Bryce Canyon
National Park
If you’re searching for a true – and truly
untouched – winter wonderland, then you
have to make your way to the Bryce Canyon
National Park in Utah. Bryce Canyon was made
a national park in 1928, and there are more than
30,000 acres to explore within its boundaries.
Bryce Canyon is in a relatively remote location,
but is perfect for winter, because of the Bryce
Canyon Winter Festival, an annual event held
every year in February. The festival comes
complete with all kinds of outdoor activities,
including ski tours, guided trips, snowshoeing,
yoga, hiking day trips, photography walks,
and kid-friendly activities, like arts and crafts.
Snowmobiling is just about the only activity not
allowed on park grounds, but there are nearby
rental facilities that will take you on guided
snowmobiling tours near the park, so that you
can stay in close proximity to its natural beauty.
Check out Ruby’s Inn for more information on
trips, activities, and accommodations.
Winter kayaking demonstrations are also
available, and the visitor’s center will rent out
skis and snowshoes for convenience. Bryce
Canyon also offers shuttle services. However,
they do not run in the wintertime, so if you need
shuttle services, you’ll have to make your own
adjustments, but the winter scenery is worth
every minute.
Imagine a forest made entirely of stone. Treelike “hoodoos,” or skinny spires of colorful rock,
poke out along the valleys, and the evergreens
are dusted with snow. Just over 1,000 feet
higher than Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon
is centered around the largest natural collection
of hoodoos in the entire world. Descriptions do
no justice to this wonder, and if you’re visiting,
you’ll want to bring a camera.
Thick, luscious fir and spruce forests line the
park, and within them you can find more than
100 species of birds alone, including swallows,
eagles, and owls. The park is also home to
cougars, mule deer, and coyotes, especially in
the wintertime, as they’ll be moving to lower
altitudes. Bundle up when visiting this park in
the winter though, as temperatures can reach
an average low of 20 degrees Fahrenheit, and
extreme lows of -20 and under!
36 Fall 2016 Adventure Outdoors
More than
30,000 acres
to explore
within it's boundaries