Kid-Friendly Options
There are lots of activities, both indoor and outdoor, to keep kids busy at Capitol Reef National Park.
Plan Around Kid-Friendly Options
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Kid-Friendly Options Details
There are lots of activities, both indoor and outdoor, to keep kids busy at Capitol Reef National Park. There are several short trails in the Fruita area, including Capitol Gorge, Goosenecks and Sunset Point, that are great for children. The Petroglyph Panel is also popular with kids, as is the Hickman Bridge trail. Ripple Rock Nature Center on Scenic Drive, usually open from May to August, offers free activities for kids of all ages; check at the visitor center for schedules. At the nature center, kids can spin wool, pretend to milk a cow, make cornmeal on a prehistoric grinding stone, identify fossils, and play with animal puppets. Parents should make sure to pick up a free Family Fun Pack at Ripple Rock, which includes pioneer games, tools to read a contour map, identification books, bird-watching info and binoculars, books for tracking, and books to identify stars and constellations. There's also a Junior Ranger Program at the park, free to all ages. Junior Ranger booklets are available at the visitor center and Ripple Rock Nature Center, and kids can complete activities within the park to receive a signed certificate and a free badge. Those who have even more interest can participate in the Junior Geologist Program, offered at the Ripple Rock Nature Center during the summer. Kids can learn about geology and the formation of the Waterpocket Fold, colorful rock layers and the effects of erosion. Kids who complete the activities will earn a certificate and patch.
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Activities
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