Capitol Reef by motorcycle

Capitol Reef is the quiet one of Utah's Mighty 5, and the easiest for a rider: a state highway runs straight through it along the Fremont River, and a short paved scenic drive heads south into the cliffs. Most riders pass through on the way between Moab and Bryce and stop for the night in Torrey.

Getting into the park on a bike

Fee: $15 per motorcycle, valid for 7 days. One pass admits up to 2 private, non-commercial motorcycles with up to 4 people in total (NPS Capitol Reef fees). That is half the motorcycle fee at Zion and Bryce.
Annual pass: a Capitol Reef annual pass is $35 for one vehicle or motorcycle and its riders, sold at the visitor center to US citizens and residents (NPS Capitol Reef fees).
Where you pay: at the self-pay station just south of the campground on the Scenic Drive. America the Beautiful pass holders don't pay (NPS Scenic Drive).
Just riding Highway 24? You do not have to pay the park fee if you stick to the sights along Highway 24; the fee is for the Scenic Drive (Earth Trekkers).
No timed entry: the park's fee page mentions reservations only for Fruita Campground (NPS Capitol Reef fees).

Highway 24 through the park

UT-24 is the main road through Capitol Reef and the one you ride on the Moab to Bryce route. Stops from west to east: - Panorama Point and the Goosenecks. On the park's west end. Panorama Point is a hop-off-the-bike view; the Goosenecks Overlook is a 0.2-mile round-trip walk from the Sunset Point parking lot (Earth Trekkers). - Fruita. The historic orchard district by the Fremont River. In season you can pick small amounts of fruit: cherries in June, apricots in July, pears in August and apples in September, paid at a self-pay station by the orchard (Visit Utah). - Gifford Homestead. One of the last historic buildings in Fruita, and the only "restaurant" in the park: it just serves pie (Earth Trekkers). Check opening hours before you plan lunch around it. - Petroglyph Panel. Fremont rock art right on Highway 24, a short way east of the Hickman Bridge lot (Earth Trekkers). - Hickman Bridge. The best short hike off the highway: just under 2 miles round trip, 1 to 2 hours, with restrooms at the trailhead (Earth Trekkers). Bring shoes you can walk in, not just riding boots.

The Scenic Drive

7.9 miles, paved, starting at the visitor center (NPS Scenic Drive).
Not a loop: you ride back the way you came (NPS Scenic Drive). Allow about an hour there and back with stops (estimate).
Grand Wash and Capitol Gorge are dirt spur roads off the drive (NPS Scenic Drive). Fine for passenger cars in good weather, but on a road bike, park at the pavement's end and walk if the surface looks loose.
The park sits on the Waterpocket Fold, a 100-mile-long wrinkle in the Earth's crust (Earth Trekkers).

Where to ride from Capitol Reef

West over Boulder Mountain on Scenic Byway 12 to Escalante, the Hogback and Bryce: Scenic Byway 12 guide, then Bryce Canyon by motorcycle.
East to Moab through Hanksville and I-70: Moab to Bryce, ridden in reverse, and Moab by motorcycle. Torrey to Moab is about 156 miles, a little over 2.5 hours (Earth Trekkers).
All five parks in a week: Utah's Mighty 5 by motorcycle.

Before you ride

Fuel: fill up in Torrey or Hanksville before you ride through.
Cell service is spotty here; download offline maps before you leave town.
Rules for visiting riders (helmets, eye protection, lane filtering): Riding in Utah.

Rent a bike

Booking opens soon. Until then, use the ride guides to plan your trip.