Capitol Reef Campground
Fruita Orchards
Visitors of Capitol Reef are often curious about the orchards that lie within a mile or two of the Visitor Center. These trees are the most obvious remnant of the pioneer community of Fruita, which was settled in 1880.
Usually no more than 10 families lived in Fruita at any one time, and the last resident moved away in 1969. Early settlers planted the orchards to insure subsistence.
Today, the orchards are preserved and protected as a Rural Historic Landscape. The orchards hold approximately 2,700 trees and are composed of cherry, apricot, peach, pear, and apple, as well as, a few plum, mulberry, almond, and walnut trees.
The National Park Service now owns and maintains the orchards with a 2-person orchard crew that is kept busy year round with pruning, irrigation, and orchard management.
You are welcome to stroll in any unlocked orchard and you may consume as much ripe fruit as you want while in the orchards. Fruit may not be picked in quantity until the designated harvest begins. Orchards that are open for picking are signed as such. A fee is charged for all fruit picked and removed from the orchards.
Fruita Campground
My favorite campground, Fruita Campground at Capitol Reef, is often described as an oasis within the desert. I have spent many wonderful nights here while coming and going from trips in the southwest. Coming into the campground in the erly evening with all the lovely cottonwood trees and of course all the fruit trees, after a day in the sun, is an appreciated refreshing break.
I always enjoy the orchard trees, whether in the spring, summer or fall.
Surrounded by historic orchards, this developed campground has 70 RV/tent sites, each with a picnic table and grill, but no hook-ups.
Heated restrooms are available. The nightly fee is $10.00. Open year-round, the Fruita Campground is the only developed campground in Capitol Reef National Park and as a result usually fills by early to mid-afternoon during the visitor season.
Write to: HC 70 Box 15, Torrey, UT 84775-9602
Phone: 435-425-3791
Flowering Times
Cherries 3/31 - 4/19
Apricots (early) 2/27 - 3/2
Apricots (regular) 3/7 - 4/13
Peaches 3/26 - 4/23
Pears 3/31 - 5/3
Apples 4/10 - 5/6
Harvesting Times
Cherries 6/11 - 7/7
Apricots (early) 6/27 - 7/22
Apricots (regular) 6/28 - 7/18
Peaches 8/4 - 9/6
Pears 8/7 - 9/8
Apples 9/4 - 10/17