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The Best Spot to Watch the Sunset in Capitol Reef National Park

If youโ€™re looking for where to watch the sunset in Capitol Reef National Park, Utah, look no further than Sunset Point Overlook. As the name suggests, this overlook affords you incredible views of the surrounding red rock canyons, especially when the sun starts to go down. Below, we’ve outlined how to get to Sunset Point, suggested some other sunset spots if you’ve already been, and even thrown in a few sunrise-viewing areas to boot!

Note: We use affiliate links which provide us a little kickback each time you use one of our links and make a purchase, without any additional cost to you. We do not recommend products that we donโ€™t already love or have heard great things about, so you can trust weโ€™re only suggesting great products to you.

Table of Contents

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  • ๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ How to Get to Sunset Point
  • ๐Ÿฅพ Sunset Point Trail
  • ๐Ÿ‘€ More Sunset Lookouts in Capitol Reef
  • โ˜€๏ธ Places to Watch the Sunrise in Capitol Reef
  • โœจ More Things to Do in Capitol Reef National Park
  • Read Next: 11 Extraordinary Hikes in Capitol Reef National Park
  • ๐Ÿ“ฐ Related Articles
  • ๐ŸŽฅ Watch on YouTube
  • ๐Ÿ”Ž Ready to Explore Capitol Reef National Park?

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ How to Get to Sunset Point

To get to Sunset Point, start at the Capitol Reef Visitor Center. From there, you’re going to head west on Highway 24 for 2.3 miles (3.7 km) until you see the sign to Goosenecks Point Road on the left. Turn left onto this dirt road and follow it to the very end, about 1 mile (1.6 km), where youโ€™ll find the parking area.

Make sure you drive to the lot at the very end of the road. Some maps might show the trail starting lower down, but reaching the actual trailhead saves you a significant walk on the dirt road!

As this area serves as the trailhead for both Sunset Point and Goosenecks Overlook, its 15-car lot can fill up quickly, so plan to arrive at least an hour before sunset to increase your chances of securing a spot.

Dirt road leading to the trailheads of Sunset Point and Goosenecks Overlook.

โŒ Donโ€™t Bust the Crust! When exploring national parks like Capitol Reef, Arches, and Canyonlands, stay on marked trails. These arid landscapes are home to Biological Soil Crust (Living Crust), a delicate ecosystem that takes decades to form and can be destroyed with just a single step off-trail.

๐Ÿฅพ Sunset Point Trail

From the parking lot, Sunset Point Trail is a short and easy 0.3-mile stroll to the overlook, making it perfect for families or a quick trip after a long day of hiking. You wonโ€™t need much gear for this brief walk, as the trail is not rough.

Sign pointing you to the trailhead of Sunset Point.

The well-defined path will bring you directly to the prominent big rock lookout that is Sunset Point. Once there, find a spot on a bench or the rocks to enjoy the view. This isn’t your typical sunset, as you actually have the sun setting behind you. But because of this, the sun gradually illuminates the geological wonder that is the Waterpocket Fold in front of you, creating vibrant reflections off the red rock.

The sun perfectly illuminates the canyons you see in front of you!
More views of Sunset Point in Capitol Reef.
Jen sitting on a rock at Sunset Point, admiring the sunset.

Remember to stay on the marked path, as the area is elevated and protecting the biological crust is vital. This spot is also fantastic for astrophotography, especially during a new moon, so bring along your camera and tripod if youโ€™re willing to stay a few hours after sunset!

Estimated Time: 15 minutes
Length: 0.7 miles / 1.1 km
Elevation Gain: 46 ft / 14 m
Difficulty: Easy

With offline maps, wrong-turn alerts, and extra planning features, make the most of every outside adventure with AllTrails Plus. Get 7 days of AllTrails Plus for free!

๐Ÿ‘€ More Sunset Lookouts in Capitol Reef

Although weโ€™d rank Sunset Point as the #1 place to watch the sunset in Capitol Reef, you have a few other options. These work as excellent sunset-watching spots, but are great lookouts to visit any time of day.

