Bryce Canyon

Visit Bryce Canyon for an Uncrowded, Otherworldly Experience

by Marina Turea
438 views

Driving from Las Vegas, Bryce Canyon National Park is a 260-mile, 4-hour drive. 

Bryce Canyon National Park in Southwest Utah ranks as one of the most magnificent and awe-inspiring places on earth. The park was named after Ebenezer Bryce, who settled in the canyon with his wife during the 1870s. However, this spectacular canyon remained unknown to the general public until the national park was established in 1924.

It’s a landscape of largely unspoiled natural beauty, and many tourists overlook Bryce Canyon in favor of better known and more accessible spots like the Grand Canyon or Zion National Park. 

There are no airports close-by, so driving is the only way to get there. While it could be considered a day trip, to fully appreciate the glory of Bryce Canyon, take your time, and spend the night. You’ll be rewarded with a relaxing and uncrowded opportunity to experience one of the most unique landscapes on the planet.

Special High Altitude Considerations

The elevation at Bryce Canyon National Park ranges from a low of 6,300 feet to over 9,000 feet. If you have high-altitude breathing issues, this is something to take into account. Hikers should also take a few days to adjust to the altitude; you may experience shortness of breath the first few days.

 

Experiencing Bryce Canyon

Experiencing Bryce Canyon

Bryce Canyon is a place of intricately carved archways and towers of stone, shimmering under the bright desert sun in a dazzling array of rich, red colors. 

The otherworldly rock formations of Bryce Canyon National Park are carved out of the edge of a high, alpine plateau. 

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Natural bridges, red-rock amphitheaters, and unusual rock pillars, called hoodoos, create a truly surreal landscape. This otherworldly landscape is occasionally accentuated by the gnarled trunks of the bristlecone pine, among the oldest living trees on the planet.

During the day, you’ll be able to explore a network of trails, either on foot or on horseback. These trails lead you through a strange landscape of red sandstone, finally reaching the park’s breathtaking vistas. 

At night, the park’s remote location and superior air quality is a boon to stargazers; the Milky Way explodes into view as you look up, and gaze in wonder.

Besides hiking the trails, driving the scenic roads will lead you through lovely meadows and forests of fragrant piñon pine; here you can see mule deer and many other animals that make this place their home. 

The winter brings regular snowfall, further transforming the landscape, offering cross-country skiers and snowshoers the opportunity to explore the otherworldly landscape while dusted in pristine white snow.

 

Staying at Bryce Canyon

Staying at Bryce Canyon

Once again, while you could theoretically make Bryce Canyon a day trip from Las Vegas, it involves at least 4-hours of driving each way. Fortunately, there is lodging here; there are two campgrounds, as well as the Bryce Canyon Lodge. There is also a General Store at the park, with snacks, camping supplies, a laundromat, and showers.

The two campgrounds are near the visitor center, nestled under the majestic Ponderosa pines. However, the campsites are on a first-come, first-serve basis, with no reservations. The sites generally fill up by the early afternoon in the summer months, so if you plan to camp, get there early.

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If you’re really adventurous and physically fit, you can also get a backcountry camping permit for $5 at the visitor center. There are two trails where you can camp, the Under-the-Rim Trail and the Riggs Spring Loop. Camping in the backcountry is only permitted in the designated campsites.

The historic Bryce Canyon Lodge has 114 rooms, including fifteen cabins. The Lodge was constructed in 1924 from raw stone and timber, in the rustic Arts and Crafts style. The restaurant at Bryce Canyon Lodge serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and there is also a pizzeria on the grounds, so you won’t go hungry.

You can also find lodging in the nearby towns of Tropic, Cannonville, or Hatch.

 

Bryce Canyon is a Four-Season Affair

Bryce Canyon is a Four-Season Affair

You can enjoy Bryce Canyon National Park year-round. Remember, the park’s high elevation makes it much cooler than the surrounding areas; even in summer, highs rarely go beyond 80 degrees.

Spring brings an abundance of wildflowers bursting into bloom across the alpine meadows, and freshly melted snow fills the rambling streams. It’s a lovely time to go hiking and take in the fresh air. Temperatures in the spring range in the 50s and 60s during the day, and in the 20s and 30s at night.

