UTAH PARKS EXTRAVAGANZA · Hit every Utah national park, plus off-trail adventures, on this 1,302-mile trip. UTAH PARKS EXTRAVAGANZA 84 . Grand Canyon Edition 2020 GCJ2020_RoadTrips_UtahParks_07.indd

Hit every Utah national park, plus off-trail

adventures, on this 1,302-mile trip.

UTAH PARKS EXTRAVAGANZA

84 . Grand Canyon Edition 2020

GCJ2020_RoadTrips_UtahParks_07.indd 84 9/26/19 4:11 PM

S A L T L A K E C I T Y T O G R A N D C A N Y O N A N D B A C K : 1 , 3 0 2 M I L E S

I ncredible outdoor adventures, six national parks and ancient ruins combine to make this a

trip of a lifetime. Start in Salt Lake City where you may be surprised by the craft brewing scene and how easy it is to get around this city framed by the Great Salt Lake and Wasatch mountains. Head south to Moab, home to Canyonlands and Arches national parks. From there stop in Monument Valley, one of

the West's most iconic landscapes. Continue to the Hopi reservation for a day tour of Old Oraibi, one of the oldest continuously inhabited settlements in North America.

Then point your wheels toward Grand Canyon National Park to visit the popular South Rim and/or the less-visited North Rim. For details on what to do, see pages 6-21. Afterwards, head north to the historic town of Kanab, Utah,

home to hundreds of film shoots and great restaurants. Zion National Park is a short drive away. Then make your way north to Cedar City to visit the uncrowded Cedar Breaks National Monument. Explore Panguitch and Bryce Canyon National Park before heading to Escalante for a deep dive into spectacular slot canyons. What follows are some of the best things to see.

A R I Z O N A

U T A H

N V

C O

N M

70

70

15

80

191

191

160

15

50

24

Moab

MonticelloCanyons of the AncientsNational Monument

ArchesNational Park

Salt LakeCity

Provo

Blu

Kayenta

Durango

Blanding

Mesa VerdeNationalPark

Capitol ReefNational Park

CanyonlandsNational Park

Glen Canyon Dam

Monument Valley

Escalante

CedarCityZion

NationalPark Bryce Canyon

National Park

Panguitch

PageJacob Lake

KanabSt. George

Grand CanyonNorth Rim

CameronGrand Canyon

South Rim Tuba City

PHOTOS ON OPPOSITE PAGE FROM TOP: Depositphotos (Overlook at Zion National Park), (Bryce Canyon National Park)

MyGrandCanyonPark.com . 85



SALT LAKE CITY MYTHBUSTINGDiscover six things you didn’t realize about bustling Salt Lake City.

by Tori Peglar

PH

OTO

S: D

epos

itpho

tos

(Sal

t Lak

e C

ity s

kylin

e, a

eria

l tra

m a

t Sno

wbi

rd R

esor

t);

Stev

e G

reen

woo

d/Vi

sit S

alt L

ake

(tem

ple)

, Aus

tin D

iam

ond

Pho

togr

aphy

/cou

rtes

y Vi

sit S

alt L

ake

(bee

r)

4 YOU CAN SEE WORLD-CLASS ACTS.

OVERVIEW: Salt Lake is one of the few cities in the nation with a professional symphony, orchestra and ballet. Two great places to catch a show are Eccles Theater and the historic Capitol Theatre.

TIP: Visit the stunning Eccles Theater, built in 2016, that hosts Broadway shows like Hamilton, along with concerts. Designed by world-renowned architect Cesar Pelli, Eccles features a six-story grand lobby and a 2,500-seat theater.

5 YOU DON’T NEED TO BE A MORMON TO ENJOY TEMPLE SQUARE.

OVERVIEW: The city’s most visited attraction, this iconic landmark includes the temple, gorgeous gardens and historic tours. Head to the FamilySearch Center to find out about your ancestors.

TIP: Non-Mormons are not allowed in the temple.

6 SEEING THE CITY’S ATTRACTIONS IS AFFORDABLE.

OVERVIEW: Buy a Visit Salt Lake Connect Pass that offers 50-80 percent off regular

admission fees to attractions covered by the pass.

