Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
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The park is named for Mormon pioneer Ebenezer Bryce, who moved to the area in
1875 with his wife Mary and tried raising cattle. Although they stayed only a few years,
Bryce left behind his name and his oft-quoted description of the canyon as “a helluva
place to lose a cow.”
ESSENTIALS
GETTING THERE
The closest major towns with airports are
St. George
(130 miles
southwest on I-15) and
Cedar City
(on I-15 about 80 miles west of the park).
From St. George, travel north on I-15 for 10 miles to exit 16, then head east on Utah
9 for 63 miles to US 89, north 44 miles to Utah 12, and east 13 miles to the park
entrance road. The entrance station is 3 miles south of Utah 12. From Cedar City (I-15
exits 57, 59, and 62), follow Utah 14 west 41 miles to its intersection with US 89, and
take US 89 north 21 miles to Utah 12, then east 17 miles to the park entrance road.
Utah 12 runs east-west across the park. The bulk of the park, including the visitor
center, is accessible from Utah 63, which branches off from Utah 12 and goes south into
the main portions of the park. Utah 89 runs north to south, west of the park, and Utah
12 heads east to Tropic.
VISITOR INFORMATION
Contact
Bryce Canyon National Park,
P.O. Box 640201,
Bryce, UT 84764-0201 (
&
435/834-5322;
www.nps.gov/brca). You can order books,
maps, and videos from the nonprofit
Bryce Canyon Natural History Association,
P.O.
Box 640051, Bryce, UT 84764-0051 (
&
888/362-2642
or 435/834-4602; www.bryce
canyon.org).
The
visitor center,
at the north end of the park, has exhibits on the geology and his-
tory of the area, and a short introductory program. Rangers provide information and
backcountry permits. The visitor center is open daily year-round except Thanksgiving
and December 25.
FEES
Entry to the park (for up to 7 days) costs $25 per private vehicle, $12 per indi-
vidual on foot, bicycle, or motorcycle, which includes unlimited use of the park shuttle
(when it's operating, usually late May to early Sept).
Backcountry camping permits, available at the visitor center, are required for all over-
night trips into the backcountry. Cost is $5 per trip for one or two individuals, $10 for
three to six people, and $15 for 7 to 15 campers. Groups of 7 to 15 can camp only in
group sites.
RANGER PROGRAMS
Evening talks, which may include a slide show, take place
most nights at campground amphitheaters. Topics vary but may include such subjects as
the animals and plants of the park, geology, and the role of humans in the park's early
days. Rangers also give half-hour talks on similar subjects several times daily at various
locations in the park. They also lead hikes and walks, including a moonlight hike (reser-
vations required) and a wheelchair-accessible 1-hour canyon rim walk. Schedules are
posted on bulletin boards at the visitor center, general store, campgrounds, and Bryce
Canyon Lodge. During the summer, children under 13 can join the Junior Rangers,
participate in a variety of programs, and earn badges and certificates.
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SEEING THE HIGHLIGHTS
Because this is our favorite national park, we would be happy to spend our entire vaca-
tion here. But if you insist on saving time for the many other fascinating areas in the
Southwest, there are ways to see a good deal of Bryce in a short amount of time.
