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The Bryce Canyon Visitor Center is open all year round except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Day. Hours very by season: May – September, 8am – 8pm; October and November, 8am – 6pm; December – March, 8am – 4:30pm; and April, 8am – 6pm. The center is located 4.5 miles south of the intersection of Hwy. 12 & Hwy. 63 or 1.5 miles inside the park’s northern boundary. The visitor center has a ranger staffed at the Information Desk. Here you can obtain driving and hiking directions, backcountry permits, weather forecasts, a current schedule of park ranger guided programs, Junior Ranger booklets, and information on area services including lodging, dining and other attractions. At the visitor center you may watch the new award winning film entitled “Shadows of Time”. The film is 20-minutes long and plays on the hour and half hour throughout the day. Restrooms, water, and a bookstore are also available; Publications and maps are available for purchase through Bryce Canyon Natural History Association. The Bryce Canyon Visitor Center can be contacted at: (435) 834-5322.

President Warren G. Harding proclaimed Bryce Canyon a national monument on June 8, 1923. On June 7, 1924, Congress passed a bill to establish Utah National Park, when all land within the national monument would become the property of the United States. The land was acquired and the name was restored to Bryce Canyon. On February 25, 1928, Bryce Canyon officially became a national park. Bryce Canyon is a small national park.

The person most responsible for Bryce Canyon becoming a National Park was J. W. Humphrey. Mr. Humphrey was a U.S. Forest Service Supervisor who was transferred to Panguitch, Utah in July 1915. Later in 1924, designation as a national park put Bryce Canyon on the map. But it was the Union Pacific Railroad and the Civilian Conservation Corps that made Bryce accessible to modern day travelers. Such improvements quickly made Bryce Canyon first a national attraction, and later an international “must see.” Today 1.5 million people come each year to see this little park with enormous appeal.

A recent archaeological survey of Bryce Canyon National Park and the Paunsaugunt Plateau shows that people have been marveling at Bryce’s hoodoos for at least 10,000 years. It is suspected that throughout history, just as today, most people were just passing through. Bryce Canyon winters are so harsh that even modern year-round habitation is difficult. Yet Paleo-Indians hunted huge mammals here at the end of the Ice Age. Pueblo peoples hunted game in the forests and meadows of the plateau. Paiutes frequented the plateau to harvest pine nuts and conduct broad scale rabbit hunts called rabbit drives.

Fremont and Anasazi people occupied the portion of the Colorado Plateau near Bryce Canyon around 200 A.D. until 1200. The Fremont lived more to the north and west, while the Anasazi were more to the southeast. There is recently discovered evidence of the two cultures mixing on the Kaiparowits Plateau.

Paiute Indians occupied the area around 1200 A.D. The Paunsaugunt Plateau was used for seasonal hunting and gathering activities, but there is no evidence of permanent settlements. The legend of Bryce Canyon was explained to a park naturalist in 1936 by Indian Dick, a Paiute elder who then lived on the Kaibab Reservation:

“Before there were any Indians, the Legend People, To-when-an-ung-wa, lived in that place. There were many of them. They were of many kinds – birds, animals, lizards and such things, but they looked like people. They were not people. They had power to make themselves look that way. For some reason the Legend People in that place were bad; they did something that was not good, perhaps a fight, perhaps some stole something….the tale is not clear at this point. Because they were bad, Coyote turned them all into rocks. You can see them in that place now all turned into rocks; some standing in rows, some sitting down, some holding onto others. You can see their faces, with paint on them just as they were before they became rocks. The name of that place is Angka-ku-wass-a-wits (red painted faces). This is the story the people tell.”

The name “Bryce” comes from an early Mormon rancher and his wife who moved into the canyon in the mid 1870s to raise cattle. Ebenezer Bryce and his family arrived in Clifton in 1875, but soon moved upstream to Henderson Valley (New Clifton). Ebenezer helped to complete a seven mile irrigation ditch from Paria Creek. Bryce built a road into the pink cliffs to make timber more accessible. People started to call the amphitheater where the road terminated, “Bryce’s Canyon.” After only staying a few years, Ebenezer and Mary Bryce left the area, making famous the statement, “…a helluva place to lose a cow.” Ebenezer Bryce and his family moved to Arizona in 1880, but the name, “Bryce’s Canyon”, stuck.