TIP: Charge your smart phone, so you can present your electronic pass at the area’s sights. Get the pass

here: SaltLakeConnectPass.com.

1 THERE’S A THRIVING BEER SCENE.

OVERVIEW: This city has exploded with microbreweries in the last 10 years and even within a brewery beers can range from 4-13 percent in alcohol content.

TIP: Download the Salt Lake Brewery Tour Pass onto your phone to sample food and beer at as many as 12 different breweries. Get it here: SaltLakeConnectPass.com

2 FOODIES FEEL AT HOME.

OVERVIEW: Whatever you’re in the mood for, Salt Lake has it. This city’s food

scene has taken off and even Hollywood star Ty Burrell, an Emmy-award-winning actor who plays the awkward father

on ABC’s Modern Family, is on the scene.

TIP: Head to Beer Bar owned by Burrell. Chef Viet Pham, who was one of Food & Wine magazine’s best chefs of 2011, cooks up house-made bratwursts and Belgian-style fries. For an artisan cocktail, head next door to Bar-X, also owned by Burrell.

3 YES, THE OUTDOORS ARE JUST AS WORLD-CLASS

AS THEY APPEAR IN PHOTOS.

OVERVIEW: With 60 national and state parks within a few hours, Salt Lake is literally ringed by skiing, hiking and biking trails.

TIP: Head to Snowbird to ride the aerial tram up 2,900

feet to the top of Hidden Peak or drive to the Utah Olympic Park to

ride on a bobsled, go on an alpine slide or zipline at this family-oriented park.

STARTING POINT: SALT LAKE CITY

To learn more go to VisitSaltLake.com.




Las Vegas

YellowstoneNational Park5 hours

Grand TetonNational Park

5 hours

ArchesNational Park

4 hours

Golden SpikeNat’l Historic Site

Bryce CanyonNational Park4 hours

ZionNational Park

4.5 hours

Grand CanyonNational Park6.3 hours

CanyonlandsNat’l Park

DinosaurNat’l MonumentTimpanogos Cave

Nat’l Monument

Flaming GorgeNat’l Recreation Area

Natural BridgesNat’l Monument

Hovenweep Nat’l Monument

Yucca House Nat’l Monument

Aztec Ruins Nat’l Mon.

NavajoNat’l Monument

MonumentValley

Rainbow BridgeNat’l Monument

Glen CanyonNat’l Recreation Area

Mesa Verde Nat’l Park

Cedar BreaksNat’l

Monument Grand StaircaseEscalante

Nat’l Monument

4.5 hours

Ce

YellowstoneYe

Grand CanyonN

RainbRRainbR nbRaNatNatNN ’l

Nat l Recreation AreaRe

4 hours

anyonlandsCa s

SALTLAKE

Utah’s Urban Gatewayto National Park

Adventure

BonnevilleSalt Flats

BearLake

Jackson

Park City

Capitol ReefNat’l Park

Plan your next great vacation at

VisitSaltLake.com

Br

Plan your next great vacation at

VisitSaltLake.com

VISIT SALT LAKE_GCJ_2020.indd 1 9/17/19 3:10 PM


UTAH PARKS EXTRAVAGANZASALT LAKE CITY TO MOAB, UTAH

235 miles, 3 hours and 50 minutes

While it’s super popular, Delicate Arch in Arches National Park is worth

doing, especially at sunrise. It’s a 3-mile round-trip hike, and if you hike early in the morning, you’ll avoid the crowds. At 64 feet high and 45 feet wide, it's Arches National Park’s largest freestanding arch. Along the way, you’ll pass the Wolfe Ranch cabin and Native American petroglyphs. Arrive early to get a parking spot and to avoid heat and crowds.

Then, get your adrenaline fix at Raven’s Rim Zip Line Adventures. Your day starts when you climb aboard an off-road, four-wheel-drive vehicle to drive to the high desert of Moab. There are six zip lines and a suspension bridge to test just how brave you are.

For a beautiful hike along a year-round stream, do the Grandstaff Trail, a 4-mile round-trip hike to Morning Glory Natural Bridge. Spanning 243 feet, the natural bridge is the nation’s sixth-

longest. Avoid the poison ivy near the bridge. This hike is easily accessible from Moab and outside Arches and Canyonlands national parks. Take Hwy. 191 out of Moab and turn right onto Hwy. 128. Drive for 3 miles. The trailhead will be on your right.

