Bryce Canyon National Park is named for one of a series of horseshoe-shaped amphitheaters carved from the eastern edge of the Paunsaugunt Plateau in southern Utah. Erosion has shaped colorful Claron limestone, sandstone and mudstone into thousands of spires, fins, pinnacles, and mazes. Collectively called "hoodoos," these unique formations are whimsically arranged and tinted with colors too numerous and subtle to name.

Ponderosa pines, high elevation meadows and fir-spruce forests border the rim of the plateau, while panoramic views of three states spread beyond the park's boundaries. This area boasts some of the nation's best air quality. This, coupled with the absence of large light sources nearby, creates unparalleled opportunities for stargazing.

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General Information

Visitation

Visitation peaks from June through September and is at its lowest in December, January and February. The park received close to 1.75 million visitors in 1996.

Location

Bryce Canyon is located in south-central Utah, approximately 85 miles northeast of Zion National Park.

Address

Bryce Canyon National Park
P.O. Box 170001
Bryce Canyon, Utah 84717-0001
Telephone: (435) 834-5322
Fax: (435) 834-4102

Operating Hours/Seasons

The park is open 24 hours a day throughout the year. There may be temporary road closures during and shortly after winter snowstorms, until plowing is completed and conditions are safe for visitor traffic. Road maintenance may require brief closures of individual areas at other times.

Climate & Recommended Clothing

Visitors can enjoy Bryce Canyon during any season. Summer days are pleasant and nights at 8,000 to 9,000 feet are cool. July is the warmest month with an average daytime high of 83F and a nighttime low of 47F. Much of the area's precipitation comes in the form of afternoon thundershowers during mid- to late summer. Spring and fall weather is highly variable.

Cold daytime temperatures in winter are offset by high-altitude sun and a dry climate. Winter nights are sub-freezing. During some winters, Alaskan cold fronts descend on the Colorado Plateau bringing temperatures as low as -30F. The area can have snowstorms from October through April. The annual snowfall averages 100 inches.

The high altitude sun can burn in any season - hats and sunscreen are recommended all year. Layered clothing is good preparation for the plateau's temperature extremes and frequent strong winds. Boots with good tread and ankle support are strongly recommended for hikes into the canyons.

Directions

From north or south on U.S. 89, turn east on Utah 12 (seven miles south of Panguitch, Utah) and travel to the junction of Utah 12 and 63. Turn south (right) on Utah 63 and travel 3 miles to reach the park entrance. (Utah 12 continues east through the northern portion of the park.)

From the east, travel west on Utah 12 to the intersection of Utah 63. Turn south (left) to reach the park entrance.

Distances

Arches National Park 270 miles
Boulder (Anasazi Indian Village State Park) 80 miles
Calf Creek Recreation Area, 65 miles
Capitol Reef National Park via Highway 12 120 miles
Cedar Breaks National Monument 56 miles
Cedar City 80 miles
Escalante 50 miles
Grand Canyon National Park (North Rim) 160 miles
Grand Canyon National Park (South Rim) 300 miles
Kanab 80 miles
Kodachrome Basin State Park 25 miles
Lake Powell (Page, Arizona) 150 miles
Las Vegas 270 miles
Panguitch 25 miles
Salt Lake City 260 miles
Tropic 11 miles
Zion National Park (East Entrance) 78 miles

Transportation

To Park:

Regular commercial flights serve Cedar City (87 miles), St. George (150 miles), and Salt Lake City (270 miles), Utah, as well as Las Vegas, Nevada (270 miles).

Bryce Canyon Airport (4 miles), operated by Garfield County, has commercial flights from Las Vegas. Call (435) 834-5239 for current carriers and schedules. Private planes are welcome at this uncontrolled airport: altitude, 7,586 feet; runway length, 7,400 feet; runway width, 75 feet. A shuttle service is available from the airport to local motels and recreational areas.

Sightseeing bus tours are available from St. George, Cedar City and Kanab, Utah.