In 1919, Ruby and Minnie Syrett erected tents and supplied meals for over night guests near Sunset Point for visitors of the park. In 1920 the Syretts constructed Tourist’s Rest a 30 foot by 71 foot lodge, with eight or ten nearby cabins and an open air dance floor. In 1923, the Union Pacific Railroad bought the Tourist’s Rest land, buildings, and water rights from the Syretts.

Gilbert Stanley Underwood was hired by Union Pacific to design a lodge near Sunset Point. The original main building was finished by May 1925. Additions were made and the final configuration completed by 1927. The standard and deluxe cabins, near the lodge were constructed between 1925 and 1929.

In 1930, the Zion-Mt. Carmel tunnel was completed. This effectively tied Bryce, Zion, Cedar Breaks, and the North Rim of the Grand Canyon together. Trains would transport passengers to Cedar City and buses would leave Cedar City to transport tourists among the four parks. During the 1930s the Civilian Conservation Corps made many improvements to Bryce Canyon National Park. These included campground development under the rim fire trail, Fairyland Trail, boundary fences, parking areas, museum-overlook at Rainbow Point, erosion control and insect pest control.

In 1931, the park workforce completed a total of 4.5 miles of foot and horse trails. This included Sunset Point to Bryce Point, Bryce Point to Peek-a-boo Canyon, and Sunrise to Campbell Canyon. A short bridal path was laid out to prevent indiscriminate riding between the Lodge and rim.

The Grand Staircase is an immense sequence of sedimentary rock layers that stretch south from Bryce Canyon National Park through Zion National Park and into the Grand Canyon. In the 1870s, geologist Clarence Dutton first conceptualized this region as a huge stairway ascending out of the bottom of the Grand Canyon northward with the cliff edge of each layer forming giant steps. Dutton divided this layer cake of Earth history into five steps that he colorfully named Pink Cliffs, Grey Cliffs, White Cliffs, Vermilion Cliffs, and Chocolate Cliffs. Since then, modern geologists have further divided Dutton’s steps into individual rock formations.

What makes the Grand Staircase worldly unique is it has preserved more Earth history than any other place on Earth! Geologists often liken the study of sedimentary rock layers to reading a history book–layer by layer, detailed chapter by detailed chapter. The problem is that in most places in the world, the book has been severely damaged by the rise and fall of mountains, the scouring of glaciers, etc. Usually these chapters are completely disarticulated from each other and often whole pages are just missing. Yet the Grand Staircase and the lower cliffs that comprise the Grand Canyon remain largely intact speaking to over 600 million years of continuous Earth history with only a few paragraphs missing here and there.

Window or arches are natural holes that form along cracks and weak spots in thin walls of rock called “fins.” By convention these holes must be at least 3 feet in diameter in two perpendicular directions to earn the name arch or window. An imprecise distinction is often made between bridges and arches in terms of the processes that form them. It’s important to remember that gravity is the key factor in either case. Nevertheless, the distinction is that bridges are carved by flowing water, whereas arches can be carved by everything else except flowing water. Indeed, in very few circumstances is it possible to say that flowing water had zero contribution in the development of one of these natural holes. Therefore, geologists often prefer the term window to collectively describe any large hole in a rock. At Bryce Canyon most of the windows are carved by frost wedging. Windows start as narrow fractures that run through the rock. These fractures include expansion joints and secondary earthquake fractures that intersect each other at right angles creating a checkerboard-like pattern of weak cracks in the rock.

Weathering and erosion carve through these cracks steadily widening them, opening up slot canyons, leaving behind walls or fins in-between. The primary weathering force at Bryce Canyon is frost wedging. At the same time this process is converting ridges into fins, it is also forming windows along the perpendicular fractures within individual fins. Once a window becomes too large to support its own roof it will collapse leaving one leg of the window standing detached – thus creating a hoodoo.

There are probably hundreds of windows within the boundaries of Bryce Canyon National Park. The vast majorities are either small or well hidden and usually go unnoticed. Changing sun angles through the course of the day and with seasonal variation can make some windows almost invisible. Every arch has its own best viewing time and season. The largest and most readily accessible is the Natural Bridge located about half way down the southern scenic drive. The Peekaboo Loop Trail and the Mossy Cave Trail are target rich hikes for those who love to see natural windows.