Then, see the red-rock canyons from a different point of view. Go on a half-day rafting trip on the Daily section of the Colorado River just outside of Moab. Gentle rapids make this outing fun for everyone. Kids must be 40 pounds or heavier to go on area river trips.

Afterwards, discover the area’s Native American history. You don’t need to go to a museum to see ancient Native American art. Easily accessible from town, the Courthouse Wash art panel is 19 feet high and 52 feet long. Vandals defaced these drawings in 1980, but archaeologists restored the panels only to discover older drawings behind the white shields held by figures. To see them head north on Hwy. 191 and cross the Colorado River Bridge. Drive a half of a mile to the parking area.

Learn more about the greatest things to do in Moab at the Moab Area Travel Council's website, discovermoab.com.

MOAB'S TOP FIVE

With so many things

to do in Moab, Utah,

you'll want to balance

the iconic spots with

less-crowded sights.

by Tori Peglar

PH

OTO

: C

ourt

esy

of M

oab

Area

Tra

vel C

ounc

il


MOAB_GCJ_2020.indd 1 9/17/19 1:26 PM

P eople have been living in Old Oraibi [pronounced “Oravy”] for nearly 1,000 years, and if you go on an Experience Hopi

day tour, you’ll visit this ancient village as well as other significant Hopi sites. Old Oraibi is one of the oldest, continuously inhabited settlements in North America.

“It’s never been so easy to book a room, enjoy the comforts that are everywhere but in Hopi and then take a tour,” says James Surveyor, operations manager of the Moenkopi Developers Corporation.

Your morning will start in the modern hotel lobby of Moenkopi Legacy Inn & Suites in Tuba City, Ariz., with a short overview by your Hopi guide before you climb into an air-conditioned tour van with individual seats. From there, you’ll

head to Coalmine Canyon to learn about Hopi pottery, discover the important role agriculture has played in Hopi life and spend 15 minutes walking across Old Oraibi. Its residents have no electricity or running water.

Beyond you’ll visit Prophecy Rock, a singular sacred petroglyph, and Dawa Park filled with rock art from many chapters of Hopi history.

“Hopi is an ancient culture, and not even all Hopis know all the information,” Surveyor says. “So what we share on tours are like raindrops in a big pool of Hopi culture.”

Interested in meeting a Hopi silversmith, painter or weaver? Book a custom tour. Learn more at experiencehopi.com.

MOAB TO TUBA CITY, ARIZ.


Just an hour and 15 minutes from the South Rim, the Hopi reservation offers travelers a cultural experience and rare glimpse into Native American life today.

Area Hopi people live in 12 villages located across regions known as First Mesa, Second Mesa and Third Mesa. Some welcome visitors and enable you to see what Hopi culture is like today.

Because the reservation struggles financially, the Experience Hopi Tours and hotel have made a tremendous positive impact, employing more than 100 people. Even local artists are benefitting from the tourism.

DID YOU KNOW?

PH

OTO

: Ker

rick

Jam

es C

ourt

esy

of E

xper

ienc

e H

opi (

Hop

i pot

tery

)

"Our hotel gift shop is one of the few

places where you can get authentic

Hopi arts and crafts at reasonable prices. We are

looking to support our community

of artists" James Surveyor,

Operations Manager of the Moenkopi Developers Corp.



EXPERIENCE HOPICatch a rare glimpse into

Hopi culture.

by Tori Peglar


EXPERIENCE COMFORT,EXPERIENCE HOSPITALITY,

EXPERIENCE HOPI.

928.283.4500experiencehopi.com

Coal Mine Canyon

See it. Experience it. Live it. BryceCanyonCounty.com/grand

PARTIALS_GCJ_2020.indd 91 9/26/19 10:08 PM

PH

OTO

S: D

epos

itpho

tos

(Nor

th R

im),

Flic

kr/D

u Tr

an (S

outh

Rim

), C

ourt

esy

of G

rand

Can

yon

Wes

t (Sk

ywal

k), G

rant

Ord

elhe

ide

(Hav

asu

Falls

)

PH

OTO

:: G

rant

Ord

elhe

ide

(Lip

an P

oint

)

Wish you had a guide while touring to and inside the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park or Grand Canyon West? Download the GyPSy Guide App.

