Greatheart Press

America’s National Parks

Puzzle 43 · The Colorado Plateau · Page 65 in print

Capitol Reef

Capitol Reef takes “capitol” from white domes of Navajo Sandstone that resemble capitol building domes, and “reef” from rocky cliffs that are a barrier to travel, like an ocean reef.

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White sandstone dome covered in snow, with red cliffs and a river with snowy banks in foreground.

Capitol Dome helped give Capitol Reef its name.

NPS · Public domain (U.S. federal government work) · Original record
Image changes

Resized and converted to JPEG for display; no subject alteration.

Sparkling water flowing below colorful cliffs, beside banks of green vegetation, and blue sky above.

The Fremont River sustains life in the park.

NPS/ Ann Huston · Public domain (U.S. federal government work) · Original record
Image changes

Resized and converted to JPEG for display; no subject alteration.

The words

  1. Behunin Cabin

    Behunin Cabin, the historic sandstone cabin in the Fruita district.

    National Park Service (opens a new tab)

  2. Burr Trail

    Burr Trail Road, the road developed from John Atlantic Burr's cattle trail.

    National Park Service (opens a new tab)

  3. Capitol Dome

    Capitol Dome, the sandstone dome whose shape helped inspire the park's name.

    National Park Service (opens a new tab)

  4. Capitol Gorge

    Capitol Gorge, the deep canyon with historic inscriptions and waterpockets.

    National Park Service (opens a new tab)

  5. Cassidy Arch

    Cassidy Arch, the natural arch reached by the Cassidy Arch trail.

    National Park Service (opens a new tab)

  6. Chimney Rock

    Chimney Rock, the named loop-trail area in Capitol Reef.

    National Park Service (opens a new tab)

  7. Fremont River

    The Fremont River, the river flowing through the park's inhabited valley.

    National Park Service (opens a new tab)

  8. Fruita

    Fruita, the historic settlement and orchard district in Capitol Reef.

    National Park Service (opens a new tab)

  9. Gifford

    The Gifford House, the historic house and museum in Fruita.

    National Park Service (opens a new tab)

  10. Golden Throne

    Golden Throne, the named landmark viewed from the Golden Throne trail.

    National Park Service (opens a new tab)

  11. Grand Wash

    Grand Wash, the deep canyon and narrows explored by the Grand Wash trail.

    National Park Service (opens a new tab)

  12. Hickman Bridge

    Hickman Bridge, a named natural bridge in Capitol Reef.

    National Park Service (opens a new tab)

  13. Monocline

    A monocline, the step-like fold in rock layers at Capitol Reef.

    National Park Service (opens a new tab)

  14. Orchards

    The orchards, the historic fruit-tree plantings preserved at Fruita.

    National Park Service (opens a new tab)

  15. Waterpocket

    The Waterpocket Fold, the long fold in rock layers defining Capitol Reef.

    National Park Service (opens a new tab)

Sources

  1. Behunin CabinNational Park Service
  2. Roads - Capitol Reef National ParkNational Park Service
  3. Stories - Capitol Reef National ParkNational Park Service
  4. Fruita Area Map and Guide 2026National Park Service
  5. Orchards - Capitol Reef National ParkNational Park Service
  6. Geology - Capitol Reef National ParkNational Park Service

How we choose sources and photographs