Hoodoos are most commonly found in the High Plateaus region of the Colorado Plateau and in the Badlands regions of the Northern Great Plains. Hoodoos are tall skinny spires of rock that protrude from the bottom of arid basins and “broken” lands. While hoodoos are scattered throughout these areas, nowhere in the world are they as abundant as in the northern section of Bryce Canyon National Park. In common usage, the difference between Hoodoos and pinnacles or spires is that hoodoos have a variable thickness often described as having a “totem pole-shaped body.” A spire, on the other hand, has a more smooth profile or uniform thickness that tapers from the ground upward.

At Bryce Canyon, hoodoos range in size from that of an average human to heights exceeding a 10-story building! Formed in sedimentary rock, hoodoo shapes are affected by the erosional patterns of alternating hard and softer rock layers. The name given to the rock layer that forms hoodoos at Bryce Canyon is the Claron Formation. This layer has several rock types including siltstones and mudstones, but predominately limestone. It is believed that thirty to 40 million years ago this rock was “born” in an ancient lake that covered much of Western Utah. Minerals deposited within different rock types cause hoodoos to have different colors throughout their height. Hoodoo colors are more vibrant after a rainstorm.

Erosion follows fractures in the sides of the Paunsaugunt Plateau called joints. Joints are common in all types of sedimentary rock and created while the rock is lithifying in the same manner that cracks form in mud as it dries. At Bryce Canyon, these joints undergo additional stresses created by the huge amounts of energy released during earthquakes along the Paunsaugunt fault and Ruby’s thrust fault. While these fault lines are currently dormant, many years ago their activity widened and deepened the existing joints.

Late summers at Bryce Canyon are marked by the monsoon season. Desert monsoons are different than those of India. They drop far less rain, but like those in India, are predictable in their afternoon arrival time. Every afternoon in late July and early August, rainstorms pass through Bryce Canyon. In the same way dry sponges absorb less water than moist sponges, the very dry rock and soil at Bryce Canyon absorb little water, allowing most of the rain to flow into joints, which cleans out the broken gravel left by frost wedging in the winter–thereby creating slot canyons.

Frost wedging and runoff are the two main processes that form walls, fins and landforms at Bryce Canyon National Park. Continued rock destruction and removal by these processes eventually result in windows and hoodoos as the walls and fins become thinner. The China Wall on the Fairyland Loop Trail illustrates this evolution very well. The outermost portion of the wall is mainly hoodoos, because it has been exposed to the forces of weathering and erosion longer than the side of the wall closest to the canyon rim. Yet even on the canyon rim side, you can see how the windows become increasing smaller as you near the rim.

Walls or fins are narrow walls of rock, bound by joints or fractures on either side. As weathering and erosion opens the cracks wider and wider they form narrows or slot canyons. The wall left standing in between two slot canyons is called a fin. As fins develop, differential erosion accentuates different rock hardness leaving them with a rugose appearance. Some fins, like The Alligator which can be seen underneath Bryce Point, is capped with a more resistant form of limestone called Dolomite. This rock is reinforced with magnesium and cannot be dissolved by the weak carbonic acid that dissolves regular limestone. The hard rock above protects the weaker rock below creating very durable fins.

Bryce Canyon National Park is a scientist’s laboratory and a child’s playground. Because Bryce transcends 2000 ft. (650 m) of elevation, the park exists in three distinct climatic zones: spruce/fir forest, Ponderosa Pine forest, and Pinyon Pine/juniper forest. This diversity of habitat provides for high biodiversity. Here at Bryce, you can enjoy over 100 species of birds, dozens of mammals, and more than a thousand plant species.

Surrounded by deserts, Bryce’s highland plateau gets much more rain than the lowlands below and stays cooler during hot summers. The relatively lush ecosystems that result are like fertile islands towering above a vast arid landscape. Several flowering plants to be seen are Blue Flax, Bryce Canyon Paintbrush, Markagunt Penstemon, Missouri Iris, Mountain Deathcamas, Wyoming Paintbrush and Watson Bog Orchid. The trees to be seen are Blue Spruce, Bristlecone Pines, Douglas-fir, Limber Pine, Pinyon Pine, Ponderosa Pine, Quaking Aspen and Rocky Mountain Juniper.

