Planning a visit to Southern Utah resorts in 2023? Many national parks across the country are adjusting their operations in the wake of growing attendance numbers and the lingering impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. For some parks, this includes implementing a reservation system to visit or requiring a timed-entry ticket to spread out visitors.
If you’re planning a stay at a national park resort like Cougar Ridge, this might mean needing to do a little pre-planning ahead of your visit. Will you need a reservation to visit Capitol Reef National Park in 2023? Keep reading to find out!
Does Capitol Reef National Park Require a Reservation?
Capitol Reef National Park will not require a reservation or timed-entry ticket in 2023. This means that you can come and go from the park whenever you’d like during your stay at Southern Utah resorts!
You won’t need a reservation or ticket to enter the park. However, certain activities in the park do require a reservation or permit. For instance, Capitol Reef canyoneering requires a permit for each route that you plan to travel. You’ll need to send an email to the National Park Service ahead of your visit to obtain a permit. However, if you plan to book a Capitol Reef canyoneering tour, the tour company will either obtain the permit for you or let you know what you need to do to get one ahead of your visit. Other activities that require permits or reservations include camping, exploring the backcountry, rock climbing, and bouldering.
How Much Does it Cost to Enter Capitol Reef National Park?
While you won’t need a ticket or reservation to enter the park, each guest will need to pay an entrance fee or present a valid national park annual pass.
Entrance fees for the park vary depending on how you’re traveling. If you’re entering the park with a private vehicle, the cost is $20 for all occupants. This entrance fee gets you access to the park for 7 consecutive days. Individuals entering without a vehicle pay a fee of $10 per person, while motorcycles are $15 for the vehicle and any riders. You can pay your entrance fee at the entrance to Capitol Reef, or purchase a digital pass at recreation.gov ahead of your visit.
If you plan to visit Capitol Reef National Park several times throughout the year, or plan to visit multiple national parks with an entrance fee in the next year, you can also purchase a national park annual pass. This pass is called the America the Beautiful Pass and is valid at all national parks, monuments, forests, and other National Park Service sites.
The America the Beautiful Annual Pass is available to most individuals for $80 per year. This pass can be purchased at most federal recreation sites, including at the entrance to Capitol Reef National Park. You can also purchase a pass online from the USGS Store. Certain individuals may be eligible for a free or discounted annual pass. For instance, the Military Annual Pass provides a free pass to current U.S. military members and their dependents. A Senior Pass is available for either $20 for an annual pass or $80 for a lifetime pass for individuals ages 62 or older.
Does Zion National Park Require a Reservation?
Thinking about taking a day trip from Southern Utah resorts in Torrey, Utah to nearby Zion National Park? This national park tends to draw a larger crowd than Capitol Reef, so you might be wondering whether or not you’ll need to make a reservation or purchase a timed-entry ticket for your visit.
The answer is no! Zion National Park does not require reservations or timed-entry tickets to visit in 2023.
Like Capitol Reef, you will need a reservation or permit for certain activities in the park. For instance, if you want to hike the famous Angels Landing, you’ll need to obtain a permit in one of two lotteries.
Other National Parks That Require Advance Reservations or Tickets
While Zion and Capitol Reef National Park won’t require reservations or timed-entry tickets in 2023, other national parks across the country do. In Utah, Arches National Park will require a timed-entry ticket for visits between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. from April 1 to October 31.
Other national parks that will require a reservation to visit or to visit a portion of the park include:
- Shenandoah National Park in Virginia
- Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado
- Glacier National Park in Montana
- Acadia National Park in Maine
- Muir Woods National Monument in California
Planning Your 2023 Visit to Southern Utah Resorts
With no reservations required in 2023, you can visit Capitol Reef as often as you’d like, without having to do any pre-planning!
Staying at Cougar Ridge makes this a breeze. Located just a 10-minute drive from the park, the resort makes for a great basecamp for your Capitol Reef adventure. You can easily spend your morning exploring the park. Then, head back to your Villa for an afternoon of relaxing and enjoying the many on-site amenities.
Ready to start planning your next visit to the best Southern Utah resorts? Now is a great time to do so! When you book a stay of two or more nights at Cougar Ridge before March 31, 2023, you’ll enjoy a 40 percent discount on your entire booking! Book today to take advantage of this amazing deal!