Temples of the Sun and Moon: Capitol Reef’s Offbeat Adventure
Scribbled by Claire ◊ 30 May 2025
We went on a little offbeat adventure and thought we’d give a little introduction to the Temples of the Sun and Moon in Capitol Reef, Utah! This includes road conditions, the easiest way to reach them, fees, car requirements, a bunch of photos, plus a few recommendations on where to stay and camping opportunities.
Temples of the Sun and Moon sounds mystical, doesn’t it?
Well, that’s actually the reason we decided to visit this far-flung place (is there any better reason?).
Located in a rugged, remote area in the north of Capitol Reef National Park, these stark, seldom-visited geological landmarks are an amazing addition to any itinerary in southern Utah.
We didn’t really know where we were going, or what the roads would be like, or if we’d be able to make there in our car. What I did know, though, was that Capitol Reef was far bigger than the small, front-country part of the park, and there was adventure to be found in the far reaches, away from the tourists who pop in for an hour and move on.
Plus, let’s be honest – it just sounded mystical and magical, I’m always here for a weird, unknown adventure. So, off we went!
Below we describe our little adventure and give you everything you need to visit yourself.
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What are the Temples of the Sun and Moon?
The Temples of the Sun and Moon are two enormous buff-pink Entrada Sandstone fins, dating back around 160 million years to the Jurassic Era.
These crazy monoliths are hidden in Cathedral Valley (in the North District of Capitol Reef), so-named due to the shape of the dominating sandstone formations that dot the landscape, reminiscent of Gothic cathedrals with spires and fluted walls.
They’re quite prominent, with the Temple of the Sun rising around 123 metres (402 feet) and the Temple of the Moon 87 metres (285 feet) from the flat valley floor.
The temples are visible from miles away as you wind your way along the bumpy dirt roads. When you’re up close, you’ll see that they are kind of soft and crumbly.
Driving to the Temples
There are several routes to reach the temples, all with varying levels of difficulty depending on your driving experience and type of car. The fastest and easiest route is the one we describe here. Both the other options require a four-wheel drive high clearance vehicle and many spare hours.
Three routes to the temples | the first includes fording the Fremont River on Hartnet Cathedral Road and at least three-four hours of driving. The second route is from the west, a lengthy drive through Cathedral Valley from route 72, north-west of Torrey. The rangers told us not to drive this in an AWD when we were last there in May – it’s rough.
All the routes are clear on Google Maps, but people still seem to get lost! If in doubt, check Google Satellite view – the roads are obvious. Download your maps ahead of time – there’s minimal signal.
The Easiest Route
The third (and easiest) route is detailed below with GPS coordinates:
⬩ Take route 24 east through Capitol Reef National Park (stop in at the visitor center on the way for road conditions).
⬩ 29 miles west of Torrey (or 18.5 miles from the Capitol Reef Visitor Centre) turn left onto Cathedral Road at 38.334092, -111.024168.
⬩ After 2.5 miles along Cathedral Road take the left fork at 38.368158, -111.027299 to stay on Cathedral Road and cross the large, hopefully dry, wash.
⬩ Continue along the road for 14.3 miles to the junction at 38.459422, -111.175626 and turn left to head down towards the Temple of the Sun on Temple of the Moon Road.
⬩ Drive 1.4 miles to Temple of the Sun. A further 0.4 mile drive will take you to Temple of the Moon.
The journey from the beginning of the dirt road to the temples took us about 1.5 hours, but we stopped a lot too because it’s super scenic out there!
What Car Do You Need?
Although large areas of Cathedral Valley require a high clearance, four-wheel drive vehicle, the drive to the Temples of the Sun and Moon is (mostly) straightforward. This means it is possible to do this route in a high-clearance AWD.
If you don’t have a car that you are comfortable driving down these roads, consider a Cathedral Valley tour instead. The only people we met out there during our trips were a small group, accompanied by a lovely tour guide who explained about how the Glass Mountain was formed!
Our Drive | we did this drive in a rental AWD Nissan Rogue, which handled the washboard dirt roads flawlessly. The second time we drove, it was sunny and dry, but on the first there were threatening rain clouds encircling us and we pegged it out as soon as we could. Weather changes fast in Utah.
Also, ensure you have a full tank of gas – there’s no fuel for many miles.
Road Conditions
The road conditions totally depend on the weather:
Rain | parts of Cathedral Road (also known as Caineville Wash) are made from bentonite clay which is an absolute nightmare to drive on as it absorbs water and becomes kind of gummy and frictionless after rain. A ranger we spoke to likened it to smooth peanut butter. No matter how good your car is, it won’t fare well on these roads in wet weather! People get stuck out here – for days.
Dry conditions | Cathedral Road, up until the Temples of the Sun and Moon, is absolutely fine in a two-wheel drive in dry weather. A high clearance vehicle is helpful though, especially for the earlier parts, where there are small washes to cross and some slick rock to traverse.
Check at the Capitol Reef Visitor Center for up to date driving conditions, they have always been very helpful. You can also call them on 435-425-3791 to check the road conditions on the day.
FEES FOR VISITING THE TEMPLES
Although it is part of Capitol Reef National Park, we’re not sure if you need a park pass to drive along Cathedral Road/Cainville Wash (we’d assume you would, as it’s within a national park).
However, as most visitors will also be visiting the Capitol Reef frontcountry destinations on their trip, it’s likely that everyone would have a pass anyway.
We saw a ranger on the road during our visit, but he didn’t stop us, so I don’t know if we needed a park pass (we had an America the Beautiful pass anyway, though).