“We recognized that travelers preferred to set their own pace and itinerary but still enjoyed a fun, informative and educational guided experience” says Rick Bulich of GyPSy Guide. "That became our inspiration. How do we re-create that experience for people who want to remain independent and self-tour in their own vehicle?”

The app uses your device's location service to automatically play entertaining commentary about the behind-the-scenes stories, historical events and notable geologic formations as you drive. In doing so, it tells you about upcoming sights, so you have time to make an informed decision as to whether you want to stop. Because the app relies on your phone's GPS signal, not cell towers, no cell, network or WiFi is required while touring.

Visit gypsyguide.com to learn more.

BRING A GUIDE

Enjoy the freedom

of driving your own car

while traveling with an

entertaining guide that

doesn't take up space.

MyGrandCanyonPark.com

GCJ2020_InThePark_08.indd 11 9/26/19 12:18 PM

Just like having a tour guide in your car™. GyPSy Guide automatically

plays stories, local tips & driving directions, so you don’t miss a thing.

NARRATED DRIVING TOUR APPS

REVIEWS

Just like having a tour guide in your car™. GyPSy Guide automatically

plays stories, local tips & driving directions, so you don’t miss a thing.

NARRATED DRIVING TOUR APPS

GRANDCANYON

190+ AUDIO POINTS

$9.99

Grand Canyon National Park

gypsyguide.com


When you stay at the Yavapai Lodge in Grand Canyon National Park, you’ll experience a piece of the park’s

history, but you’ll also be actively participating in its future.

Located about a mile from the rim, the lodge was built in 1958 during the National Park Service’s building boom to prepare for its 50th anniversary. It was part of the so-called Mission 66 program, designed to increase park infrastructure to serve the crowds of post-World War II visitors. The lodge itself is reminiscent of Route 66 motels. Today, all rooms have been upgraded, including air-conditioning in every unit, new in 2019.

Nestled in a ponderosa pine forest, you’ll see wildlife, such as elk, deer and squirrels on your visit.

“It’s so peaceful here in the woods,” says Yavapai’s lodging director Amy Neil. “There’s something very special about being in the middle of the bustle of the park and still having this sense of solitude.”

Staying in the lodge, you’ll feel its commitment to the park’s future. It starts the second you pull in. With plenty of parking, you can leave your car at the lodge and take the park’s shuttle to get to all the stops you want to see, lowering your carbon footprint.

You can join Yavapai Lodge and the National Park Service in giving back on the South Rim every Thursday morning to pick up litter, including micro trash, and to learn more about why trash matters.

After a day exploring the park, head back to the lodge to relax. Outdoor games like cornhole give you an excuse to connect with other travelers. Stop by the Yavapai Coffee Shop for a scoop of ice cream with flavors like Grand Canyon Caramel Crunch and Moose Tracks.

Or head to the Yavapai Tavern where you’ll find a beautiful patio, equipped with heaters for chilly nights, a fire pit and a Southwestern-inspired menu from Chef Justin Warnat with a focus on local ingredients and sustainability. Try the Loaded Elk Burger made from elk raised in Colorado and topped with local poblano peppers. Or, go plant-based with the Power Plant Burger. The locally made 100-percent vegan patty packs 16 grams of plant-based protein and is covered with Hatch green chile cheddar cheese and homemade Southwestern sauce. Wash it down with one of several locally brewed beers on draft.

Book a room today or learn more at visitgrandcanyon.com. Sign up to volunteer with the lodge and park service at nps.gov/grca/getinvolved/dnps-litter.htm.

A GRANDER

STAYSleep well and sustainably

at Yavapai Lodge.

