Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
details, check with park offices or the Bryce Canyon Natural History Association
(
&
888/362-2642
or 435/834-4782; www.brycecanyon.org).
Bryce Canyon in Outer Space
In 2007, the International Astronomical Union approved the naming of minor planet 49272 as Bryce
Canyon. There are hundreds of thousands of minor planets—most of us call them aster-
oids—ranging in size from several yards across to hundreds of miles across. The Bryce Canyon as-
teroid, estimated to be 3 to 5 miles across, orbits the Sun between Mars and Jupiter, but is too dim
to be seen by the naked eye or even with a small telescope.
Guided Tours
For a bird's-eye view of the canyon and its numerous formations, contact
Bryce
Canyon Airlines & Helicopters
(
&
435/834-8060;
www.rubysinn.com/bryce-
canyon-airlines.html) for scenic flights by helicopter or open cockpit bi-plane.
Tours last from about 35 minutes to several hours, and the longer trips include sur-
rounding attractions. Prices start at about $100 per person, and reservations are re-
quired.
Several national
adventuretouroperators
offer guided biking, hiking, and back-
packing trips near the park, and other companies offer more traditional tour pack-
ages.
Especially for Kids
Bryce Canyon is a fantasyland that kids love—even teenagers trying their hardest
to be bored will have a great deal of trouble not being fascinated by the bizarre and
whimsical stone shapes that are the essence of this park. Among the best trails for
kids are
Queen'sGardenTrail
★★★and
NavajoLoopTrail
★, which are not only
fairly easy, but lead to some of the park's best hoodoos. Teenagers with a bit more
stamina will probably enjoy the 8-mile
FairylandLoop.
Details on all the hikes are
available in the “Day Hikes” section of chapter 6.
During the summer, children can join the
JuniorRangers,
participate in a variety
of programs, and earn free patches. Junior Rangers booklets are available at the
visitor center. In addition, park rangers periodically conduct
specialkids'activit-