I’d assume you would need one, but confirm at the visitor centre.
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Glass Mountain
Adjacent to the Temple of the Sun is Glass Mountain, a massive, 15-foot-high mound of large selenite (gypsum) crystals.
This one is a really weird geological formation! It’s just a massive stack of shiny glass-like shards, all on its own. It’s technically a plug, where gypsum has gradually migrated to the surface through fractures in the ground – it’s a reasonably uncommon occurrence and worth the two minute detour to have a look at.
Directions | turn left when coming from Temple of the Sun at 38.451293, -111.189498, drive for 0.3 miles north to a parking loop. This intriguing feature can be found at 38.454659, -111.191829.
CATHEDRAL VALLEY – THINGS TO KNOW
Open 24 hours a day
No climbing on the monoliths
No drones allowed
Car camping in designated campgrounds only
Be careful of cows along the roads
Dogs are allowed, but only up to 50 feet away from the roads
There is no cell service around The Temples of the Sun and Moon
Nearest gas is at Torrey (closest) or Hanksville (a distance away)
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RELATED | THINGS TO DO IN ESCALANTE
BEST PLACES TO STAY IN CAPITOL REEF
The nearest towns to the southern section of Cathedral Valley are Torrey and Hanksville. Both these towns have a few accommodation choices; however, Torrey is a little nicer with more options (get a burger at Capitol Burger and grab a meal at the Wild Rabbit Cafe – both have veggie options).
Here are our hotel suggestions for Torrey:
Broken Spur Inn | I love, love, love this one. It’s our reliable favourite in Torrey, with large, modern rooms, lovely views in every direction (it’s up on a bit of a hill), and cute, quirky cowboy décor everywhere. They even have wagons you can stay in. Oh, and an indoor pool!
Skyview Hotel | our other favourite is this nearly new, fabulous property with flawless rooms and panoramic glamping pods. We took a risk booking this one with such few reviews, but it’s absolutely one of the best places we stayed during that three-month trip. This one is great for families – the pods even have bunk beds!
We’ve never stayed in Hanksville (we always camp near there instead), however we’ve seen the few accommodation options on offer (they’re far cheaper than Torrey, if you’re on a budget). It’s a bit more isolated and rough out that way, with minimal food options. If I were stopping in Hanksville, though, I’d definitely choose stay in:
Muddy Creek Mining Company | this one has cute cabins, excellent reviews and I quite liked the look of it from the outside – it would definitely be where I’d choose to stay in Hanksville.
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RELATED | THE BEST ONE DAY CAPITOL REEF ITINERARY
Things to do Nearby
Capitol Reef | explore the frontcountry, including the scenic drive and hikes (Navajo Knobs is a banger). For a complete one-day guide, check out our Capitol Reef itinerary.
Goblin Valley | Utah’s best state park (controversial opinion, I know) with fields of crazy goblin-shaped hoodoos
Little Wild Horse Canyon | one of the best, easy-access, slot canyons in Utah.
Bentonite Hills | these popular, colourful hills are scattered all over the place east of Capitol Reef (including down Cathedral Road).
Escalante and Scenic Byway 12 | check out our post on all the things to do in this particularly exhilarating area.
Loop the Fold | drive the Notom Bullfrog Road and the Burr Trail – some of the most scenic routes in Utah.
CAMPING NEAR THE TEMPLES
Car camping near the Temples is limited to maintained campgrounds:
Cathedral Valley Campground | high clearance, 4WD recommended. About 36 miles (57.9 km) from the Capitol Reef Visitor Center. First-come, first-serve, primitive, no-fee, 6 sites with picnic table and fire grate, pit toilet, no water.
BLM | there is also dispersed camping available on BLM land outside the park boundaries in Cathedral Valley.
Further out:
Cedar Mesa Campground | two-wheel drive accessible, unless it has rained, although the access is more comfortable with high clearance. Located on the Notom-Bullfrog Road, approximately 23 miles (37 km) south of Utah State Highway 24. No fee, five sites, pit toilet, no potable water.
Fruita Campground | this is a developed campground in the popular section of Capitol Reef, not far from the visitor center. It’s reservable online and books out fast.
Overnight backpacking permits | in Capitol Reef, these are free and available at the visitor center (we got a backpacking permit for Muley Twist same day – the easiness was a refreshing change from all the other national parks in Utah!).
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Temples Map
Below is a savable Google Map of everything in this post.
To view these sections individually, select the icon in the top left corner of the map. To save the map, click the star next to the title.
CAR HIRE FOR YOUR SOUTHWEST ITINERARY
We always rent our vehicles all over the world, including our recent trip in the United States, with Discover Cars. They’re often the most affordable, plus they paid out immediately on an insurance claim we made when our car took some heavy damage in Sicily. We fully recommend them.
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TAKE A LOOK BELOW OR CHECK CAR RENTAL
Where to Next?
Having visited Capitol Reef about ten times previously, always with a low clearance sedan, I continually felt like I was missing out on the most rugged, exciting parts of the park.
I was right (a rare occurrence).
The terrain and lack of crowds in Cathedral Valley did not disappoint.
I love Capitol Reef – it’s undervalued, mostly crowd-free (outside of a few small areas) and astoundingly beautiful. It was these backcountry areas that really elevated it to top of my Utah parks list, though.
If you are looking for an adventure while visiting this area of Utah, consider taking a jaunt down to the Temples of the Sun and Moon – the journey is half the fun! For more offbeat spots, check out our favourite photogenic southern Utah locations – this state is insanely beautiful!
Have an incredible trip!
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Thank you, Claire + Nick