In Park:

Private vehicle rentals and bus tours originate outside the park. In spring and summer, concession-operated horseback tours are offered in the park. Biking is permitted on paved roads only; there are no bike lanes. Bikes are not allowed on park trails.

Fees, Costs & Rates

Park fees are subject to change. Call for updated rates.

1998 rates

Passenger cars, $10 per seven-day visit, or $20 per year, valid only at Bryce Canyon National Park. Non-commercial tours (scouts, church groups, school groups on recreational outings) as well as foot and bicycle travelers, $5 per person aged 17 and older.

Commercial tours are charged according to seating capacity: $25, plus $5 per passenger for 1-6 seats; $50 for 7-15 seats; $60 for 16-25 seats; and $150 for 26 or more seats.

Golden Eagle ($50 annual fee) and Golden Age ($10 one-time fee) Passports are available at the park Entrance Station and are honored for occupants of non-commercial vehicles. Golden Access Passports are issued at the park visitor center.

Campsites: $10 per site per night. (Golden Age and Golden Access Passport holders receive a 50% discount.)

Backcountry Permits: $5 per permit.

Facilities & Opportunities

Visitor Center/Exhibits:

The park visitor center is open year-round except Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Years Day. A slide program, exhibits, restrooms, information, publications sales, and backcountry permits are available at the visitor center.

Projected 1998 hours:

8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. (Mountain Standard Time) January 1 - April 4
8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. (Mountain Daylight Time) April 5 -11
8 a.m. - 6 p.m. (Mountain Daylight Time) April 12 - May 21
8 a.m. - 8 p.m. (Mountain Daylight Time) May 22 - September 19
8 a.m. - 6 p.m. (Mountain Daylight Time) September 20 - October 24
8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. (Mountain Standard Time) October 25 - December 31

Roads:

The 18-mile main park road winds along the edge of the plateau, terminating at the south end of the park. You return to the entrance via the same road. Spur roads and pullouts offer opportunities for viewing and trailhead parking. Park speed limits range from 25 to 35 mph and are strictly enforced.

In summer, parking at most viewpoints is extremely congested. Your best chance of finding a parking space at Sunrise, Sunset, Inspiration, Bryce, and Paria Viewpoints is before 10 a.m. and after 5 p.m.

Because all of Bryce Canyon's viewpoints are east of the main park road, drive the 18-mile road to the southern end of the park, start with Rainbow Point, then stop at the remaining viewpoints on your way back to the park entrance. This will help you avoid having to make left turns in front of on-coming traffic.

Special Needs:

Marked bus parking spaces are available at all parking lots that can accommodate buses. Bus engines should be turned off while parked. Motorhomes and trailers are not permitted in spaces designated for buses.

Due to steep grades and limited parking, trailers are not allowed beyond Sunset Campground. Campers should leave trailers at their campsite. Day visitors should leave trailers at their overnight campground, at Rubys Inn free shuttle parking area just outside the park, at the park visitor center, or at the trailer turn-around south of Sunset Campground.

No vehicles more than 25 feet long are allowed at Paria View, the parking area is too small for large vehicles to turn around.

Trails:

The park has more than 50 miles of hiking trails with a variety of distances and elevation change. Assess your ability and know your limits. Use caution if unaccustomed to the high altitude.

Day Hikes: The easiest trail is the first half-mile section of Rim Trail between Sunset and Sunrise Points. Other sections of the Rim Trail (which extends 5.5 miles between Fairyland and Bryce Points) have moderate terrain. The Fairyland Loop (8 miles round trip), Peekaboo Loop (4.8 or 5.5 miles round trip), Queen's Garden (1.7 miles round trip) and Navajo Loop (1.5 miles round trip) trails wind down through the rock formations along steep grades. The Peekaboo Loop Trail also serves as a horse trail.

Backcountry: The Under-the-Rim Trail extends 23 miles from Bryce Point to Rainbow Point and has eight backcountry campsites. The Riggs Spring Loop Trail (8.8 miles round trip) from Rainbow Point has four backcountry sites. Both trails drop below the rim of the plateau and lead through forested areas. A $5 permit is required for overnight backcountry camping.

