NPS Photo Project OverviewThe National Park Service (NPS), in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), is undergoing a project to rehabilitate the Scenic Drive and multiple parking lots in Capitol Reef National Park. The project seeks to:
Many of the park’s parking lots were originally designed and built in the 1960s when the park received about 160,000 visitors per year. Currently, more than 1.2 million visitors experience Capitol Reef National Park annually and improvements are needed for park infrastructure to accommodate the increased visitation. Parking lots are routinely overcrowded, resulting in visitors parking along adjacent roadways causing resource and safety concerns. The parking lot at Chimney Rock trailhead and Scenic Drive show signs of pavement cracking, shoulder erosion, and damage to various drainage structures. Updates and Next StepsThe contract for this project has been awarded to Harward and Rees Construction based in Loa, UT. The project start date was April 29, 2024. The current plan is listed below but is subject to change as the project progresses. Updates will be posted on this page. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's) The road needs to be rehabilitated during the warmer months of the year since the pavement needs to cure at at least 50°F (10°C).
Yes, the park did consider using flaggers and keeping the road partially open. However, using flaggers and keeping the road partially open would likely delay the project and cause the road to be impacted for two seasons instead of just one season.
Most of the park will still be open – the projects would occur only in a small percentage of the park. Trailheads and parking areas along SR 24 will be open and accessible. The Fruita area of the park will be open, including the visitor center, orchards, Gifford House, picnic area, and Fruita Campground. The northern Cathedral Valley and southern Waterpocket districts of the park will be unaffected by this project. These remote, dirt backcountry roads do take more planning to visit and usually require a high clearance vehicle. More information on these areas can be found on the roads page.
This project seeks to rebuild the entire road foundation and slightly widen it to allow two large oncoming vehicles to pass without leaving the road surface. Currently, the road is 17 to 22 feet wide and the project will result in a consistent 20 foot road width. Some curves will be widened to approximately 21 to 23 feet. Scenic Drive will retain the look and feel of a narrow backcountry byway. The road width will remain largely unchanged as will the alignment including curves. This will continue to encourage low vehicle speeds.
The visitor center, Chimney Rock trailhead, Hickman Bridge and Petroglyph Panel parking lots are being redesigned and repaired to improve access and flow, as well as accommodate larger vehicles and RVs. The goal is to also reduce traffic backups onto Scenic Drive and SR 24. Additional parking at the junction of Grand Wash Road and Capitol Gorge Road will provide more formal parking when these roads are closed due to flooding.
Link to Project DetailsFor more information on this project, please visit the project's page on PEPC (Planning, Environment & Public Comment). |
Last updated: May 13, 2025