Bryce Canyon National Park

Bryce Canyon National Park is a national park in Utah's Canyon Country. Some 35,835 acres (14,502 ha) or 56 mi² (145 km²) in extent, the designated area around the spectacular Bryce Canyon (not actually a canyon, but rather a giant natural amphitheater created by erosion) became a United States National Monument in 1923 and was designated as a National Park in 1928. The park is one of the most popular in Utah, with nearly one million people visiting each year to take in Bryce's spectacular scenery.

History
The area was settled by Mormon pioneers in the 1850s and was named after Ebenezer Bryce, who homesteaded in the area in 1875 and was known to have described the canyon as "a hell of a place to lose a cow". 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 government. The land was acquired and the name was restored to Bryce Canyon. On February 25, 1928, Bryce Canyon officially became a national park.

Landscape


Bryce Canyon consists of a series of horseshoe-shaped amphitheaters carved from the eastern edge of the Paunsaugunt Plateau in southern Utah. The erosional force of frost-wedging and the dissolving power of rainwater have shaped the colorful limestone rock of the Claron Formation into bizarre shapes including slot canyons, windows, fins, and spires called "hoodoos." The varied colors of the rocks and rock formations contribute to the spectacular views.

Bryce lies at a much higher elevation than nearby Zion National Park and the Grand Canyon, varying from 8,000 to 9,000 feet (2,440 to 2,740 m), whereas the south rim of the Grand Canyon sits at 7,000 feet (2130 m) above sea level. Bryce Canyon National Park therefore has a substantially different ecology and climate, offering a contrast for visitors who visit all three parks in a single vacation.

Flora and fauna
Bryce Canyon is home to 59 species of mammals including mule deer, elk, gray fox, black bears, mountain lions, coyotes, marmots, ground squirrels and pronghorn antelope. 175 different species of birds have been documented to frequent Bryce Canyon National Park, including swifts, turkeys, red-tailed hawks, swallows, jays, nuthatches, ravens, eagles and owls.

When visiting, do not, under any circumstances, feed the wildlife or allow wildlife to obtain human food. Animals which obtain food from humans often become aggressive, will sometimes get ill or even die due to a change in diet, and most seriously stop foraging for natural foods and frequently starve to death in winter months when human food is no longer available.

Climate
From April through October the park's weather is relatively mild, with pleasant days, cool nights and occasional thunderstorms. Temperatures drop during winter months, with many clear sunny days reflecting off of the deep snowpacks. The park boasts some of the world's best air quality, offering panoramic views of three states and approaching 200 miles of visibility. This, coupled with the lack of nearby large light sources, creates unparalleled opportunities for stargazing.

Visitor information

 * Park website

By car
The park's main road is Utah State Route 63, which is accessed from Utah State Route 12. The road into the park is open year-round, although it may be impassable during heavy winter storms.

By air
The small, off Utah State Route 12 near the park entrance, only serves general aviation and charter flights.

The nearest cities with commercial airline service are Cedar City and St. George, both of which are served by SkyWest Airlines/Delta Connection from Salt Lake City, with United Express serving St. George from Denver. From Cedar City, you can get to Bryce Canyon via Utah State Route 14 (from Cedar City to US-89, passing near Cedar Breaks National Monument en route), US Route 89 (from UT-14 to UT-12), and finally Utah State Route 12. From St. George, drive up Interstate 15 to Cedar City and follow the directions from there. Alternatively, you can take Utah State Route 9 (from Harrisburg Junction to US-89) through Zion National Park, although this requires paying the $25 entry fee to Zion.

The closest full-scale commercial airports to Bryce Canyon are in Las Vegas and Salt Lake City, which are connected to St. George and Cedar City by Interstate 15.

Fees and permits
Entrance fees are valid for seven days and include free and unlimited use of the park shuttles during the summer. Entrance fees as of 2020 are:
 * $20 Per Person
 * $30 Motorcycle
 * $35 Private Vehicle
 * $40 Bryce Canyon Annual Pass

By car
The eighteen mile long park road is easily accessible to automobiles, although it is closed beyond Rainbow Gate during winter storms. Traffic may be heavy during the summer, and some viewpoints may not have parking available. If you're not staying overnight in the park, it is recommended that you park at the shuttle parking area at the entrance and ride the shuttle through the park.

