Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
For additional information on area attractions, contact
BryceCanyonCountry,
operated by the Garfield County Office of Tourism (
&
800/444-6689
or 435/
676-1102; www.brycecanyoncountry.com).
There are a variety of outdoor activities in the Dixie National Forest (discussed
below).
The
BestWesternPlusRuby'sInn
, in Bryce, is practically a one-stop entertain-
ment center for those looking for a bit of variety in their national park vacation.
Directly across Utah 63 from the inn are
OldBryceTownShops,
open daily 8am
to 10pm from May through September, where you'll find a rock shop and a vari-
ety of other stores offering an opportunity to buy that genuine cowboy hat you've
been wanting. There's a trail here especially for kids, where they can search for ar-
rowheads, fossils, and petrified wood; or perhaps they would prefer checking out
the jail.
Nearby,
Bryce Canyon Country Rodeo
(
&
866/782-0002
) showcases bucking
broncos, bull riding, calf roping, and all sorts of rodeo fun in a 1-hour program,
from Memorial Day weekend through late August, Wednesday through Saturday
evenings at 7pm. Admission is $10 for adults, $7 for children 3 to 12, and free for
children 2 and under. Adventurous visitors can also ride: bulls for adults and steers
and sheep for kids. Call for details.
Dixie National Forest
Adjacent to Bryce Canyon National Park
The Dixie National Forest wraps around two-thirds of Bryce Canyon National
Park: All down the west side, around the south end, and about halfway up the
east side. There are a variety of outdoor activities in the forest—hiking, mountain
biking, fishing, camping, and cross-country skiing. Bryce Canyon National Park's
Sheep Creek Trail connects with trails in the national forest. The climate and sea-
sons here are similar to those in Bryce Canyon National Park. (See chapter 10,
“Planning Your Trip to Zion & Bryce Canyon National Parks.”) Most of the areas
and trails discussed below are at elevations between 7,000 and 8,000 feet.
Essentials
INFORMATION&VISITORCENTERS
Stop at the Dixie National Forest's
Red Canyon
Visitor Center
(
&
435/676-2676
), along Utah 12, about 10 1/2 miles west of the
Bryce Canyon National Park entrance road. It's usually open daily from early May
to early October, and offers various interpretative programs on many Saturdays.
