Frommer's National Parks of the American West - Don Laine [76]
Bryce Pioneer Village, 80 S. Main St. (Utah 12; P.O. Box 119), Tropic, UT 84776 (☎ 800/222-0381 or 435/ 679-8546; fax 435/679-8607; www.bp village.com; credit cards accepted), is a small motel/cabins/campground combination in nearby Tropic, with some shade trees and easy access to several restaurants.
King Creek Campground, in the Powell District of the Dixie National Forest, 225 E. Canter St. (P.O. Box 80), Panguitch, UT 84759 (☎ 435/676-9300; www. fs.fed.us/dxnf; no credit cards), is located above Tropic Reservoir, with graded gravel roads and sites nestled among tall ponderosa pines. The reservoir has two boat ramps and good trout fishing. From the intersection of Utah 63 and Utah 12, head west on Utah 12 about 2½ miles to the access road, turn south (left) and follow signs to Tropic Reservoir for about 7 miles to the campground.
About 9½ miles west of the park is another Dixie National Forest campground, Red Canyon Campground (same contact information as King Creek Campground, above). Set among the trees along the south side of Utah 12, it offers terrific views of the red rock formations across the highway, although there is a bit of road noise. Showers cost $2, whether you're staying in the campground or not.
Kodachrome Basin State Park, P.O. Box 180069, Cannonville, UT 84718 (☎ 435/679-8562; www.stateparks.utah. gov), about 22 miles southeast of Bryce Canyon National Park, has an attractive campground with sites scattered among unusual rock "chimneys" and pinyon and juniper trees.
Where to Stay
INSIDE THE PARK
Bryce Canyon Lodge
Bryce Canyon National Park, UT. ☎ 435/834-5361. Information and reservations: Xanterra Parks & Resorts, Central Reservations, 6312 S. Fiddlers Green Circle, Suite 600N, Greenwood Village, CO 80111. ☎ 888/297-2757 or 303/297-2757. Fax 303/297-3175. www.brycecanyonlodge.com. 114 units. TEL. $125 motel double; $130 cabin; $110–$140 lodge unit. AE, DISC, MC, V. Closed Nov–Mar.
This is the perfect place to stay while you explore Bryce Canyon National Park. The location allows you to watch the play of changing light on the rock formations throughout the day. The handsome sandstone and ponderosa pine lodge opened in 1924. The luxurious lodge suites are wonderful, with white wicker furniture, ceiling fans, and separate sitting rooms. The motel units are simply pleasant, modern rooms, with two queen-size beds and either a balcony or a patio. The best choice is one of the historic cabins, restored to their 1920s appearance. They're not
large, but they have two double beds, high ceilings, stone (gas-burning) fireplaces, and log beams—you might call the ambience "rustic luxury." At desks in the lobby, travelers can book horseback riding and other activities. The gift shop offers everything from postcards and souvenirs to a fine selection of American Indian pawn jewelry. There is no swimming pool. All units are nonsmoking.
NEAR THE PARK
Best Western Ruby's Inn
1000 S. Utah 63 (at the entrance to Bryce Canyon), Bryce, UT 84764. ☎ 866/866-6616 or 435/834-5341. Fax 435/834-5265. www.rubysinn.com. 368 units. A/C TV TEL. June–Sept $105–$150 double, $166–$176 suite; Oct–May $52–$135 double, $98–$145 suite. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Pets accepted.
This large Best Western provides most of the beds for tired hikers and canyon gazers visiting the park. The lobby is among the busiest places in the area, with an ATM, a small liquor store, car rentals, a beauty salon, a 1-hour film processor, and tour desks where you can arrange excursions of all sorts, from horseback and all-terrain-vehicle rides to helicopter tours.