Bryce Canyon's Galactic Geometry

Like a fine wine or Ziggy Stardust, Bryce Canyon only gets better with age. Bryce’s unlikely amphitheatres took 60 million years to make but us measly humans only just stumbled upon them. Reuben “Ruby” Syrett thought that a terrific waste, so he built a lodge and some cabins in 1916, which he named Ruby's Inn, to help the world’s un-Bryced population make up for lost time.

It's pretty darn easy to create your own family traditions when you take the entire crew to Bryce Canyon National Park. Boredom just isn’t an option. You’ll have something to do day and night, year after year and for generations as your family adds layers like so much Jurassic red rock. Maybe your great grandkids will ride hoverboards through Bryce.

 

HORSEBACK RIDING IN THE BRYCE CANYON AREA

Horseback Riding Tour at Bryce Canyon National Park with Ruby's Tours & Guides

  1. Red Canyon
  2. Willis Creek – Sheep Creek (4.5 – 5 hours)
  3. Rock Spring’s Draw – Paria (6.5 – 8 hours)
  4. Rock Spring’s Draw – Snake Creek Ride (7 – 8 hours)
  5. Rock Spring’s Draw – Sam Pollock Arch Ride (9 – 10 hours)

All horseback riding info Winter rides are available by reservation only, 48 hours in advance

 

HIKING TRAILS IN BRYCE CANYON NATIONAL PARK & SURROUNDING AREA

Family hiking in Bryce Canyon National Park

EASY HIKING TRAILS 

6. Sheep Creek | 3–5 miles one way

7. Swamp Canyon Connecting Trail | 1 mile one way

8. Whiteman Connecting Trail | 0.9 mile one way

9. Bristlecone Loop | 1 mile overall

10. Mossy Cave | 0.4 mile one way

11. Red Hollow | 2 miles round-trip

12. Dianas Throne | 2.1 miles round-trip

 

MODERATE HIKING TRAILS

13. Fairyland Loop | 8-mile loop

14. Rim Trail | 5.5 miles one way

15. Queen’s Garden Complex | 0.9 mile one way

16. Navajo Loop | 1.4 miles overall

17. Peekaboo Loop | 5.5 miles overall

18. Agua Canyon Connecting Trail | 1.8 miles one way

19. Riggs Spring Loop | 8.8 miles overall

20. Red Canyon Loop | 9.8 miles round-trip

21. Losee Canyon | 3 miles one way

22. Sugar Knoll | 2.1 miles one way

23. White Tower | 6.1 miles one way

24. Willis Creek Slot Canyon | 4 miles round-trip

 

STRENUOUS HIKING TRAILS

25. Under the Rim Trail | 23 miles one way

26. Coral Pink Sand Dunes | 2.5 miles overall

 

MOUNTAIN BIKING NEAR BRYCE CANYON

Mountain Biker on the Thunder Mountain trail in Bryce Canyon National Park

27.Dave’s Hollow area

28. Casto Canyon

29. Paunsaugunt Trail

30. Pine Lake/Powell Point

31. Kodachrome Basin

32. Bryce Canyon Premier Bike Trail

33. Red Canyon to Bryce Canyon Bike Trail (paved)

34. Thunder Mountain Trail

35. Brian Head Resort

36. Cassidy Trail

Note: Keep to designated trails and roads in all scenic places. Bicycles are only permitted along paved bike trails within Bryce Canyon National Park.

 

GUIDED ATV/UTV TOURS

An adult and child riding on a four wheeler in Utah

37. Half-hour ride

38. One-hour ride

39. One-hour sunset ride

 

RANGER-GUIDED ACTIVITIES

Stargazing under the Milky Way at Bryce Canyon National Park

40. Starry Nights Telescope Viewing

41. Geology Talks

42. Rim Walk

43. Kids’ Programs

44. Full Moon Hikes

45. Astronomy Programs

46. Snowshoe Hikes

Note: All programs are subject to change. Weather and staffing permitting. Check in with the visitor center for more information.

 

HOTEL & CAMPGROUND ACTIVITIES

Pool at Ruby's RV Park & Campground near Bryce Canyon National Park

47. Swim in the pool at Ruby’s Inn or Bryce Canyon Grand Hotel

48. Play Marco Polo in the swimming pool at Ruby’s RV Park & Campground

49. Hot tub!

50. Hotel room movie marathon

 

ENTERTAINMENT

Western singers in Cowboy hats

51. Bryce Canyon Country Rodeo

52. Live country music at Ebenezer's Barn & Grill

 

FOOD

53. Canyon Diner

54. Cowboy's Buffet & Steak Room

55. General Store: Groceries, coffee, drinks, snacks

56. Ice Cream in the Old Bryce Town

 

EVENTS

57. Bryce Canyon Mule Days (May)

58. Bryce 100, 50 & 50k Trail Run (June)

59. Annual Bryce Canyon Half Marathon & 5K (July)

60. Annual Geology Festival (July)

61. Boulder Heritage Festival (July)

62. Garfield County Fair (August)

63. Bryce ATV Rally (August)

64. Bryce Canyon Fly-In & Car Show (August)

65. Bryce Canyon Rim Run (August)

66. Escalante Canyons Art Festival / Everett Ruess Day (September)

67. Escalante Canyons Marathon & 10-Miler (October)

68. New Year's Eve Celebration (December)

69. Fishing Derby (January)

70. Bryce Canyon Winter Festival (February)

71. Escalante Heritage Festival (May)

72. Bryce Canyon Astronomy Festival (May–June)

73 Quilt Walk Festival (June)

 

WINTER ACTIVITIES

Snowshoeing through the woods

74. Snowshoeing

75. Cross country skiing

76. Ice skating

77. Sleigh rides

78. Snowmobiling (Note: not permitted in the park, but there are nearby areas in Garfield County where you can snowmobile)

More winter activities info

 

SCENIC FLIGHTS

Bryce Canyon under gray clouds

79. Airborne photography tour

80. Scenic tour of Bryce in a helicopter or open cockpit bi-plane

81. Fly over Bryce & The Grand Canyon

82. Fly to Monument Valley

83. Fly over Bryce Canyon & Zion National Park

84. Fly over Bryce, Monument Valley & Zion National Park

 

ARTS & CULTURE

85. Western Arts Gallery

 

SOUVENIR SHOPPING

86. Rock Shop in Old Town Bryce

87. Ruby’s Inn General Store: gifts, books, Native American art, knives, pottery, jewelry, etc.

 

VIEWPOINTS & SCENIC DRIVES

Sunrise or Sunset at Bryce Canyon National park

88. Sunrise Point

89. Sunset Point

90. Inspiration Point

91. Bryce Point

92. Paria View

93. Fairview Point

94. Natural Bridge

95. Rainbow Point

96. Yovimpa Point

97. Scenic Byway 12

 

EXPLORE NEARBY AREAS

98. Kodachrome Basin State Park

99. Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument

100. Escalante State Park