Programs/Activities:

Park rangers and volunteers conduct interpretive activities, including hikes, walks, geology talks, and evening slide programs from late spring through early fall. Check at the park visitor center or Bryce Canyon Lodge for daily schedules.

Volunteers in Parks (VIPs):

Each year at Bryce Canyon, volunteers donate more than 10,000 hours of service - more than 10 percent of the park's workforce. VIPs help staff information desks, serve as campground hosts, patrol trails, build fences, work with computers, conduct wildlife surveys, take photographs, and more.

To learn more about volunteer opportunities at Bryce Canyon, ask for an information packet at the visitor center or write to: Superintendent, Bryce Canyon National Park, P.O. Box 170001, Bryce Canyon, UT 84717-0001.

Lodging:

Amfac Parks and Resorts, Inc. operates the Bryce Canyon Lodge, with 114 rooms including lodge suites, motel rooms, and cabins. The season begins April 1 and runs through October 31. For lodging reservations, write to: Amfac Parks and Resorts, Inc., 14001 East Iliff Ave., Suite 600, Aurora, CO 80014. Or call (303)297-2757 or fax (303)237-3175 from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mountain Time.

Additional lodging is available throughout the area. Reservations are recommended. Refer to the Lodging section for more information.

Camping:

The park has two campgrounds, North and Sunset, with 218 sites available on a first-come, first-served basis. Cost is $10 per site per night. There is a limit of six people, three tents, and two vehicles per site. There are no hook-ups. Sites fill by early afternoon during the summer months. Loop A of North Campground has a heated restroom and remains open through the winter. One group site is available by reservation only. Call (435) 834-4801 for information.

Private, Utah State Parks, and US Forest Service campgrounds are located throughout the area.

Food/supplies:

Amfac Parks and Resorts operates a dining room in the Bryce Canyon Lodge, as well as a general store at Sunrise Point. Groceries, souvenirs, camping supplies, quick meals, restrooms, coin-operated showers, and laundry facilities are available at the store from April through October.

Private stores in the immediate area are open all year for food, supplies and other services.

Other Concessions, NPS-managed Facilities and Opportunities:

In spring, summer and fall, wranglers lead horseback rides into Bryce Amphitheater along a dedicated horse trail as well as on the Peekaboo Loop Trail. Write to Canyon Trail Rides, P.O. Box 128, Tropic, UT 84776, or call (435)679-8665 or (435)834-5500 for information and reservations.

Amfac Parks and Resorts, Inc. also operates a gift shop in the lodge.

Handicap Accessibility:

Most facilities were constructed between 1930 and 1960. Some have been upgraded for accessibility, while others could be used with assistance.

Because of the park's natural terrain, only a half-mile section of the Rim Trail between Sunset and Sunrise Points is wheelchair accessible. The one-mile Bristlecone Loop Trail at Rainbow Point has a hard surface and could be used with assistance, but several grades do not meet standards.

Parking is marked at all overlooks and public facilities. Accessible campsites are available in Sunset Campground.

Recommended Activities

Sight-seeing, hiking, camping, backpacking, photography, horseback riding, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, bird watching and other wildlife observation, stargazing, and relaxation.

Prohibited Activities (Not All-Inclusive)

Wildlife feeding, disturbing wildlife in any way, collecting of any historical or natural objects (including gathering wood or picking wildflowers), off-trail use, hunting, snowmobiling, bicycling on park trails, pets on trails or unleashed.

Reservations & Permits

Reservations are recommended for Bryce Canyon Lodge. Park campsites are first-come, first-served, except for the group site which is by reservation only.

A $5 permit is required for overnight backcountry camping. Permits must be obtained in person and are issued at the park visitor center from 8 a.m. until two hours before sunset. No reservations are accepted.

