Top 6 Reasons to Visit Bryce Canyon Country

1. Bryce Canyon National Park

Bryce Canyon National Park is stunning park filled with hundreds of hoodoos. “Bizarre, fanciful, whimsical and delicate” are words used by the visitors center to describe the formations made by a combination of erosion and rock. The Southern Paiute Indians said, “Hoodoo comes from the Southern Paiute word [ooh doo] for being afraid, for showing fear. The way we say it is ‘uuuudoooooooooo’. It’s an expression of scary.” -Glendora Homer

Hiking amongst these formations may not be scary, but it is other worldy and quite magnificent and something you will always remember. Bryce Canyon is also one of the darkest places in North America lending itself to amazing star gazing opportunities. In summer months astronomy presentations occur on Wednesday and Friday evenings or you can join in a ranger led night hike to watch the stars.

2. Accessibility

The viewpoints at Bryce Canyon National Park are accessible by car and most have sidewalks or ramps that accommodate individuals with reduced mobility, those struggling with walking long distances and small children. The Rim Trail has a section about half a mile long that is paved and as the name suggests, hugs the rim of the canyon for magnificent views. There are several benches along the way to rest and enjoy the view.

The park also offers a shuttle during summer months making it convenient to get around to the different viewpoints and areas of interest. Stop by the visitors center for more information.

3. Red Canyon

Red Canyon is often overlooked due to its proximity to Bryce Canyon National Park. Red Canyon is a beautiful area that boasts a campground, a visitors center, hiking and biking trails. There are easy hikes for smaller children and those who are unable to go long distances and there are more advanced hikes for the experienced hiker. The mountain biking is world class. Our favorite hike in the area is the 4.8 mile Golden Wall/Buckhorn Loop for experienced hikers, the .8 mile Birdseye trail to see some of the rock formations up close and Thunder Mountain for advanced mountain biking. There is an easy paved biking trail that leads from Red Canyon up to Bryce Canyon.

4. Kodachrome Basin State Park

Kodachrome Basin State Park is a lesser known area that is only a 25 minute drive from Bryce Canyon National Park. Nestled among 67 monolithic spires, this beautiful park will surprise you. If you prefer less traveled adventures then this is the place for you. Horseback riding, hiking and biking are nearby activities enjoyed by visitors. The park offers 3 campgrounds, hot showers, picnic tables, restrooms and drinking water. Star gazing is magnificent at Kodachrome Basin.

Try the Grand Parade hike for a short 1.5 mile hike or our favorite, the 1.5 mile Angel’s Palace Trail rising up 150 feet off the basin floor. We also recommend the short drive out to see Chimney Rock then over to Shakespeare Arch.

5. Proximity to Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument

Grand Staircase-Escalante is where you will find beautiful waterfall hikes such as Lower and Upper Calf Creek Falls (not to be missed), slot canyons to explore such as Willis Creek Slot Canyon and Zebra Canyon and Devil’s Garden to name a few. There is so much to see and do. Be sure to research and remember to always practice Leave No Trace principles.

Grand Staircase is a wilder area that is known to house Indian ruins, amazing geology and beauty around every turn. Be aware that the roads in Grand Staircase-Escalante are dirt roads and can become impassible in wet conditions. Check the weather and be sure to avoid slot canyons if there is a chance of rain.

6. Activities

The many fun activities make it easy to cater to differing interests. We recently visited in the winter and had a great time cross-country skiing and going on a horse-drawn sleigh ride. There are ATV trails, snowshoeing trails, hiking and biking trails, wagon rides, helicopter rides, fishing, star gazing and more. The activities center at Ruby’s Inn can tell you about current activities and help you plan a fun outing. Don’t forget to stop into the visitor centers to take advantage of the programs they offer.

I hope you enjoy visiting Bryce Canyon Country!

Carri