Hiking, stargazing, camping, backpacking, skiing, horseback riding, auto-touring, bird watching, ranger programs, guided hikes, etc. can all be enjoyed at Bryce Canyon. With an average snowfall of 95 inches, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing opportunities are available. In the spring, summer, and fall, 2-hour and 4-hour horse and mule rides into Bryce Amphitheater are available along a dedicated horse trail and the Peekaboo Loop Trail. There are eleven hiking trails ranging from easy to strenuous, short to long and offering some great day-hike options. You may also drive to Rainbow Point (18 miles one way) and stop at the 13 viewpoints on your return trip.

Bryce Canyon is a phenomenal place for stargazing. On a clear day you can see nearly 200 miles to the Black Mesas in eastern Arizona. On a clear dark night, you can see 2.2 million light years or 527,000,000,000,000,000 miles to the Andromeda Galaxy, but before planets and stars appear, look quickly for the rare sight of Earth’s penumbra! After the last light of the setting sun fades from the highest clouds, suddenly a purple band will appear directly above the eastern horizon. This is the edge of Earth’s own shadow being projected on to the atmosphere. Look quickly because this phenomenon is soon engulfed in darkness as the stars take the stage.

Just for Kids programs are offered June – August. These programs are 45-60 minutes long consisting of games and activities designed for children to learn about the cultural or natural history of Bryce Canyon National Park. Adults may sign children up at the visitor center.

The Junior Ranger Program has games and activities designed for kids to learn about Bryce Canyon’s ecology independently. Each potential Junior Ranger is required to do workbook activities, attend a ranger guided program, and collect and throw away a bag of litter inside the park. Once the kids have completed these requirements, they can return to the visitor center and receive their Junior Ranger badge, patch, and a certificate that shows their status as a Bryce Canyon Junior Ranger!

Ever wonder why the rocks are red? Where we got the name hoodoo? What’s a deer’s favorite food? Well, you’re not alone! Ranger Programs are a great way to expand your exploration of Bryce Canyon, and they’re free too! The magic of Bryce Canyon sparks the imagination and wonder in park rangers as well as visitors. Spend a few minutes or a few hours with the rangers as they share learned information about the park.

Geology Talk is a half hour talk with a ranger discussing current scientific explanations behind Bryce Canyon’s worldly geological history. The Rim Walk is a one mile stroll along the rim of the Bryce Amphitheater with great views, fascinating plant and wildlife stories, a touch of geology, and some cultural history. Join a park ranger for the Canyon Hike down into the heart of the Bryce Amphitheater while enjoying face to face encounters with hoodoos, and other breathtaking views! The Family Programs are as unique as the rangers who develop them; from Paleo-Indian role playing to the wonders of scat. The Night Sky Programs cherish this last grand sanctuary of natural darkness by attending an indoor multimedia show followed by sky viewing with telescopes (clouds permitting). The moonlit exploration of the hoodoos on the Full Moon Hike is the most popular event. You can also accompany a park ranger for the Snowshoe Hike and the park will supply the snowshoes! Learn about the winter ecology of Bryce Canyon and how the hoodoos are the product of the winter struggle between ice and Sun. Check the Ranger Program board in the park’s visitor center for current locations, age requirements, times, and signup sheets (if applicable).

Daily, for nearly 20 years, Bryce Canyon has been monitoring the air quality and report that in spite of increasing visitation and increased coal-generated electricity in the region, the trend in air quality has not significantly declined. However, their location and circumstances are unique. Being on the top of a desert plateau, the clearing indices are usually high, inversion seldom occurs, and the air is too thin and dry to carry much pollution. Neighboring urban and industrial centers are not nearly so lucky and unfortunately, most of the pollution the park has originates from these distant locales. However, they are doing more than just monitor the surrounding air. While National Park Service policy has no authority to dictate how people choose to commute to work, several National Parks finance a shuttle system in the hopes that at least while you are visiting, you will use the mass transit system so as to reduce the vehicle emissions that occur within their boundaries.