Summer is the most popular time for visitors to frequent this park. Daytime temperatures are in the high 70s to low 80s. Likewise, summer is the rainy season here in Bryce Canyon, so be prepared for short, but frequent thunderstorms and dramatic downpours. It’s also wise to be aware of the potential for flash floods.

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Fall’s colorful foliage bursts forth in the lower elevations of the park, and the summer crowds begin to thin out. Snow isn’t uncommon as early as October, so bring a coat and plan accordingly.

Winter brings heavier snow by December, so bring your snowshoes and cross-country skis to celebrate the holidays at Bryce. Winter also brings mesmerizing full moon snowshoeing tours as well as winter stargazing programs.

 

Things to Do at Bryce Canyon National Park

There is plenty to do for everyone at Bryce Canyon, whether you want to take a scenic drive, a relaxing stroll, or a strenuous backcountry hike.

Hiking at Bryce Canyon National Park

Hiking at Bryce Canyon

Whether wandering through the fragrant forests above or exploring the mystical hoodoos in the valley below, hiking Bryce Canyon is one of a kind experience. Bryce Canyon offers everything from easy, paved walkways to challenging backcountry trails, so there’s something for every fitness level.

Families with small children, as well as visitors with limited time, can take a short scenic hike along the Mossy Cave Trail or the Bristlecone Loop.  You can also join up with a ranger-guided rim walk or better yet, go on a ranger-guided full moon hike.

If you have more time, the 5.7 mile Rim Trail goes all around the entire rim of the amphitheater. It’s also paved from Sunrise Point to Sunset Point.

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Outdoor adventurers who crave a backcountry experience will love the 8.4-mile Riggs Spring Loop Trail; this trail drops below the plateau’s rim down into the forested valleys. 

Here, you can camp in one of four backcountry campsites. For the physically fit, experienced hiker, there’s the 22.7-mile Under-the-Rim Trail. There are eight backcountry campsites along this trail, to rest your weary bones, and gaze at the stars.

Scenic Drives

The very best views can be found at the scenic overlooks along the 18 mile stretch of Highway 63 that crosses through the park. If you drive south along Hwy 63, all of the park’s overlooks will be on the east side of the road, to the left. For the best view of the red-rock spires, go left off the road one mile south of the park to Fairyland Canyon. Here, the legendary hoodoos will be at eye level, for the most perfect pictures.

Horseback Riding

Horseback Riding

From spring through fall, you can rent a horse at the Canyon Trail Rides for a two to four-hour guided ride. The horseback tour goes through the amphitheater on a trail dedicated to horseback riding. You can also ride the Peek-A-Boo Loop Trail, for a unique experience.

Mountain Biking and Cycling

Within the park, all paved roads are open to cyclists, however, the trails are not. Road cyclists can test their endurance on the steep grades and switchbacks of Scenic Byway 12, through the northeast corner of the park. It’s a challenging ride, but the sweeping vista is the ultimate reward.

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Mountain bikers will need to test their skills on the open trails outside the park. For example, Thunder Mountain Trail is an 8-mile, mostly smooth, mountain biking trail that leads through the Ponderosa pines for an astounding view of Thunder Mountain. Likewise, riders can hit the 5.5-mile Casto Canyon Trail or the 9-mile Cassidy Trail, named after Butch Cassidy. The famous outlaw was a Utah native, and once roamed this region.

Winter Sports

Winter Sports

Winter is when the brilliant colors of Bryce Canyon are at their best. The gleaming white snow stands in stark contrast to the intense red, orange and pink colors of the hoodoos, rock spires and cliffs.

The park leaves Paria Point and Fairyland Roads unplowed for snowshoers and cross-country skiers to enjoy. Likewise, most of the park’s trails are open to visitors with snowshoes or with traction added to their hiking boots, such as mountaineering crampons. You can also take advantage of a one or two-mile ranger-led hike on snowshoes.

For those who make the effort to reach Bryce Canyon, the park offers unexpected rewards. The otherworldly landscapes of red rock pillars and hoodoos are an opportunity to take mesmerizing photographs, especially at sunrise and sunset. The forests and high alpine meadows have a special allure for hikers, and the deep, dark night skies are the dream of stargazers the world over. Do something different this year, and visit Bryce Canyon National Park.

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