Bryce Canyon National Park ⓘ

Bryce Canyon National Park lies on the eastern edge of the Paunsaugunt Plateau in south central Utah. Bryce Canyon National Monument (administered by the U.S. Forest Service) was originally established on June 8, 1923 to preserve the “unusual scenic beauty, scientific interest, and importance.” On June 7, 1924, the monument’s name was changed to Utah National Park and it was transferred to the National Park Service. On February 25, 1928 Utah National Park was changed to Bryce Canyon National Park. Subsequent legislation enlarged the park to its current size of 35,835 acres.

Bryce is famous for its unique geology, consisting of a series of horseshoe-shaped amphitheaters carved from the eastern edge of the Paunsaugunt Plateau in southern Utah. The erosional force of frost-wedging and the dissolving power of rainwater have shaped the colorful calcium-rich mudstone of the Claron Formation into bizarre shapes including slot canyons, windows, fins, and spires called "hoodoos." Tinted with colors too numerous and subtle to name, these whimsically arranged rocks create a wondrous landscape of mazes, offering some of the most exciting and memorable walks and hikes imaginable.

Ponderosa pines, high elevation meadows, and fir-spruce forests border the rim of the plateau and abound with wildlife. This area boasts some of the world's best air quality, offering panoramic views of three states and approaching 200 miles of visibility. This, coupled with the lack of nearby large light sources, creates unparalleled opportunities for stargazing.

Historic Resource Study Introduction: Small by National Park standards, the 56.2 square miles of Bryce Canyon National Park occupy the eastern edge of the Paunsaugunt Plateau in south-central Utah. The park is not a canyon. Rather, it is a spectacular series of more than a dozen amphitheaters, each of which is carved at least 1,000 feet into the chromatic limestone of the Paunsaugunt Plateau. ...

Follow this link to read Bryce Canyon's Historic Resource Study in its entirety.

A combination of high elevation, pristine air, and a remote location creates some of the darkest night skies in the country.

Between the three life zones, Bryce Canyon hosts a wide diversity of wildflowers, trees, and shrubs.

Bryce Canyon's clean air contributes to our spectacular viewing conditions. Discover what it means to have "clean air".

Bryce Canyon National Park has an arid climate, colorful geology, and is a study in contrasts. The park transcends 2,000 feet (650 m) of elevation and three distinct climatic zones: spruce/fir forest, ponderosa pine forest, and pinyon/juniper forest . This diversity of habitats provides for high biodiversity: more than 100 species of birds , dozens of mammals , and more than a thousand plant species. The Paunsaugunt Plateau is blanketed with forests and meadows. Prescribed fire assists maintenance of natural systems in plant and wildlife ecology.

It is the uniqueness of the rocks that caused Bryce Canyon to be designated as a national park. These famous spires, called "hoodoos," are formed when ice and rainwater wear away the weak limestone that makes up the Claron Formation. The hoodoos' geologic story is also closely tied to the rest of the Grand Staircase region and the Cedar and Black Mountains volcanic complex. The Bryce Canyon amphitheater reveals the long geologic history of sedimentation and erosion in a colorful sequence of rocks. Faulting, uplift and erosion have revealed clues about plant and animal life in the region 40 to 130 million years ago. Scientists have determined that the wildlife and flowers living here now are very different from those whose fossils are exposed in the colorful layers of rock.

Scientific research is key to protecting the natural and cultural wonders of our national parks. To make sound decisions, park managers need accurate information about the resources in their care. They also need to know how park ecosystems change over time, and what amount of change is normal. But park staff can’t do it alone.

Like a physician monitoring a patient's heartbeat and blood pressure, scientists with the Northern Colorado Plateau Network collect long-term data on Bryce Canyon’s “vital signs.” They monitor key resources, like plant communities, soils, air quality , and the quality and quantity of water. Then they analyze the results and report them to park managers. Knowing how key resources are changing can provide managers with early warning of potential problems. It can also help them to make better decisions and plan more effectively.

Studying park vital signs is only part of the picture. Scientific research is also conducted by park staff, graduate students, and independent researchers. Because many parks prohibit activities that occur elsewhere, scientists can use the parks as "control" areas for determining the effects of these activities where they do occur. Especially in the American West, national park lands often serve as the best model for what a relatively undisturbed landscape looks like.

