. We offer door-to-door shuttle services to and from Salt Lake City International Airport. Whether you’re going to your house, a work meeting, or a ski resort, we’ll make sure your transportation is smooth and convenient.

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