Capitol Reef: The Scenic Drive Goes to Bikes on Two September Saturdays
On Saturdays, September 19 and 26, 2026, Capitol Reef's Scenic Drive closes to cars until 3 pm for cyclists and walkers, while Highway 24 stays open.
By Jocelyn Pion,
If you're planning to drive through Capitol Reef this month, two Saturdays are worth noting. For the Reef Ride Bike Days, the Scenic Drive, the panoramic road that dives into the heart of the park, will close to motor vehicles for part of the day on Saturday, September 19 and Saturday, September 26, 2026.
The setup is simple and honestly pretty great. From sunrise until 3 pm, the road belongs to bikes and walkers. The point is to let everyone take in this landscape of red cliffs at an easy pace, without worrying about cars passing them. For a cyclist, that's a rare window. A whole road to yourself, in one of the most beautiful settings in Utah.
What this means for your visit depends on your plans. If you were counting on driving the Scenic Drive on either of those mornings, just push your trip to the afternoon, since the road reopens to vehicles at 3 pm. If you're traveling with bikes or good walking shoes, do the opposite and plan to come in the morning to make the most of this car-free stretch.
Good news for logistics. The closure affects ONLY the Scenic Drive. The main road through the park, UT Highway 24, stays open and isn't affected. So you can still reach the visitor center area, the historic Fruita orchards, and the major overlooks along that route, with no detour.
To plan the rest of your stay and figure out what to see by season, we cover it all in our Capitol Reef park guide. And if Capitol Reef is part of a bigger trip, it earns a solid spot in our road trip itinerary that runs through the park, alongside the other gems of the Southwest.
One last tip. These one-off closures change from season to season. Check the day's hours when you arrive so you can plan your outing without any surprises.