By Mikaela Ruland

PH

OTO

S: C

ourt

esy

Del

awar

e N

orth

BY THE NUMBERS

1958Year built

20Percentage of Grand Canyon’s waste stream comprised of single-use plastic

90The percentage of food ingredients sourced within 190 miles

2025The year the Yavapai Lodge will be at zero waste

26The number of shuttle stops accessible from the lodge

Grand Canyon Edition 2020

GCJ2020_InThePark_08.indd 18 9/26/19 12:18 PM

L I F E I S

AT YAVA P A I L O D G E

The view at the Grand Canyon is extraordinary. So is the impression it will make on you. Nearby Yavapai Lodge and Trailer Village RV Park give you the perfect vantage point, within Grand Canyon National Park and just a short walk from the South Rim. Enjoy easy access to Yavapai Restaurant, Yavapai Tavern, Yavapai Coffee Shop and Canyon Village Market & Deli. Here, your family has a comfortable basecamp for adventure. If it feels like a different world, that’s because it is.

Book your bucket list escape today. Go to VisitGrandCanyon.com or call 877-404-4611.

YAVAPAI LODGE_GCJ_2020.indd 1 9/17/19 3:48 PM

MARBLE CANYON LOOP DRIVEStart off at Kanab Creek Bakery that offers European-style dishes by chef Cheryl McAllister that are so gorgeous you hate to dig in. “It’s so good you hear the people around you stop talking,” says Camille Johnson, executive director of Kane County Office of Tourism. Then drive the 190-mile Marble Canyon Loop that hits everything from Vermillion Cliffs Overlook to Lees Ferry and Marble Canyon. This scenic loop takes 3 hours if you don't stop, so you can be back in Kanab in time to have an amazing dinner.

THE WAVE AND BEST FRIENDSTry your luck and join the enthusiastic crowd standing in line for a permit for The Wave, the iconic sandstone formation in the Paria Canyon-Vermillion Cliffs Wilderness. Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument Visitor Center in Kanab issues 10 walk-up permits for the following day, beginning at 8:30 a.m. Afterwards, stop at Kanab’s Best Friends Animal Sanctuary Visitor Center to book a sanctuary tour and meet adoptable pets. For 30 years, it has been the nation’s largest no-kill sanctuary.

THE QUIETER SIDE OF GRAND CANYON Wake up early and head to the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park. This best-kept secret receives only 10 percent of the visitation of the South Rim. It's open mid-spring through late fall. For dinner back in Kanab, head to Sego Restaurant to taste Chef Shon Foster’s creations. He's a former executive chef at the upscale Amangiri. “When people eat my food I want them to find themselves in that moment, closing their eyes and letting their senses take them back to memories of their life,” he says.

A SECRET NEAR ZION En route to Zion National Park, stop at Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park between Kanab and Mount Carmel. “It’s like a giant sandbox,” says Johnson of Kane County Office of Tourism. “It brings out the kid in all of us.” The sand dunes are great for sledding, so rent a sand board at the state park office. When you return to Kanab, stay at the Parry Lodge in a hotel room named after a Hollywood actor who stayed there, starting in the 1930s. Frank Sinatra visited so often he paid for the construction of the lodge’s swimming pool.

PH

OTO

: Dep

osit

phot

os (T

he W

ave)

KANAB, UTAH TO VARIOUS ATTRACTIONS

Variable distances and time

FAB KANAB

Base out of Kanab, Utah, to

avoid the crowds, enjoy

fantastic food and discover the

hidden gems along the way to

three of the Southwest’s most

gorgeous national park sites.

by Tori Peglar


Learn more at Kane County, Utah - Visitor Information Center in downtown Kanab or go to visitsouthernutah.com.

GRAND CANYON SOUTH RIM TO KANAB, UTAH





DISTANCE fromKanab

DISTANCE fromKanab

40 miles (64 kM)

77 miles (124 kM)

78 miles (126 kM)

23 miles (37 km)

15 miles (24 km)

73 miles (117 km)

317 miles (510 km)

209 miles (336 kM)

350 miles (563 kM)

Zion national park

Bryce canyon nATIONAL PARK

grand canyon north rim

coral pink sand dunes

Grand staircase-escalantenational monument

Lake Powell/glen canyon rec area

Salt lake city Airport

las vegas airport

phoenix airport

St. George Airport

VisitSouthernUtah.com

As if the stunning scenery and unparalleled outdoor recreation options weren’t enough of a reason to plan a trip to

Kanab, here’s one more: Our 150th Anniversary as an authentic, western town in the heart of the national parks. For

a list of 150th Anniversary events and suggested itineraries, go to:

84 Miles (135 KM)

As if the stunning scenery and unparalleled outdoor recreation options weren’t enough of a reason to plan a trip to

Kanab, here’s one more: Our 150th Anniversary as an authentic, western town in the heart of the national parks. For

a list of 150th Anniversary events and suggested itineraries, go to:

A Celebration 150 Yearsin the Making!

