Bryce Canyon National Park – Utah

Battlements, towers and bridges

According to iamaccepted, Bryce Canyon National Park is located in southwestern Utah. Over a million visitors come to the national park every year. The area of ​​the national park is 145 km². The sanctuary was named after the Mormon Ebenezer Bryce. Bryce Canyon National Park consists not only of a single large canyon, but of many smaller gorges. The main attraction for visitors to the national park are the bizarre rock formations, called hoodoos, in Bryce Canyon.

Native American settlements in Bryce Canyon

Numerous remains of Indian settlements and stone drawings have been found in the area of ​​Bryce Canyon National Park, which are believed to be around 10,000 years old. The Anasazi people and other Pueblo peoples are said to have lived there. The area of ​​what is now Bryce Canyon National Park was primarily used as a hunting ground by the Native Americans. The Mormons were then the first whites to set foot in the Bryce Canyon area. They wanted to farm and raise cattle there. One of these first Mormons was the carpenter Ebenezer Bryce in 1875. The carpenter felled trees and built a log cabin near what is now Bryce Canyon. So this area was named after him. In 1880, Ebenezer Bryce moved on to Arizona.

Tourists overrun Bryce Canyon

By the late 19th century, western America was completely railroaded. The new means of transport brought numerous visitors to relatively remote areas of the USA, including Bryce Canyon in Utah. The unique rock formations of Bryce Canyon and the hostile environment attracted the tourists magically. Around 1920 hotels were built near today’s national park. As a result, the protected area was so massively overrun by tourists that damage was already visible in the Bryce Canyon area. In order to protect the beauties of nature from further destruction, Bryce Canyon National Park was designated in 1928.

Bryce Canyon – rich nature included

Apart from the well-known rock formations, Bryce Canyon National Park is exceptionally rich in plants and animals. 175 species of birds have been recorded in the forests of the reserve and around 60 species of mammals such as fox, mule deer, elk, pronghorn, mountain lion and bobcat. There are also black bears in the forests of Bryce Canyon National Park. Notable bird species include the extremely rare, endangered California condor and blue-crowned jay. Various species of squirrels live in the national park in Utah.

Numerous vegetation zones

The geographically low-lying part of the national park is mainly covered with conifers and pines. Willow trees, aspens and birches can be found along watercourses. In the higher elevations of the region one finds Douglas fir, spruce and pine. Special pine, spruce and aspen species can be found on the high plateau of the national park. A rich shrub vegetation is also present in the national park area.

Turrets and battlements

The fragile appearing, big and small, glowing in different colors pinnacles and turrets, the hoodoos appear unreal and very impressive. The many fluted columns look like a forest or an army of stone. The band of battlements and turrets extends over 40 kilometers along the edge of the plateau. Millions of years of wind and water erosion and frost in the cold winter have created these natural works of art.

By car through the national park

Only one paved road crosses the national park in the north-eastern part of the protected area. There are 14 viewpoints along the route. The first viewpoint is Fairyland Point. From there you look into one of the smaller canyons in the national park. Bryce Point is the most famous among the popular destinations. From there, the variety of rock formations can be enjoyed. All vantage points offer excellent views of the open Utah countryside.

Hiking in the national park

Bryce Canyon National Park offers hikers numerous hiking trails, such as the Fairyland Loop Trail, with different levels of difficulty. Slightly more challenging hikes include the Navajo Loop, Swamp Canyon Loop, Riggs Spring Loop, Queens Garden Trail and the Peek-a-boo Loop.

Camping in the national park

There are two campgrounds in Bryce Canyon National Park, North Campground and Sunset Campground. In the immediate vicinity outside the protected area there are a number of campsites, as well as a number of hotels and other accommodation options. The national park in Utah is open all year round. If there is too much snowfall in winter, driving the road through Bryce Canyon National Park is not possible.

Shuttle buses relieve traffic volume

Since the year 2000 there has been a good shuttle system with buses in the national park. A solution had to be found because there were always traffic jams in the national park, especially in the area of ​​the popular viewpoints, due to the large number of cars. Thanks to the shuttle system, the situation has eased and nature is less damaged and less polluted with exhaust fumes.

The shuttle system is in use from May to September with a cycle time of 12 minutes. The shuttle buses stop at 11 vantage points. The administration of Bryce Canyon National Park requires high entrance fees. It is $25 per vehicle or $12 per person. The money is used to maintain the shuttle bus system.

Sights – Bryce Canyon NP

• Bristlecone Loop
• Bryce Point
• Fairyland Loop
• inspiration point
• Navajo trail
• Navajo/Queen’s Garden Loop
• Peek A Boo Loop
• Queen’s Garden & Trail
• Rainbow Point
• Riggs Spring Loop
• Sunrise point
• Sunset point
• Three Wisemen
• Under the Rim Trail
• Wall Street
• Yovimpa Point

Camping in Zion National Park

Zion National Park offers numerous natural attractions for tourists. However, visitors to the national park should be prepared for the extreme climate in the national park, especially in summer. You should always carry drinking water with you. Camping is one of the special highlights in the national park.

Campgrounds in the national park

• South Campground
• Watchman Campground

East Zion Riverside RV Park is dedicated to motorhomes and RVs.