With a name like Capitol Reef, you might expect to find this national park near the ocean. Instead, this gem lies in a sea of rock in Utah. “Early settlers noted that the white domes of Navajo ...

It’s nowhere near a capitol, and it certainly doesn’t look like a tropical reef. So why is this Utah national park called Capitol Reef? Skip to content. KLFY.com.

Capitol Dome, as seen from the Hickman Bridge Trail in Capitol Reef National Park, Utah. (Getty) Early visitors to the park are also responsible for the second half of its name, Reef.

Capitol Dome, as seen from the Hickman Bridge Trail in Capitol Reef National Park, Utah. (Getty) Early visitors to the park are also responsible for the second half of its name, Reef.

What is unique about Capitol Reef National Park? “The (park’s) diverse geology creates multiple life zones which support over 1,200 plant and animal species,” Cotrell said.

Capitol Dome, as seen from the Hickman Bridge Trail in Capitol Reef National Park, Utah. (Getty) Early visitors to the park are also responsible for the second half of its name, Reef.

It’s nowhere near a capitol, and it certainly doesn’t look like the color reefs you’ll find in Hawaii or off the coast of Australia, so why is this Utah national park called Capitol Reef?