Capitol Reef Field Station

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Capitol Reef Field Station

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The Capitol Reef Field Station is located in Capitol Reef National Park in south-central Utah. Welcome to the Capitol Reef Field Station page.

This facility is provided by Utah Valley University and Capitol Reef National Park for education and research opportunities. Located inside Capitol Reef National Park in south-central Utah, Capitol Reef Field Station is surrounded by cliffs, canyons, domes and bridges in the Waterpocket Fold, a classic monocline (a wrinkle on the earth) extending almost 100 miles. To accomplish our mission we provide opportunities for guests to explore experiential learning, research, creative and scholarly activities relating to the Colorado Plateau. Furthermore, we encourage conservation, Leave No Trace principles and sustainability. We hope this page will be a place where fans can collect and share information and experiences about Capitol Reef Field Station and surrounding lands. For more information about Capitol Reef Field Station visit: www.uvu.edu/crfs

For more information about Capitol Reef National Park visit: www.nps.gov/care

09/30/2026

Four UVU Theatre Students and a UVU Integrated Studies students researched and wrote about people who have lived in or passed through the land of Capitol Reef. Each student contributed a monologue and dialogue to the resulting 20-minute play, which featured a writing student encountering artifacts in the national park that connect the student to the stories of individuals who have lived in the land, including schoolgirl Twila Gifford, an unknown petroglyph artist, advocate Ephraim Pectol, the outlaws known as the Sundance Kid and Kid Curry, and nature writer Joyce Rockwood. The student writers brought the stories of the past to life in a present moment and contemplated their future.

09/28/2026

We were delighted to welcome President Anderson and his family to our incredible field station! After sharing dinner, President Anderson even strummed the guitar for us. As night fell, the clouds parted long enough to see the full moon and a few stars. We hope to see you here again, Dr. Anderson!

08/26/2026

This beautiful moon of ours is going to be ECLIPSED tomorrow night. That's right: it's going to whiz through the Earth's shadow. Maximum totality of 96% will occur shortly after 10 pm on Thursday, August 27. That means it'll still be pretty low in the east, so make sure you're not too close to the mountains if you want to catch a glimpse.
Eclipses come in pairs (sometimes trios). This is the lunar eclipse related to the recent total solar eclipse of Aug. 12, visible in parts of Europe.

06/23/2026

Eerie light and stinging lungs tell stories of wildfires across the state. The air we share is unsafe to breathe. Stay safe.

06/12/2026

Recent visitors to CRFS spotted this lovely long-nosed leopard lizard (Gambelia wislizenii). This fast and effective predator eats small lizards and invertebrates. The orange dots on this one tell us she is a female and it's mating season! Indeed, the lizards at the field station have been spending their time in pairs.

06/01/2026

Dear CRFS Community,

I just wanted to take a moment to express my deepest gratitude for the incredible opportunity to have been part of the Capitol Reef Field Station team over the last two years. Serving as the site manager has truly been a dream come true—a role that allowed me to not only steward and care for this breathtaking place but also to embrace it as a way of life.

Being immersed in the landscape, witnessing the changing seasons, and sharing this experience with those fortunate enough to visit has been nothing short of transformative. It’s a privilege I’ll always cherish.

Thank you for trusting me with this responsibility and for inspiring me to leave the field station better than I found it. Here’s to the next generation of stewards who will continue this legacy—may they find as much joy and purpose in this work as I have.

With heartfelt thanks and excitement for the future,
Cinimin

05/26/2026

Welcome Capitol Reef Field Station’s new Site Manager!

We’re thrilled to introduce Chloe Valentine. With a passion for the night sky, Chloe is excited to live under the dark, starry skies of Pleasant Creek, along with her husband, baby, and dog. Chloe has been the assistant site manager at CRFS for three years, and is eager to step into this new role. She has an eclectic background in linguistics, education, cultural astronomy, fiber arts and gardening. A Utah native, Chloe loves thinking about how to live in the desert in sustainable ways. Come on down to the field station and we can share ideas!

05/15/2026

We are proud to announce that Capitol Reef Field Station has been awarded the Gold Standard Program designation!!

The Gold Standard designation represents the highest level of recognition from Leave No Trace. It honors sites and organizations that serve as exemplary models of Leave No Trace implementation, demonstrating leadership in protecting natural landscapes while helping visitors recreate responsibly for generations to come.

Capitol Reef Field Station has been distinguished as a leader in responsible recreation through its strong commitment to educate visitors, empower staff, and integrate Leave No Trace principles into daily operations. This work directly contributes to healthier ecosystems, improved visitor experiences, and a more sustainable future for our natural areas.

We are beyond grateful for the opportunity and for those who helped us along the way!

05/05/2026

Reflecting on Earth Month, we want to take a moment to express our deepest gratitude to everyone who made this month so special. Whether you joined us at the field station, shared your passion for sustainability, or simply took time to reflect on our planet’s beauty, thank you for taking part.

To celebrate, we created unique pieces by using NASA’s “Your Name in Landsat” website. Using Earth’s own features, we have spelled out “CRFS” and “Capitol Reef Field Station” as a reminder of the connection we share with this incredible planet!

At Capitol Reef Field Station, we believe that every month should be Earth Month. Let’s keep nurturing our relationship with the Earth, not just today, but every day. Here’s to protecting our planet, celebrating its wonders, and fostering a sustainable future together.

With gratitude,
Capitol Reef Field Station

04/28/2026

We are so excited to share these stunning solargraphs recently processed by the UVU Photo Department! These unique images were created using a pinhole camera with a piece of black-and-white photographic paper inside. Over time, the sun’s path—shifting with the seasons—was captured as delicate lines across the paper. During the summer solstice, the sun reaches its northernmost point, while at the winter solstice, it hits its southernmost extreme.

Each line in these images represents the sun’s journey across the sky on a given day. Left undisturbed for six months, these cameras reveal the quiet, fleeting beauty of celestial movement—a reminder of nature’s rhythms.

What makes these solargraphs even more special is their temporary nature. Like the petroglyphs and pictographs left by the people of long ago, these images are ephemeral. Due to overexposure, they can only be viewed under dull light, as traditional photo-chemicals would wash the scene away. What you see here are digital scans, preserving these transient moments before they fade.

We love this project because it beautifully bridges research and creativity, merging science and art in a way that honors both disciplines. Thank you for your hard work and for furthering the mission of CRFS!

Address

Pleasant Creek
Torrey, UT
84775

Website

http://www.uvu.edu/crfs/, https://linktr.ee/uvucrfs

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