Frommer's National Parks of the American West - Don Laine [74]
This trail takes you down into the canyon bottom and, if you follow the extension, right out of the park into the Dixie National Forest. The first mile is on the rim. The trail then descends the Sheep Creek draw below pink limestone cliffs toward the canyon bottom, traversing part of the Under the Rim Trail along its way. Watch signs carefully; the route can be confusing. The trail has up to a 1,250-foot elevation change.
Exploring the Backcountry
For die-hard hikers who don't mind rough terrain, Bryce has two backcountry trails, usually open in the summer only. The truly ambitious can combine the trails for a weeklong excursion. Permits, which cost $5 and are available at the visitor center, are required for all overnight trips into the backcountry.
Riggs Spring Loop
8.8-mile loop. Moderate to strenuous. Access: South side of parking area for Rainbow Point.
This hike can be completed in 4 or 5 hours, or it can be more comfortably done as a relaxing overnight backpacking trip. The trail goes through a deep forest and also provides breathtaking views of the huge Pink Cliffs at the southern end of the plateau. It has an elevation change of 1,675 feet.
Under the Rim Trail
22.6 miles one-way. Moderate. Access: East side of parking area for Bryce Point Overlook.
This moderately strenuous trail runs between Bryce and Rainbow points; it offers the full spectrum of views of Bryce Canyon's scenery. Since the trail runs below the rim, it is full of steep inclines and descents, with an overall elevation change of 1,500 feet. Allow 2 to 3 days to hike the entire length. There are five camping areas along the trail, plus a group camp area.
Other Summer Sports & Activities
Biking & Mountain Biking. Bikes are permitted only on the park's established roads, which are generally narrow, winding, and crowded with motor vehicles during the summer. However, you'll find plenty of mountain biking opportunities just outside the park in the Dixie National Forest. For information, stop at the national forest's Red Canyon Visitor Center (☎ 435/676-2676), along Utah 12 about 10½ miles west of the Bryce Canyon National Park entrance road. It's usually open daily from early May to early October, and it offers various interpretative programs on many Saturdays. Or contact the Powell District office of the Dixie National Forest, 225 E. Center St. (P.O. Box 80), Panguitch, UT 84759-0080 (☎ 435/ 676-9300; www.fs.fed.us/dxnf).
Horseback Riding. To see Bryce Canyon the way early pioneers did, you need to look down from a horse or mule. Canyon Trail Rides, P.O. Box 128, Tropic, UT 84776 (☎ 435/679-8665; www.canyonrides.com), offers a close-up view of Bryce's spectacular rock formations from the relative comfort of a saddle. The company has a desk inside Bryce Lodge. A 2-hour ride to the canyon floor and back costs $40 per person, and a half-day trip farther into the canyon costs $55 per person. Rides are offered April through November. Riders must be at least 7 years old for the 2-hour trip, be at least 10 for the half-day ride, and weigh no more than 220 pounds.
Guided horseback rides in Red Canyon, just outside the national park, are provided by Ruby's Inn Horserides (☎ 866/782-0002 or 435/834-5341; www.horserides.net), at Ruby's Inn, for similar rates; in addition, Ruby's offers a full-day ride with lunch for $90. Ruby's will also board your horse (call for rates).
Wildlife Watching. The park has a variety of wildlife, ranging from mule deer, which seem to be almost everywhere, to the often-seen golden-mantled ground squirrel and Uinta chipmunk. Occasionally visitors catch a glimpse of a mountain lion, most likely on the prowl in search of a mule deer dinner; elk and pronghorn may be seen at higher elevations. Also in the park are black-tailed jackrabbits, coyotes, striped skunks, and deer mice.
The Utah prairie dog, which is listed as a threatened species, is actually a rodent. It inhabits park meadows