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Visitor
Center/Exhibits: The park visitor center
is open year round except Thanksgiving Day,
December 25, and January 1. A ten-minute slide
program, exhibits, restrooms, information, and
backcountry permits are available here. In addition,
maps and other publications are available for
purchase through Bryce Canyon Natural History
Association.
Trails,
Roads: The 18-mile main park road winds
along the edge of the plateau, terminating at
the south end of the park. 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 10:00 a.m. and
after 5:00 p.m.
Because
all of Bryce Canyon's viewpoints are east of
the main park road, we recommend that you 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 to avoid
making left turns in front of oncoming traffic.
Special
Concerns: 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 Ruby¹s
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 over 25 feet in length are allowed
at Paria View where the parking area is too
small for large vehicles to turn around.
Marked
bus parking spaces are available at all parking
lots which can accommodate buses. Bus engines
should be turned off while parked. Motorhomes
and trailers are not permitted in spaces designated
for buses.
The
park has over 50 miles of hiking trails with
a range 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 1/2-mile
(one way) 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 steeper 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 permit is required for overnight backcountry
camping and is available at the park Visitor
Center. A $5 donation is requested for backcountry
use.
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.
Junior
Ranger Program: The Junior Ranger Program
offers children ages 12 and under the opportunity
to learn more about the park. Although the program
is designed as an independent learning experience
in an effort to accommodate individual family
schedules, one important requirement is that
the kids attend a ranger-guided activity. Recommended
minimum time needed for completion of the program
is approximately one full day. When kids 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.
Volunteers
in Parks (VIPs): Each year at Bryce Canyon,
volunteers donate more than 10,000 hours of
service--over 10% 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.
Currently
the park is seeking volunteer applications for
a winter/spring Museum Tech position. Call 435/834-4412
or visit the Volunteers In Parks Job Opportunities
page of the NPS ParkNet website www.nps.gov/volunteer/jobs
for a position description and on-line application.
To
learn about other 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
and camping facilities: 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. Make lodging reservations
on-line at www.amfac.com. Or you can 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.
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 6 people, 3 tents, and 2 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. Group Camping:
One group site is available in Sunset Campground
by reservation only from approximately May 15
through October 10 (depending on weather).
•Maximum
size limit of 30 people and eight vehicles.
Minimum of seven people.
•Fee charged is the greater of either $30
per night or $3 per night per person 6 years
and older. Fee is payable upon arrival.
•Site is assigned by lottery held on February
1 of each year. Only one application per party
will be included in the drawing. All non-competitive
requests will be granted. All requests received
after February 1 will be granted on a first-received,
first-served basis.
•Reservations are accepted by mail, phone,
or FAX.
Call 435/834-4801 for more information.
Private,
Utah State Parks, and US Forest Service campgrounds
are located throughout the area.
Food/supplies:
Amfac Parks and Resorts, Inc. 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 Visitor 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, PO Box 128, Tropic, UT 84776, or call
435/679-8665 or 435/834-5500 for information
and reservations.
Accessibility:
Most park 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 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.
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