By shuttle
A park shuttle runs during the peak summer months (May–October), allowing people to park their cars outside of the park and then travel to the overlooks along the road. Shuttles run from well before sunrise until after sunset and ensure that a full parking lot won't prevent a visit to any of the park's sights.

By foot
For backpackers there are multi-day trails that run the length of the park. Permits are required for all overnight camping.

By bike
Bikes are not allowed on most of the park trails, but they are useful for avoiding traffic around the sometimes busy viewpoints. Be aware that much of the park lies between 8,000 and 9,000 feet of elevation, making travel by bicycle much more difficult than it would be at lower elevations.

By guided tour
A number of companies provide guided tours of Bryce Canyon that include transportation from the surrounding areas. Some companies will provide bus travel from nearby towns while others begin in Bryce Canyon. Some will provide just a brief tour with small stops, while others may take you on a hike, and arrange all your meals.

Hiking
Bryce has many hiking options that range from easy, fairly level paved trails to multi-day backpacking trips. (All map points below are for the trailhead.)



Photography


The park is a mecca for landscape photographers, with clear air and incredible scenery making for amazing photographs. Offseason trips may be best in order to avoid crowds, although the best light for photographing the amphitheater occurs during the long days of summer, with the light just after sunrise and before sunset best for bringing out the colors of the rock. Additionally, like much of the Southwest the Bryce Canyon landscape offers great opportunities to experiment with panorama photos.

Horseback riding
Guests wanting to join a guided horse riding trip can do so during the spring, summer and fall.



Buy
The visitor center has a well-stocked gift shop featuring books, posters, and numerous other souvenirs. The general store (near Sunrise Point) offers food, camping supplies, and more souvenirs. There is also a gift shop within Bryce Canyon Lodge.

Outside of the park is a mind-numbing array of shops catering to tourists and offering treasures ranging from pop-tarts to bumper stickers.

Eat
The general store near Sunrise Point offers basic food supplies. Bryce Canyon Lodge has a dining room offering breakfast, lunch and dinner; reservations for dinner are required.

If you're staying late in the park to watch the sunset, keep in mind that nearly all restaurants close at 9 o'clock; the grocery store stays open for about an hour later.

Lodging
The only hotel within the park is Bryce Canyon Lodge, which is between Sunrise and Sunset Points.



Camping
There are two campgrounds within the park. Facilities at the campgrounds include drinking water and restrooms, and pay showers are available during the summer at the general store.





Additional campgrounds cluster outside of the park's borders:



Backcountry
All backcountry camping is by permit only. Permits can be obtained for a $5 fee at the visitor center and are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Overnight camping is allowed only on the Under-the-Rim trail and Riggs Spring Loop trail.

Stay safe
Be especially careful with children around the canyon edges; drop-offs are steep and not all areas are protected by railings. During thunderstorms avoid isolated trees and open areas and, if possible, stay in your vehicle to protect against lightning strikes. There is little danger from mountain lions, but should one be encountered gather small children, back away slowly, and make yourself look as large as possible.

Altitude in the park reaches as high as 9,100 feet, so most visitors will experience some shortness of breath while hiking, and in extreme cases headaches and respiratory problems may be experienced. For those not used to the elevation, pace yourself and take a few days to acclimate before attempting any strenuous physical activity.

Unlike the other national parks of southern Utah, heat is not a major problem due to the park's high elevation. Temperatures rarely reach 90°F (32°C), even during the height of day in summer months.

Go next
Bryce Canyon National Park is near several other well-known parks and monuments, including Monument Valley, Grand Canyon National Park, Arches National Park, and Great Basin National Park.
 * Zion National Park. Zion National Park is 78 miles west of Bryce National Park and offers incredible scenery amongst sandstone canyons.
 * Red Canyon. Nine miles west of Bryce Canyon, Highway 12 passes through the floor Red Canyon allowing views up at hoodoos similar to those in Bryce Canyon without the need to climb down to their bases. The road also passes through two man-made arches.  There are hiking trails in Red Canyon which are open year-round, weather permitting.