What are the consequences of Bryce Canyon’s air quality and viewshed preservation efforts? You’ll probably need a flashlight while walking around the visitor center, campgrounds, and even the Lodge area at night. If you’re visiting by tour bus don’t expect your coach to be air-conditioned (or heated depending on season) upon your return from viewing an overlook. In an effort to preserve both natural quiet and air quality, Park Rangers are instructed to fine tour bus operators $50 (at minimum) for leaving bus engines running while parked.

Bryce Canyon National Park’s Environmental Assessment (EA) for the park’s Fire Management Plan outlines strategies for the management of wildland fires, prescribed fires, and hazardous fuel reduction while protecting human life and property. These strategies will protect and conserve the natural and cultural resources of the park for the enjoyment of present and future generations. In January 2004, the park solicited information and ideas from the public on how the National Park Service (NPS) should manage wildland fire within the park.

Bryce Canyon’s climate is often described as the unique combination of mountain and desert environments. This means that not only can almost any kind of weather happen (for example, they have thunder and lightning snow storms), but it can change very rapidly. Beware of lightning—stay indoors or in your vehicle during thunderstorms. Do not seek shelter under tall trees!

At 8,000 to 9,100 feet, summer days are pleasant (80′s) and nights are cool (40′s). Afternoon thundershowers are common during mid- to late summer. Spring and fall weather is highly variable with days of snow or days with strong sun and 70 degrees. Cold winter days are offset by high altitude sun and dry climate. Winter nights are sub-freezing. March commonly is the snowiest month, but snow can occur October through April. The high altitude sun can burn in any season. Hats and sunscreen should be used all year round. Layered clothing is also good preparation for the plateau’s temperature extremes and frequent strong winds.

Current Weather

The slot canyons that separate fins are very popular geologic features that people love to experience. However, they can also be very dangerous places during rainstorms because of flash flooding. Rain falling in the upper portion of a watershed quickly accumulates as it moves downhill. Slot canyons are choke points that all this water must pass through. The floods can travel with such speed and force that boulders the size of cars are dislodged and blasted down these narrow canyons. Anything caught between the walls and the debris washing through will be pulverized. Because Bryce’s slot canyons occur very high in the watershed, flash floods are not as severe as in other places. Nevertheless, for the preservation of your own health, avoid the Navajo Loop Trail during a rainstorm. It is also important while preparing for a backcountry overnight trip that you consult the weather forecast while obtaining your backcountry permit.

Carry plenty of water while hiking! High altitude and desert climate can cause severe dehydration. It is recommended that each person carry at least one liter of water for every two hours of hiking. As with all hiking and outdoor walking activities, wear sturdy hiking boots with good traction and adequate ankle support. Park trails are steep, covered with loose gravel, and are especially slippery when wet. To avoid unstable rocks, stay on trails and away from cliff edges. All rock climbing is prohibited.

For back country camping, there are several tips and rules to follow. No overnight camping is permitted on day hiking trails. Make sure you treat all water sources by boiling for 10 minutes, or filtering with a water system. Water sources are intermittent and unreliable. Please check at the visitor center for the most current information on water availability. Wash all dishes and bathe at least 200 feet from water sources, trails and campsites. Collect and pack out all food scrapes. It is required for all overnight waste to be disposed by digging “catholes” 6 to 8 inches (15 cm) deep at least 200 feet (60 m) away from water sources and trails. Pack out all toilet paper in zip lock bags. Pack out all trash, even if it’s not yours. Prevent unnecessary and unsightly erosion by staying on the trails. Camp only on designated campsites as reserved on your permit. Use the Leave-No-Trace principles. Don’t forget to check your backpacking checklist: tent, backpack, sleeping bag and mat, camp stove, fuel, matches or fire starter, food, collapsible water container, 1-2 quart water bottle, water or purification system, animal-proof food container, first aid kit, repair kit, signal mirror and or whistle, adequate layered clothing for the season, sunglasses, sunscreen, wide-brimmed hat, flashlight with extra bulbs and batteries, topographical map, compass, ground sheet if your tent doesn’t have one, cooking utensils, toilet kit, raingear in season, multipurpose tool or knife and garbage bags to carry out what you packed in.

Pets are not allowed on the park trails or at view points; however, pets can be walked along roads, campgrounds, and parking lots. Pets must be on a leash at all times.