  • Goosenecks Overlook: If youโ€™re looking to actually see the sun dip below the horizon, head to the nearby Goosenecks Overlook, accessible from the same parking lot. Although you wonโ€™t be seeing the sun directly illuminate the red rock walls of the canyon, youโ€™re able to see the sun head-on.
  • Cassidy Arch: The Cassidy Arch Trail (a moderate 3.4-mile round-trip hike, 2-3 hours) can offer a stunning, less crowded sunset experience if you time it right. Just be sure to bring headlamps for the descent, as it gets dark quickly!
  • Panorama Point: This hike-free viewpoint offers broad, sweeping vistas across the park, making it a great alternative for enjoying the sunset with views of the sun and the canyon walls at the same time.
Views from Goosenecks Overlook in Capitol Reef.
Jen looking out at Goosenecks Overlook.
Views of us dancing on top of Cassidy Arch at Sunset.

โ˜€๏ธ Places to Watch the Sunrise in Capitol Reef

Okay, we’ve got the sunset covered, but what about sunrise? Capitol Reef isn’t exactly known for its sunrise views, as the canyon walls actually block the rising sun. Nevertheless, if you find yourself up early, here are our favorite spots in Capitol Reef to explore in the morning.

  • Hickman Bridge Trail: Coming in as the most popular trail in all of Capitol Reef National Park, the Hickman Bridge Trail is a great 1-hour sunrise hike as it’s when it receives the fewest visitors. We arrived just before sunrise, easily got a parking spot, and were the second group on the trail! The sunrise photos we got from here were incredible!
  • Fruita Area: We loved this area of the park for its peaceful atmosphere that reminded us of a slower way of life. Although you won’t see the sun rise (due to the canyon walls), there’s nothing like passing barns, orchards, and cool canyon walls in the quiet first hours of a new day. At 9 AM, stop by Gifford Homestead for a piece of homemade pie for breakfast.
  • Any of the aforementioned sunset spots: Panorama Point, Goosenecks Overlook, Cassidy Arch, and even Sunset Point are all excellent places to view the sunrise from as well! You won’t get a direct view of the sun rising over the horizon, but you will get to witness the canyon come to life as the warm morning light floods the park.
Early morning views of Hickman Bridge just after sunrise.
A quiet morning exploring the orchards of Fruita.
Exploring old buildings in Fruita with Ollie.

โœจ More Things to Do in Capitol Reef National Park

If you’re visiting Capitol Reef National Park for the first time, there are tons of other things to do in addition to what we’ve mentioned above! Here are a few other ways you can explore this magnificent national park.

  • Go Hiking: No matter your hiking level, there’s a trail in Capitol Reef for you. From easy, flat strolls to full-day treks, there’s a bit of everything in this park. Head over to our hiking in Capitol Reef article for more inspo.
  • Go on a Scenic Drive: Explore Capitol Reef from the comfort of your car! This park contains a beautiful 8-mile (12.9-km) paved drive that winds through the heart of the Waterpocket Fold, with numerous viewpoints you can jump out at as well as short side excursions to stretch your legs for a bitโ€”follow this route on AllTrails!
  • Visit Fruita Orchards: Head over to the Fruita district to dive into the park’s pioneer heritage, picking fresh fruit in the NPS-run orchards or enjoying a delicious pie and cinnamon roll at the Gifford House!
  • Join a Ranger Program: From geology talks to an ongoing Junior Ranger Program, Capitol Reef National Park is full of ranger-led events year-round. Check out their online calendar to check what’s going on in advance, or stop by the Visitor Center the day of your visit to ask.
We never miss a photo opportunity with a national park sign!

Read Next:

11 Extraordinary Hikes in Capitol Reef National Park

๐Ÿ“ฐ Related Articles

  • 11 Extraordinary Hikes in Capitol Reef National Park
  • One Day in Capitol Reef National Park
  • More Coming Soon!

๐ŸŽฅ Watch on YouTube

๐Ÿ”Ž Ready to Explore Capitol Reef National Park?

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Posted

July 8, 2025

in

Capitol Reef, Destinations, National Parks, United States, Utah

by

Jennifer Johnson

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Capitol Reef

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About Us

We’re Jen and Elliot, aka Scho & Jo, a couple of high school sweethearts who fell in love with travel and decided to live life now. From international travel to boating around America’s Great Loop to converting a Sprinter Van into a campervan and now traveling to all 50 States and US National Parks, we’re here to help you plan for your dream trip! We share detailed guides and expense reports to help turn your dream trip into a reality! Read more about us here.

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