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Outdoor activities in and around Bryce Canyon
Bryce Canyon National Park isn’t an island unto itself. It’s just one part of a region that’s ultimately a series of scenic drives. The Mossy Cave hike, for example, is technically part of the park but outside the main gates, so it’s free to visit. Just pull over while driving between Bryce Canyon City and Tropic on State Route 12 to enjoy the pinkish-red rock mountain trail alongside a stream with a waterfall in the summer and icicles in the winter.
Red Canyon is along the same road in the opposite direction (west of Bryce Canyon) with even brighter red rock formations that stand out against the pines of the Dixie National Forest, which has a heavy presence in the area.
Bryce Canyon is the top of the “Grand Staircase,” a region-spanning series of cliffs, slopes, and canyons. Think of the Grand Canyon as the “bottom step.” Much of it is paler in color but worth visiting if you travel east to explore the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. It doesn’t have official entrances, but a series of visitors centers around the perimeters. For just a taste, visit Kodachrome Basin State Park, a short drive from Bryce Canyon, with landmarks like the Grosvenor Arch.
Cedar Breaks National Monument is to the west and has its own gorgeous natural amphitheater. As great as it is, it will probably pale in comparison to Bryce Canyon. However, it does add to the experience of a ski trip in nearby Brian Head. Zion National Park hogs most of the attention in Southeast Utah and deserves a dedicated visit of its own. Yet it’s just two hours from Bryce Canyon, and ambitious road warriors could do the scenic drives in both on the same day.
Entertainment, culture, and shopping in Bryce Canyon City
Nightlife isn’t really a thing in Bryce Canyon City. There are no sports bars or cocktail lounges. This is Mormon country, after all. However, you can still order booze at restaurants and pick up a few bottles at Ruby’s Inn, which has shops for arts, gifts, groceries, and supplies, and an alcohol sales counter next to the restaurant. Being out at night, however, is a great option. Bryce Canyon City is outside the main gates of the national park and pretty quiet (and nothing like the busier, pricer Springdale by Zion’s main gate). That’s by design, minimizing activity and light pollution, allowing Bryce Canyon to have International Dark Sky status for next-level stargazing.
Locals and visitors alike enjoy the entertainment of the Ebaneezer’s Barn & Grill country music dinner show, Bryce Canyon Country Rodeo, or Canyon Trail Rides for horseback riding when in season. It’s also common to plan a trip around annual events like the Astronomy Festival, Geology Festival, Fly-In & Car Show, or Winter Festival. Coordinating a summer vacation with a trip to Panguitch Lake isn’t a bad idea either.
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