Because the park’s elevations reach 9,100 feet (2778 meters), people with heart or respiratory problems should be especially careful not to overexert themselves. To help avoid major safety concerns, be sure to walk slowly at high elevation, drink lots of water to avoid dehydration, and check in often with elderly friends or relatives to make sure they’re doing okay. Turn back and seek medical aid if you have health concerns. Altitude sickness is a concern. Be on guard for symptoms: nausea, headache, dizziness, and shortness of breath.

Because of the park’s natural terrain, only a 1/2 mile section of the Rim Trail between Sunset and Sunrise Points is wheelchair accessible. The one-mile Bristlecone Loop 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.

Bryce Canyon National Park is a scientist’s laboratory and a child’s playground. Because Bryce transcends 2000 ft. (650 m) of elevation, the park exists in three distinct climatic zones: spruce/fir forest, Ponderosa Pine forest, and Pinyon Pine/juniper forest. This diversity of habitat provides for high biodiversity. Here at Bryce, you can enjoy over 100 species of birds, dozens of mammals, and more than a thousand plant species.

There are 175 different species of birds that have been documented to frequent Bryce Canyon. Some are just passing through while others stay for an entire season. At any rate, during any season, there are plenty of bird watching opportunities for seeing some of your favorite birds, or perhaps spying a species you’ve never seen before! Some of the common “Bryce Birds” are: California Condor, Clack’s Nutcracker, Osprey, Peregrine Falcon, Raven, Steller’s Jay, and the Violet-green Swallow.

The park is home to 59 species of mammals. Mammals are classified as higher vertebrates that have hair and nourish their young with milk secreted by mammary glands. Viewing mammals is a favorite activity of another mammal we know as humans, and Bryce is great place to see a lot of different kinds of mammals. Wildlife commonly seen at Bryce Canyon includes Mule deer, Utah prairie dogs, Golden-mantled ground squirrels, Pronghorn antelope, Uinta chipmunk, Gray fox, and Mountain Short-Horned lizards. Black bear, elk, and mountain lions are rarely seen.

To keep the animals and yourself safe, please do not feed them—it is against the law. Wild animals become unhealthy from eating human food, and even worse, become dependant on humans as a food source. Not only is it against the law, but also unsafe. Small rodents can and will bite the hands that feeds them, transmitting diseases. Larger animals, such as deer, have been known to buck or kick suddenly, causing serious injuries. The rare elk, mountain lion and black bear can be dangerous. See the Wildlife Precautions page.

All snakes, including rattlesnakes, are protected animals in National Parks; therefore it is illegal to harass or harm them. You can greatly reduce your chance of encountering a rattlesnake by staying on trails. Areas of rocky slopes or lowlands of tall sagebrush should be avoided as they offer shade and cover for snakes and can make them hard to spot. If you happen upon a rattlesnake, the smartest thing to do is give the animal a wide berth. If you happen to find one sunning on the trail in front of you, step off the trail and walk around. Nationwide, almost half of all rattlesnake bites occur when people are trying to kill, capture, or otherwise harm the snakes. Your safest action is to leave rattlesnakes alone and they will leave you alone. Rattlesnake bites are seldom fatal; nevertheless, professional medical care should be sought out as soon as possible.

If an animal you are watching notices you, or changes behavior, you are probably too close. Rather that attempting to get that perfect photograph, please step back and enjoy your wildlife experience from a safe distance.

Bryce Canyon entrance fee (includes free and unlimited use of park shuttles in the summer months) is $25 for 7 Days. This covers all occupants of a private vehicle (non-commercial).

Individual Pass, (includes free and unlimited use of park shuttles in summer months), is $12 for 7 Days and applies to motorcycles, bicyclists, or individuals traveling on foot.

Bryce Canyon National Park has two campgrounds located in close proximity to the visitor center and the Bryce Canyon Lodge. Both have restrooms with flush toilets, and drinking water. Both campgrounds have a very similar appearance being located in Ponderosa Pine forest habitat with equal amounts of shade and sun. During the summer months token operated laundry and shower facilities are available at the general store nearby. Holders of special Park Passes such as the Golden Age and Golden Access get a 50% discount. Sites fill by early afternoon during the summer months.