KANE COUNTY KANAB_GCJ_2020.indd 1 9/16/19 5:21 PM

PH

OTO

: Dep

osit

phot

os (T

he W

ave)

PH

OTO

S: D

epos

itpho

tos

(Ced

ar B

reak

s N

atio

nal M

onum

ent,

Kan

nara

Fal

ls);

Cou

rtes

y A

lex

Sant

iago

(Bri

an H

ead

Res

ort)

; K

arl H

ugh

(Uta

h Sh

akes

pear

e Fe

stiv

al)

Learn more about Cedar City and Brian Head at www.visitcedarcity.com.

ELEVATE YOUR EXPERIENCE

While southwest Utah is known for its amazing red-rock landscapes, there’s a pocket of mountains topped by

aspen trees, wildflowers and pine trees. Here are four reasons to stop and stay here.

by Tori Peglar

UTAH SHAKESPEARE FESTIVALCedar City, Utah is home to the Utah Shakespeare Festival, which features professional actors from across the country who perform a variety of Shakespeare’s plays all summer long. Founded in 1962 to provide entertainment for the thousands of tourists visiting nearby national parks, the festival offers a number of plays in three theaters in Beverley Taylor Sorenson Center for the Arts at Southern Utah University. Not sure you want to commit to an entire play? Stop by the Greenshow, an hour-long, free outdoor performance in the Ashton Family Greenshow Commons. It’s a light-hearted show full of dance and song. “You don’t even need to understand English to enjoy it,” Twitchell says.

KANARRA FALLS AND MOREThis is one of those gorgeous slot canyons that has Instagrammers racing to get to southern Utah. In fact, it’s become so popular that as of 2018, you need a permit to enter Kanarra Falls. Only 150 permits are issued to individuals per day via an online registration system, which opens Jan. 1. Only 13 miles south of Cedar City, you’ll discover gorgeous waterfalls formed by Kanarra Creek as you hike through water in the canyon. Afterwards, head to Cedar City and order a cocktail or glass of wine at IG Winery [the “IG” stands for “Instant Gratification”]. Looking for modern, unique lodging? Stay at The Cottages at Shakespeare Lane, equipped with kitchens, built in 2019. Located in the heart of downtown Cedar City and across from the festival grounds, you are a short walk away from restaurants and great theater.

BRIAN HEAD RESORTTake a chairlift to 11,000 feet at Brian Head Resort to get a bird’s eye view of Utah’s stunning scenery. Just five minutes from Cedar Breaks National Monument, Brian Head Resort offers zip lining, disc golf and mountain biking, plus a chance to explore Utah’s mountainous terrain. “It’s that higher elevation experience,” says Maria Twitchell, executive director of Visit Cedar City Brian Head. “A lot of people travel to the national parks and see a lot of desert and it gets hot. Having a place to cool down is really great both in Cedar Breaks National Monument and Brian Head.” The higher you go up a mountain, the cooler it gets, so bring layers for the top of the chairlift. Check the website for weekend hours of operation.

CEDAR BREAKS NATIONAL MONUMENTNot only is this national park site considerably less crowded than its nearby sister national parks, it’s also filled with an incredible array of vibrant wildflowers. Get an intimate view of this special place by attending complimentary ranger talks that run from late May through Labor Day. Watch a stunning sunset from Point Supreme Overlook and then stay at the overlook for an evening ranger talk. Or better yet, join a ranger-led Star Party in this International Dark Sky Park during full moons over the summer and fall season.




Reuben Syrett was a cowboy. When he bought a ranch near what is now Bryce Canyon National Park, he had no plans of becoming a conservationist and hotelier, but when he first set eyes on the inspiring orange and pink hoodoos of Bryce Canyon, he was moved.

