href="#fb3_img_img_34a15392-fe09-5df4-88d1-afea6a6fc9c6.jpg" alt="Black-Phone_bphone.jpg"/> 435/676-2676), along Utah 12, about 11 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. Or contact the Dixie National Forest Information Center, 345 E. Riverside Dr., St. George (www.fs.fed.us/dxnf; Biking & Mountain Biking The park’s established scenic drive is open to cyclists, but bikes are prohibited on all trails and forbidden from traveling cross-country within the national park boundaries.
Fortunately, you won’t have to go far to find a trail. Dave’s Hollow Trail
FISHING The closest fishing hole to the park is Tropic Reservoir, a large lake in a ponderosa pine forest. From the intersection of Utah 63 (the park entrance road) and Utah 12, drive west about 3 miles to a gravel road, then about 7 miles south. Facilities include a forest service campground open in summer, a boat ramp, and fishing for rainbow, brook, and cutthroat trout. Locals say the fishing can be better in streams above the lake than in the reservoir itself. For more information, contact the Dixie National Forest (see above).
HIKING One of Bryce Canyon’s greatest assets is that you don’t have to be an advanced backpacker to really get to know the park. However, all trails below the rim have at least some steep grades, so wear hiking boots with a traction tread and good ankle support to avoid ankle injuries. During the hot summer months, go hiking either early or late in the day, carry plenty of water, and keep in mind that the deeper you go into the canyon, the hotter it gets.
The Rim Trail, which does not drop into the canyon but offers splendid views from above, meanders along the rim for more than 5 miles. Overlooking Bryce Amphitheater, the trail offers excellent views along much of its length. An easy to moderate walk, it includes a half-mile section between two overlooks—Sunrise and Sunset—that is suitable for wheelchairs. This trail is a good choice for an after-dinner stroll, when you can watch the changing evening light on the rosy rocks below.
Your best bet for getting down into the canyon and seeing the most with the least amount of sweat is to combine two popular trails—Navajo Loop and Queen’s Garden
Those up for a challenge might consider the Hat Shop Trail, a strenuous 4-mile round-trip with a 1,336-foot elevation change. Leaving from the Bryce Point Overlook, the trail drops quickly to the Hat Shop, so-named for the hard gray “hats” perched on narrow reddish-brown pedestals. Allow 4 hours.
For die-hard hikers who don’t mind rough terrain, Bryce has two backcountry trails, usually open in summer only. The Under-the-Rim Trail runs for some 23 miles, providing an excellent opportunity to see the park’s spectacular scenery on its own terms. Riggs Spring Loop Trail, 8½ miles long, offers splendid views of the pink cliffs in the southern part of the park. The truly ambitious can combine the two trails for a weeklong excursion. Permits, available at the visitor center, are required for all overnight trips into the backcountry. They cost $5 for 1 or 2 people, $10 for 3 to 6 people, and $15 for 7 to 15 people (group sites only).
| The Biggest Bird of All |
The rarest flying bird in North America, and one of the largest anywhere, by 1987 the California condor’s population had dwindled to just 22 birds. An aggressive breeding program brought the huge raptors (they have a 10-foot wingspan) back from the edge of extinction and today there are nearly 500 in existence. One of the few spots you might see them is in Bryce Canyon. Ask a park ranger for the likeliest places and times.
Horseback Riding Some of the early Utah pioneers were lucky enough to arrive on horseback. Canyon Trail Rides (www.canyonrides.com;
| Spotting Peregrine Falcons |
For a good chance to see peregrine falcons, go to Paria View and sit quietly away from the crowds; look out over the amphitheater, where these beautiful birds can often be spotted.
Guided horseback rides in Red Canyon are offered by several companies, including Ruby’s Inn Horse Rides (www.horserides.net;
WILDLIFE-WATCHING The park is home to a variety of wildlife, ranging from mule deer to mountain short-horned lizards, which visitors often spot while hiking down into the canyon. Occasionally you might catch a glimpse of a mountain lion, most likely on the prowl in search of a mule-deer dinner; elk and pronghorn may also be seen at higher elevations.
The Utah prairie dog, listed as a threatened species, is actually a rodent. It inhabits park meadows, but should be avoided, as its fleas may carry disease (see “Safety,” earlier in this chapter).
There are 175 species of birds in the park; you’re bound to hear the triumphant call of the “camp robber” Steller’s jay. Watch for swifts and swallows as they perform their exotic acrobatics along cliff faces; binoculars will come in handy.
If you see or hear one, give the Great Basin rattlesnake a wide berth. Sometimes more than 5 feet long, this rattler is the park’s only poisonous reptile. However, like most rattlesnakes, it is just as anxious as you are to avoid confrontation.
Winter Fun