Basic Visit Recommendations

Plan to spend from one to several days, depending on your personal interests. Because of the wide variety of recreational opportunities on nearby private, state and other federal lands, you can easily plan an extended vacation in this area.

Special Programs

The park has a Junior Ranger Program that offers children 12 and under the opportunity to learn more about the park. Although the program is designed as an independent learning experience to accommodate individual family schedules, one important requirement is children attend a ranger-guided activity. Recommended minimum time for completion of the program is approximately one full day. When children fulfill their requirements, they can bring their completed booklets to the park visitor center and receive a Junior Ranger certificate. In addition, a special patch is available for $1.

Visitor Impacts

Most visitors tour the main amphitheater between Sunrise and Bryce Viewpoints. Congestion in these areas creates problems with off-trail use and destruction of vegetation. Use only designated trails and exercise patience and care in all heavily congested areas to protect park resources.

Feeding wildlife endangers animals as well as visitors. In addition to destroying an animal's natural wariness and foraging instincts, feeding contributes to poor nutrition. In some areas, animals have had to be killed because of contact with humans. Autopsies have revealed deer will eat food wrappers that block their digestive systems leading to starvation.

Respect all wildlife. Do not feed them or disturb their natural activities.

Adjacent Visitor Attractions

Southern Utah abounds in outdoor recreational activities. Many national parks, monuments, and recreation areas are clustered in the "four corners" area. State parks and Bureau of Land Management and US Forest Service areas complement the National Park Service areas with opportunities for mountain biking, hiking, cross-country skiing, camping, fishing, hunting, four-wheel driving, and snowmobiling.

Additional Information

Information from Garfield County Travel Council is available by calling (800) 444-6689. Visitors may book reservations in the Bryce Canyon area by calling (800) GO-BRYCE (800-462-7923).

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History

Native Americans

Early Native Americans left little to tell us of their use of the plateaus. We know that people inhabited the Colorado Plateau region for about 12,000 years, but only random fragments of worked stone tell of their presence near Bryce Canyon. Artifacts tell a more detailed story of use at lower elevations beyond the parks boundary. Both Anasazi and Fremont influences are found near the park. The people of each culture left bits of a puzzle to be pieced together by current and future archeologists. Paiutes lived in the region when Euro-Americans arrived in southern Utah. Paiutes explained the colorful hoodoos as "Legend People" who were turned to stone by Coyote.

The Paiutes were living throughout the area when Capt. Clarence E. Dutton explored here with John Wesley Powell in the 1870s. Many of todays place names originated during this time. Duttons report gave the name Pink Cliffs to the Claron Formation. Other names - Paunsaugunt, meaning place or home of the beavers; Paria, meaning muddy water or elk water; Panguitch, meaning water or fish; and Yovimpa, meaning point of pines - were derived from the Paiute language.

How Bryce Canyon Got Its Name

Ebenezer Bryce aided in the settlement of southwestern Utah and northern Arizona, and in 1875 he came to the Paria Valley to live and harvest timber from the plateau. Local people called the canyon with strange rock formations near Ebenezers home Bryce's Canyon. Although the Bryces moved to Arizona in 1880, the name stuck.

The Road to Parkhood

Shortly after 1900, visitors were coming to see the colorful geologic sights, and the first accommodations were built along the Paunsaugunt Plateau rim above Bryce's Canyon. By 1920, efforts were started to set aside these scenic wonders. In 1923, President Warren G. Harding proclaimed part of the area Bryce Canyon National Monument under the Powell (now Dixie) National Forest. In 1924, legislation was passed to establish the area as Utah National Park, but provisions of this legislation were not met until 1928. Legislation was passed that year to change the name of the new park to Bryce Canyon National Park.

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Reservation Information

Reservations are recommended for Bryce Canyon Lodge.

Park campsites are available on a first-come, first-served basis, except for the group site, which is by reservation only.

A $5.00 permit is required for overnight backcountry camping. Permits must be obtained in person and are issued at the park visitor center from 8 a.m. until 2 hours before sunset. No reservations are accepted.

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