Bryce Canyon’s backcountry is a primitive area and managed according to regulations that protect its wilderness values. Backcountry camping is allowed on a limited basis and only at designated campsites. Backcountry camping requires a $5 backcountry permit. 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 Yovimpa Point has four backcountry sites. Both trails drop below the rim of the plateau and lead through forested areas. Permits are issued at the visitor center from 8am till two hours before sunset or one hour before closing, and must be obtained in person. No phone or email reservations will be accepted. In person reservations can be made up to 48 hours in advance. Park staff reserves the right to refuse permits to parties that fail to demonstrate the necessary preparedness that Bryce Canyon’s high and dry backcountry demands.

The North Campground is open all year round, costs $10 per night, and is located opposite of the visitor center, and closest to the general store. All 107 campsites are limited to 6 people, 3 tents, and 2 vehicles. 32 sites are reservation only and the other 75 sites are first come, first served. A fee-for-use dump-station is available for RV camping at the south end of the campground. Loops A & B are for RV campers, Loops C & D are for tent campers. Call (877) 444-6777 to make reservations. Please note there is a $9 booking fee when reserving a site.

The Sunset Campground closes during the winter, costs $10 per night, and is located opposite of Sunset Point approximately 1.5 miles south of the visitor center. All 101 camp sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis, no reservations can be made. The campground is close to the best hiking trails which begin and end at Sunset Point. Loops B & C are for tent campers, Loop A is for RV camping. RV and trailer combinations over 45 feet are discouraged, but not prohibited. There are two wheelchair-accessible sites located in Loop A.

The Sunset Campground Group Site is available by reservation, costs $3 per person over the age of six, but has a minimum cost of $30 per night. Group size is limited to 7-30 people and 8 vehicles. Call (877) 444-6777 to make your reservation.

Coral Pink Sand Dunes Sate Park, Escalante State Park, Kodachrome Basin State Park, Anasazi Indian Village State Park, Dixie National Forest, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Zion National Park, Grand Canyon National Park, Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, Cedar Breaks National Monument, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Capitol Reef National Park, Vermilion Cliffs National Monument, and Kaibab Indian Reservation.

Regular commercial flights serve Cedar City (87 miles), St. George (150 miles), Salt Lake City (270 miles), as well as Las Vegas, Nevada (270 miles). The Bryce Canyon Airport (4 miles), operated by Garfield County, has commercial flights from Las Vegas; Private planes are welcome at this local airport.

Driving from the north or south on US Hwy 89: Turn east on Utah Hwy 12 (seven miles south of Panguitch, Utah) and travel to the junction of Utah 12 and 63. Turn south (right) onto Utah 63 and travel three miles to reach the park entrance.

Driving from the east: Travel west on Utah 12 to the intersection of Utah 63, turn south (left) to reach the park entrance.

Bryce Canyon is one of many busy national parks that have recently implemented a mass transit system to minimize vehicle congestion and the resulting impacts that jeopardize the very things we all treasure about national parks. Although using the shuttle system is not mandatory, by riding the buses you will show that you support the park’s efforts to keep the parking lots from growing any larger, keep the park’s pure air as clean possible, and provide enough room in this little park for everyone to experience the magic of Bryce Canyon.

Using the Bryce Canyon Shuttle is easy, free, and convenient. If you are not staying over night inside the park, it is strongly encourage you leave your vehicle outside the park. Please park and board the shuttle at the Shuttle Parking and Boarding Area, or at Ruby’s Inn and Campground. Look for the Shuttle Parking and Boarding Area immediately to your left after turning off Hwy 12 and onto the Bryce Canyon entrance Road, also known as Hwy 63. You will be sure to see our American Flag flying high above the prairie. Alternatively you may continue further down Hwy 63 and park and board the shuttle at Ruby’s Inn and Campground near the park boundary. The shuttle runs from the end of May to mid-September making stops approximately every 12 minutes.

Approximate Mileage from the following major cities to Bryce Canyon National Park:

By Car:

Flagstaff, AZ – 284.47 miles

Provo, UT – 226.42 miles

Grand Junction, CO – 326.33 miles

Farmington, NM – 377.94 miles

Phoenix, AZ – 428.53 miles

Las Vegas, NV – 260.98 miles

Bryce Canyon National Park, PO Box 640201 Bryce Canyon, UT 84764-0201
Phone (435) 834-5322

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