By Buster Barkley, Hilarious.news lead reporter
Capitol Reef National Park has a two-Saturday plan for its Scenic Drive that is unusually clear about the guest list: bicycles and pedestrians get the road, regular vehicle traffic steps aside for the morning, dogs may come on a short leash, and horses and pack animals stay on their usual routes. Buster Barkley has reviewed the arrangement and found the paperwork refreshingly specific.
The park’s Reef Ride Bike Days are set for September 19 and 26, 2026. From sunrise to mid-afternoon, the Scenic Drive will be closed to vehicles for the event, so visitors can travel it by bicycle or on foot. The park says a small number of National Park Service vehicles may still be present for safety and maintenance, and people should expect vehicle traffic after 2 p.m.
A road day with a very selective vehicle policy
The paved Scenic Drive runs 7.9 miles, according to the park. The bicycle-and-pedestrian portion begins after the campground and gives access to Grand Wash, Capitol Gorge, and Pleasant Creek. The park also notes that bicycles must remain on roads and in parking areas rather than on trails.
It is a lovely premise: a park road at a more conversational speed, with sandstone scenery doing its usual dramatic work while visitors supply the gentle whirring. The practical version still matters. Capitol Reef asks cyclists to observe posted speed limits, yield to pedestrians, bring plenty of water, and prepare for changing weather. There is no cell service along the route, though staff will be positioned to help visitors.
Dogs: yes. Horses: decisively no.
The event’s FAQ says dogs are welcome if they stay on a leash six feet or shorter, remain on the road, and stay within developed areas. That is a fair deal: a dog gets a scenic outing, a person gets a scenic outing, and everyone avoids turning a park event into a committee meeting about where the dog went.
The same FAQ reserves the Scenic Drive and Reef Ride Days for bicycles, walkers, and leashed dogs, while horses and pack animals use other park routes. Buster offers a wag of approval. A bike day has room for two wheels, two feet, and four paws, leaving the dignity debate to the animals themselves.
Plan the pleasant version
Parking is available around Fruita, including the Picnic Area and Jorgenson pasture parking areas, where visitors can unload bicycles. Restrooms are listed at the Picnic Area, the ends of Grand Wash Road and Capitol Gorge Road, and the end of the paved Scenic Drive. The park says water stations are planned at locations to be determined, so riders should carry their own supply.
The assignment, then, is simple: choose September 19 or 26, bring water, leave room for pedestrians, and keep the dog leashed. Buster’s field note: A road that asks everyone to slow down gives the scenery a chance to speak.
Source: National Park Service: Reef Ride Bike Days. Details checked September 9, 2026.
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