Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Or contact the
DixieNationalForestInformationCenter,
345 E. Riverside Dr., St.
George, UT 84790 (
&
435/688-3246;
www.fs.fed.us/dxnf).
CAMPING King Creek Campground,
above Tropic Reservoir, has graded gravel
roads and sites nestled among tall ponderosa pines. About 9 1/2 miles west of the
park is
Red Canyon Campground,
named for its vermilion-colored rock forma-
tions.
Sports & Activities
FISHING
The closest fishing hole to Bryce Canyon National Park is at
TropicReser-
voir,
in Dixie National Forest, which is a large lake in a ponderosa pine forest. From
the national park entrance road, drive west about 3 miles on Utah 12 to a gravel
road, turn left (south), and go about 7 miles. There's good fishing for rainbow,
brook, and cutthroat trout, although some locals say fishing is sometimes better in
streams above the lake than in the lake itself. Day use at the lake is free. There is
also a Forest Service campground open in the summer and a boat ramp.
Note:
The
boat ramp is not useable during low water periods, so check with the Red Canyon
Visitor Center (see above) before dragging your boat there.
HIKING
There are about a dozen trails in the Red Canyon area of the park, and a free
map is available at visitor centers. (See information above, under “Information &
Visitor Centers.”) Some trails are open to hikers only; others are also open to moun-
tain bikers, equestrians, and those with all-terrain vehicles. One especially scenic
multiuse trail is the 5.5-mile (one-way)
CastoCanyonTrail,
which runs along the
bottom of Casto Canyon. It connects with the 8.9-mile (one-way)
CassidyTrail
(le-
gend has it that outlaw Butch Cassidy used this trail) (see “Butch Cassidy Slept
Here,” chapter 1) and the 2.9-mile (one-way)
LoseeCanyonTrail
to produce a loop
of about 17 miles that is ideal for a backpacking trip of several days. Watch for
elk in the winter, and pronghorns and raptors year-round. The Casto Canyon and
Losee Canyon trails are considered moderate, while Cassidy Trail ranges from easy
to strenuous.
SheepCreekTrail
connects the national forest to Bryce Canyon Na-
tional Park.
For a quick, scenic walk, take the 1-mile
PinkLedgesTrail
that starts just outside
the Red Canyon Visitor Center, at the east end of the parking lot. Rated moder-
ate because of a few steep inclines, the trail has several signs discussing trees and
plants, and good views of surrounding hoodoos. The only downside is that you
can't escape the road noise from Utah 12.
HORSEBACKRIDING
If you've brought your own horse, you'll have a number of rid-
ing opportunities on the forest's multiuse trails. Those without horses of their own
can still explore Red Canyon on horseback with
RedCanyonTrailRides
(
&
800/
