Frommer's National Parks of the American West - Don Laine [70]
VISITOR CENTER
Located at the north end as you enter the park, the visitor center has exhibits on the geology and history of the area and presents a short introductory video program. Rangers answer questions, offer advice, and provide backcountry permits. You can also pick up free brochures and buy books, maps, videos, postcards, and posters. The visitor center is open daily year-round (closed Jan 1, Thanksgiving, and Dec 25). Summer hours are usually from 8am to 8pm, with shorter hours the rest of the year; in the dead of the winter, the center closes at 4:30pm.
FEES & PERMITS
Entry to the park (for up to 7 days) costs $20 per private vehicle, which includes unlimited use of the park shuttle, when it's operating. Campsites cost $10 per night.
Backcountry permits, which cost $5 and are available at the visitor center daily until 8pm, are required for all overnight trips into the backcountry. Backcountry camping is permitted on only two trails; details are available at the visitor center.
SPECIAL REGULATIONS & WARNINGS
Although most visitors to Bryce Canyon enjoy an exciting vacation without serious mishap, accidents can occur. The most common injuries are sprained, twisted, and broken ankles. Park rangers strongly recommend that hikers, even those just out for short day hikes, wear sturdy hiking boots with good traction and ankle support.
Another concern in the park in recent years has been bubonic plague, which, contrary to popular belief, is treatable with antibiotics if caught early. The bacteria that causes bubonic plague has been found on fleas in prairie dog colonies in the park, so you should avoid contact with wild animals, especially prairie dogs, squirrels, and other rodents. Those taking pets into the park should dust them with flea powder. Avoiding contact with infected animals will greatly minimize the chances of contracting this holdover from the Dark Ages, but caution is still necessary. Symptoms, which generally occur 2 to 6 days after exposure, may include high fever, headache, vomiting, diarrhea, and swollen glands. Anyone showing these symptoms after visiting the park should get medical attention immediately— the plague can be fatal if not treated promptly.
Backcountry hikers should carry water, and campfires are not permitted in the backcountry.
SEASONS & CLIMATE
With elevations ranging from 6,620 to 9,115 feet, Bryce Canyon is cooler than southern Utah's lower-elevation parks. From May through October, daytime temperatures are pleasant—usually from the low 60s to the upper 80s—but nights are quite cool, dropping into the 40s even at the height of summer. Afternoon thunderstorms are common in July and August. In winter, days are generally clear and crisp, with high temperatures often reaching the 40s, and nights are cold, usually in the single digits or teens, and sometimes dipping well below zero. Snow is common in winter, but the roads to the view points are plowed.
If You Have Only 1 Day
What makes this park so attractive is that there are ways to see a good deal of Bryce in a short time.
Start at the visitor center and watch the video program that explains some of the area's geology. Then drive the 18-mile (each way) dead-end park road, stopping at view points to gaze down into the canyon (see "Exploring the Park by Car," below); visit the most popular view points on the Bryce Canyon Shuttle; or hop on the Bryce Canyon Scenic Tours & Shuttle van for a 1½- to 2-hour guided tour, complete with lively commentary (see "Organized Tours & Ranger Programs," below).
Whichever way you choose to get around, make sure you spend at least a little time at Inspiration Point, which offers a splendid (and, yes, inspirational) view into Bryce Amphitheater and its hundreds of statuesque pink, red, orange, and brown hoodoo stone sculptures. After seeing the canyon from the top