Capitol Reef

Capitol Reef National Park National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Fruita Orchards The orchards along the Fremont River and Sulphur Creek are remnants of the pioneer community of Fruita, settled in 1880. These relics of the area’s history serve as a connection to Fruita’s pioneer agricultural tradition and embody a living connection between local residents and their history and culture. They also provide food to visitors and park employees. The trees survive due to a delicate balance between the local climate and the availability of irrigation water. As the climate changes, warmer and drier conditions increase concerns for water availablility, and add new challenges to the management of the historic orchards. History No more than 10 families lived in Fruita at any one time; the last resident moved away in 1969. These early settlers planted the orchards as a cash crop and for subsistence. Today, the orchards are preserved and protected as part of the Fruita Rural Historic District listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The orchards contain approximately 3,000 trees, including cherry, apricot, peach, nectarine, pear, apple, plum, mulberry, quince, almond, pecan, and walnut. Many are heirloom varieties. The National Park Service maintains the orchards year-round through pruning, mowing, pest management, planting, mapping, grafting, and historic irrigation methods. Harvest • Check at the visitor center for information on orchards that are open for fruit picking. Fruit may not be harvested and taken from the orchard until the orchard is posted as open for picking. • You are welcome to stroll in any unlocked orchard. • You may sample ripe fruit in any unlocked orchard. There is no charge for fruit consumed in the orchards. • Fruit taken from the orchards must be paid for. A self-pay station with scales, plastic bags, and signs listing fruit prices is located near the entrance of orchards open for fruit harvest. • Please select only ripe fruit and leave the rest to ripen for other visitors. • Read and follow the ladder safety signs posted in the orchards. Safety The orchards can add much to your Capitol Reef visit. Please be safe and treat these historic trees gently! • Never climb these historic trees. • When orchards are open for picking, handheld fruit pickers and ladders are provided to aid in picking. • Please read the safety signs located near the orchard entrance before using orchard ladders. • Be sure the ladder is on firm, level ground with the third leg fully extended and the chains pulled tight. Do not stand on the top three rungs, and avoid leaning to either side when picking. • Children should not use the ladders unsupervised. Typical Range of Flowering and Harvesting Times (varies widely by year) Flowering Harvest Additional Information Call the park’s fruit hotline for information on fruit availability and harvest dates: (435) 425-3791, option 1, then option 5. Cherries: Apricots: Peaches : Pears: Apples: late March to mid-April early March to mid-April late March to late April late March to early May early April to early May EXPERIENCE YOUR AMERICA Cherries: Apricots: Peaches: Pears: Apples: mid-June to early July late June to mid-July late July to early Sept. early August to early Sept. mid-August to mid-October Regular updates are also posted online: www.facebook.com/CapitolReefNPS www.twitter.com/CapitolReefNPS www.nps.gov/care 1/16 Fruit and Nut Trees almond, apple, apricot, cherry, mulberry, peach, pear, plum, walnut apple, grape, nectarine, peach, pear apple, cherry, peach, walnut apple, apricot, cherry, peach, pear apple, apricot apple, apricot, plum, pear apple, apricot, cherry, pear Orchard 1. Mott 2. Jackson 3. Guy Smith 4. Abie Clarke 5. Cook 6. Amasa Pierce 7. Behunin 8. Merin Smith CLOSED AREA Private housing area— closed to all public entry, including access road. Fruita Orchards pecan apple, cherry, peach, pear, plum apple, cherry, pear 9. ‘Tine Oyler N 10. ‘Tine Oyler S 11. Holt almond, apple, apricot, cherry, peach, pear, plum, quince, walnut apricot, cherry, grape, pear apple, apricot, peach, pear, walnut almond, apple, pear 14. Johnson 15. Doc Inglesby 16. Gifford 17. Chesnut 19. Carrell peach 18. Cass Mulford apricot apple, apricot 13. Adams 12. Max Krueger apple, peach Fruit and Nut Trees Orchard