In 1916, Syrett, who went by the nickname “Ruby,” opened what is now Ruby’s Inn in Bryce Canyon City, Utah. He invited friends and family to experience the area’s beauty. Syrett wrote to Congress, petitioning the government to protect Bryce Canyon from development. His efforts, in part, influenced the government to turn Bryce Canyon into a national park. What started as a 20-room lodge is now three hotels, multiple restaurants, a general store and more than 300 campsites less than a mile from the park entrance.

The complex is still owned and managed by the Syrett family four generations later.

Experience the hotel’s cowboy roots today by taking a

horseback tour along the canyon rim or attending an Ebenezer's Barn and Grill Country Music Dinner show held nightly

April 20 - Oct. 20.

CLOSEST LODGING TO BRYCE

Find Ruby’s Inn at 26 S. Main;rubysinn.com/

grand

Bryce Canyon National Park’s new designation as an International Dark Sky Park makes it the perfect place to see the stars. It offers more than 100 night-sky programs each year with activities like telescope-viewing,

full-moon hikes and astronomy talks.

The best time of the year to visit is during the annual Bryce Canyon Astronomy Festival, June 17-20, 2020. This week-long event includes geology and astronomy talks, astronomy-themed junior ranger programs, model rocket building and more.

“The kids have so much fun building model rockets and launching them,” says Garfield County’s executive director Falyn Owens. “It’s their favorite time of the year.”

During the day, consider exploring a slot canyon. If you’re new to slot canyons, head to Willis Creek Slot Canyon in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. This 2.6-mile roundtrip hike doesn’t have any technical sections and never gets too narrow, so it serves as a perfect introduction to

BRYCE CANYON

AND BEYOND

See the stars, squeeze

through a slot canyon

or visit in the winter.

By Mikaela Ruland

BRYCE CANYON NATIONAL PARK AND MORE

Variable distances and time



PH

OTO

S: C

ourt

esy

Rel

ic A

dver

tisin

g (R

uby'

s In

n),

Mat

t Mor

gan

cour

tesy

of B

ryce

Can

yon

Cou

ntry

(Bry

ce C

anyo

n)


canyoneering. Wear waterproof shoes since you’ll walk through Willis Creek most of the way as the canyon walls tower above you. As with all slot canyons, check the weather and never start a hike if rain is in the forecast as flash flooding is possible.

If you’re looking for more adventure, book a trip with Excursions of Escalante. Owens refers to owner Rick Creed as a “slot canyon genius.” He knows many off-the-beaten-path slots to get visitors away from the crowds. After spending the day guiding, Creed spends his evenings serving on the local search and rescue team.

Aching for complete solitude? Winter might just be the best season to experience Bryce Canyon country.

“Seeing Bryce in the snow is wild,” says Owens. “It looks like cake and icing.”

Ruby’s Inn is the perfect place to base your winter Bryce Canyon adventure. Many groomed cross-country ski trails originate from the lodge, and there are several snowshoe trails that allow you to get down into the canyon. You can even take a horse-drawn sleigh ride.

Learn more at brycecanyoncountry.com/grand.


PH

OTO

S: C

ourt

esy

Rel

ic A

dver

tisin

g (R

uby'

s In

n),

Mat

t Mor

gan

cour

tesy

of B

ryce

Can

yon

Cou

ntry

(Bry

ce C

anyo

n)


YOur Bryce canyon

Vacationbasecamp

Book now for best Rates435-834-5341

RUBYSINN.COM/grand

the road less traveled,leads here

VisitCedarCity.comVisitCedarCity.com

here

Discover Cedar City’s breathtaking red rock scenery and world class cultural attractions.

Enjoy Historic Downtown’s charming shops, a spectacular array of culinary delights, hiking in and around town, theatre under the stars,

and Cedar City’s premier winery and micro brewery.


Documents

UTAH PARKS EXTRAVAGANZA · Hit every Utah national park, plus off-trail adventures, on this 1,302-mile trip. UTAH PARKS EXTRAVAGANZA 84 . Grand Canyon Edition 2020 GCJ2020_RoadTrips_UtahParks_07.indd