Date: Saturday, December 20, 2025 Time: Beginning at 8:00 a.m. We typically begin birding by 8:45 a.m. and reconvene for lunch at noon. Location: Starting at the Visitor Center for information and team formations. To sign up: Email Kim Barton at kim_barton@nps.gov to register. Whether you are a "bird enthusiast" or someone who just likes nature and the outdoors, please join Bryce Canyon National Park in continuing the Christmas Bird Count tradition. Several routes are available from strenuous hikes to easy drives - we can match your skills/abilities with other birders to make the day fun and successful. What better way to celebrate the holiday than to actively give to the conservation of national treasures - the life within our National Parks?

As the holiday season approaches, volunteers across the country will celebrate the gift of natural wonder by taking part in the Annual Christmas Bird Count (CBC). Administered by the National Audubon Society, the event is the longest running Citizen Science survey in the world. For many, counting winter birds has become a family tradition. Holiday spirit and love of birds has compelled generations - and now invites us- to don the cap of citizen scientist and contribute to conservation. The Christmas Bird Count was started by Frank Chapman and other conservationists on Christmas Day of 1900. Over the years, the effort has evolved into a valuable tool for monitoring winter bird populations in North America. The CBC database, containing over 100 years of data, is accessible to the public and provides critical information for perusal or scientific research. Data gathered by caring citizens will inform policies that protect endangered populations and crucial habitats. Educational outreach can help individuals or organizations make informed decisions about conservation. The Audubon Society lists the following three goals for the CBC:

Empower citizens to take action on behalf of places important to them and important to wildlife.

The Audubon Society's Bird and Climate Change Analysis drew on CBC data to show how the ranges of birds are shifting. The report was so compelling that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) listed the Christmas Bird Count as a primary indicator of climate change.

Both park visitors and rangers contribute to a scientific record of the park's winter bird populations by participating in the count. Every year, the count takes place within a 15-mile diameter circle surrounding the park area. A general summary of CBC statistics is given in the table below, and more detailed reports are accessed at the Audubon website (Bryce Canyon's Count Code is UTBC) . Ninety different birds have been recorded in the species list for the Bryce CBC circle. In 2020 two dusky grouse and an acorn woodpecker were seen for the first time during a count.

2026 Campground Seasons and Reservations North Campground (Open Year-Round) Non-Peak Season, January 1 – May 16, 2026 (Loop A open year round, Loop B open March 25, 2026): Up to 6-month advance reservations via Recreation.gov

Peak Seaon, May 17 - October 4, 2026: Up to 6-month advance reservations via Recreation.gov October 5 – December 31, 2026: Up to 6-month advance reservations via Recreation.gov Sunset Campground (Closed in Winter) ***Loop A of Sunset Campground is now open for 2026 Season, starting March 25, 2026***

Usual Non-Peak Season, April 15 – May 16, 2026 (weather & snowpack depending): Up to 14-day advance reservations via Recreation.gov Peak Season, May 17 – October 11, 2026: Up to 14-day advance reservations via Recreation.gov October 12, 2025 – April 14, 2026: Closed (weather dependent) Sunset Campground Group Site - Still closed as of March 25, 2026 April 15 – May 17: CLOSED May 18 – October 17: Up to 14-day advance reservations via Recreation.gov October 18 – October 31: Reservation only (weather-dependent) Sunset Campground ADA Accessible Sites Loop A has two accessible sites: Site 224 and Site 223.

The Sunset Campground Group Site can accommodate up to 30 people with a sliding scale for fees.

Non-Peak Season, January 1 – May 16, 2026 (Loop A open year round, Loop B open March 25, 2026): Up to 6-month advance reservations via Recreation.gov Peak Seaon, May 17 - October 4, 2026: Up to 6-month advance reservations via Recreation.gov October 5 – December 31, 2026: Up to 6-month advance reservations via Recreation.gov

Loop A has two accessible sites: Site 224 and Site 223. To reserve these ADA-accessible sites you may send your request to: Bryce Canyon National Park, PO Box 640201, Bryce, UT 84764, Attention: Campground Supervisor. Or, you may leave a message on the Campground phone: 435-834-4771. Be sure to include your name, contact information (phone # and/or email address) and the dates you wish to reserve. If ADA sites are available, they can also be reserved on a first-come, first-served basis by inquiring with the campground host.

The park has become an extremely popular destination in recent years. Due to this popularity, front-country park campgrounds can fill by noon on weekends May through October. If you arrive too late to get a site in a designated campground, you have the following options: Go to a private campground or stay in lodging in gateway communities. Visit Garfield County Tourism Bureau for more information. Check out options for dispersed camping (note: you are responsible for understanding and abiding by all USFS regulations). Camping along the roadside or at a roadside pull off is not allowed within the park and violators may be subject to a citation.