America's Best History ... Bryce Canyon

Bryce Canyon is one of those places that's so colorful, it looks as if Disney had been involved.  But they haven't.  It's only grand and glorious nature that has taken out its vibrant palette and brushes the canvas of this Utah park with such colorful hues. Although not at the top of the conversation about four corners national parks and their next vacation due to its larger cousins at the Grand Canyon and Zion, (but it's not like Bryce doesn't have a whole lot of fans with over 1 million attending each year, just that the Grand Canyon gets over 4 million and Zion nearly 3 million) there are those that think Bryce Canyon may be the best of them all.  That's purely subjective, of course, when you're talking about some of the most majestic scenery in the United States, ... actually anywhere in the world.  So if you're venturing out into the southwest for a vacation, don't miss out on Bryce Canyon National Park.  You'll be glad you ventured a bit further north from that Grand Canyon and those walls of wonder at Zion.

In some ways visiting Bryce is a more personal experience, but that may be because it's size, at 35,000 acres, is not as overwhelming as a national park like the Grand Canyon with its more than a million acres, or even Zion, which is four times as large, but there are advantages and disadvantages to both.  It's possible to hike the length of the tough loops if you're into backcountry adventure, and perhaps complete the thirty miles without spending the entire summer to do it.  But it's not like there's not a whole lot to see.  There are so many viewsheds, amphitheatres, and recreational opportunities to whet that natural wonder, plus horseback riding, park ranger tours, a shuttle bus (it runs April to October, usually from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.), and a whole lot more.  

Bryce Canyon has been a protected place within the national park service since Warren Harding made it a national monument in 1923.  Five years later it was designated a national park.  Picture above right: Some of the colors within the amphitheatres of Bryce Canyon (Photo courtesy NPS)


Things You Should Not Miss

1. Take the free shuttle bus to the favorite spots at Bryce.  It's not mandatory, (you're still allowed to drive), but can be a great way to wander the park and leave the driving behind.  The shuttle can be boarded from outside the park and at over a dozen other places around the park.  For those that like something guided, there's even a twice daily guided shuttle bus to Rainbow Point.  This tour takes about four hours.

2.  Take the hike, and we mean that in a good way. There are a variety of hiking trails ranging from easy to hard.  Remember, plenty of water, good shoes, and the park is at high elevation, so this may not be for everyone.

3. Let a ranger be your guide.  Check at the visitor center for the daily schedule of walks and talks.  Whether you're into history, or geology, they're an invaluable guide to what makes Bryce Canyon such a special place.

Bryce Canyon National Park

What is There Now

Bryce Canyon Visitor Center
There's exhibits, a twenty-two minute film, plus ranger guided talks and walks.  A great place to orient yourself, but you're gonna want to get outside and see all those awesome colors that the nature of Bryce Canyon has to offer.

Lodging and Camping

Bryce Canyon Lodge is the only lodging located within the park, and like most of the lodges in the National Park system, it's a treat.  With 114 rooms in the inn, cabins, or motel, it's open from April through October, and is a National Historic Landmark.  We suggest reservations and the inn can be pricey, $130 to $175 and subject to change.

Camping
North Campground - 99 camping sites.  Located east of the Visitor Center and near the general store.
Sunset Campground - 100 camping sites located 1.5 miles south of the Bryce Canyon visitor center.
Backcountry - There are two loop trails covering over thirty miles with twelve campsites.  Backcountry campsites require a fee.

Other Lodging and Campgrounds - Outside the park, lodging and camping is located along the Rt 63 and Rt. 12 corridor.  Camping is also available in the Dixie National Forest, the largest national forest in Utah with over two million acres, which surrounds the park.

Bryce Canyon Links

Bryce Canyon National Park
The Inn at Bryce Canyon
Bryce Canyon Country Tourism
Utah Travel Site


Nearby Attractions

Dixie National Forest
Grand Staircase/Escalante National Monument
Capital Reef National Park
Grand Canyon National Park
Sunset Crater National Monument
Zion National Park
Rainbow Bridge National Monument 
Cedar Breaks National Monument

Bryce Canyon Then and Now

Bryce Canyon

Bryce Canyon Then
Long before it's designation as a national wonder in the 1920s, Bryce Canyon had been a series of wondrous amphitheatres that nature had carved from colorful rock. Somewhat misnamed as the area is not actually a canyon, but a series of those amphitheatres in horseshoe style, the pristine views that abound within, and above and beyond, them, have marvelled Indians, trappers, and vacationers for hundreds of years.

Actually, people havce inhabited the area for 10,000 years.  That's right, 10,000.  Paleoindians passed through the area then, the Pueblo and Paiute tribes hunted there in summer after that, and Mormon pioneers eventually came to inhabit nearby areas, harnessingd the water for the valleys below.  There's never been too much full time habitation, however, as the harsh snowy winters are tough to endure, even today.  Photo above courtesy LOC.
 

Bryce Canyon Now
Bryce Canyon

It's All About the Views - They are almost impossible to describe, so the only real way is for you to see them for yourself.  Whether you take the free shuttle or choose to walk or ride around the park by yourself, stop at the many  viewpoints around the park.  From Sunrise Point to Sunset Point, to Inspiration Point or Bryce Point, or all the way south, eighteen miles, to Rainbow and Yovimpa Points, there's so many wonders in that spectrum of colors which abound at every turn, you many even need an extra camera card to capture it all.  Photo above: Bryce Canyon in winter snow.  Photo right: One example of walking through a canyon at Bryce.  Courtesy NPS.

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Visitor Statistics

Bryce Canyon
National Park
1,296,000 visitors

#55 Most Visited National Park Unit

Park Size

Bryce Canyon
National Park
35,833 acres (Federal)
35,835 (Total)

Source: NPS, 2011 Visitor Statistics; Visitor Rank among 367 units.

Bryce Canyon Entrance Fees

Individual (16 & over)
$12 for 7 days.
(Under 16) - Free

Vehicle
$25 for 7 days.

Yearly Bryce Canyon Pass
$30 per vehicle
/other entry

Fees subject to change without notice.



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Bryce Canyon Weather
Summer
The temperatures at Bryce Canyon can be rather temperate in summer months with normal highs in the low 80s.  It does get cold at night here, with lows on average in the 40s and the possibility of even colder temps. Be prepared.  There's not a whole lof of summer precipitation, but boy, in the winter, does it snow.


Bryce Canyon Transportation

Inside the Park Shuttle Service- A free shuttle service is availabe from the area just north of the park on Rt. 63, taking you to the Visitor Center and many points of interest in the park.