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The Outdoor Forum
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Bryce Canyon National Park was established in 1928 and comprises 33,835 acres, a relatively small national park. Bryce is actually not a canyon but made up of about a dozen horseshoe shaped amphitheaters carved from the Paunsaugunt Plateau. Water freezes and splits the rock and rainfall in summer removes the soft limestone and creates deep ruts. The rock has eroded into hoodoos, spires and towers colored orange, yellow, red, pink and many subtle variations. Wildlife in Bryce includes Pronghorn (antelope), Gray Fox, Mule Deer, Utah Prairie Dogs, Chipmunks, Ravens, Steller's Jays, Clark's Nutcrackers, Red-tailed Hawks, Turkeys, and Mountain Short-horned Lizards. Although there are Black Bear, Elk, and Mountain Lions, they are seldom seen. The best time to see Bryce is at sunrise and sunset when the park's features are clearly distinguishable and are at their most colorful. In the middle of the day, the overhead sun tends to bleach out the color. Inspiration Point and Paria View are recommended for sunset and Bryce and Sunrise Points are best for sunrise. There is a 17-mile road that goes from the Visitors' Center to Rainbow Point along the rim of the park. It provides many scenic viewpoints allowing you to look into the canyons. A free park shuttle will relieve you from the driving and crowds, help preserve natural resources and keep the park and air clean. The best view from the road is Bryce Point that overlooks Bryce Amphitheater. Try to make it here by sunrise as the pillars and their narrow channels begin to light up and the small caves just under the rim are visible. The best way to see the park is by taking a hike beneath the rim. Probably more so than most parks, an easy hike can take you to very close views of the park's best features and allows you to walk among its geological formations. How to Get There
Bryce is entered by UT 63 that runs north to south through the park. UT 63 is reached by UT 12. The nearest airport are: Cedar City - 87 miles St. George - 150 miles Salt Lake City - 270 miles Las Vegas, Nevada - 270 miles The Bryce Canyon Airport (4 miles), operated by Garfield Country, has commercial flights from Las Vegas. Phone: (435) 834-5239 for current carriers and schedules
Bryce Canyon National Park is 110 miles from Capitol Reef National Park, 85 miles from Zion National Park and 150 miles from the Grand Canyon's North Rim.
When to Go: The park is open all year. Visitor centers are open daily from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with extended hours in the busy season. The park's wild flowers peak in spring and early summer and birds are most visible May through October.
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