Bryce Canyon Country, Utah Things to Do, Where to Stay, and Places to Eat

Annually, The Grand Canyon sees around 5 million visitors for good reason; its grandeur is unlike any other place in the world. However, just a few hours away, there is another “canyon” national park that is smaller, much less trafficked, more colorful, and surrounded by other distinct and mind-blowing natural wonders.

​Bryce Canyon Country includes Bryce Canyon National Park, Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument, Capitol Reef National Park, Kodachrome State Park, and so much more in its over 3-million acres of protected lands. For this reason, visiting Bryce Canyon Country instead of the Grand Canyon is well worth considering! 

The Bryce Canyon Country parks and protected lands are home to hoodoos (which cannot be found in any other National Park), ancient petroglyphs, dinosaur bones, and thick, wooded forests. There are nearly endless exploration opportunities between the monuments. In fact, the last named mountain and river in America are in these remote areas of the country.

See all the areas Bryce Canyon Country covers here: https://www.brycecanyoncountry.com/

Because of their remote nature, Bryce Canyon only sees around 2.5 million annual visitors, Capitol Reef only hosts around 1.5 million, while not even one million visit Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument every year. Their lack of popularity compared to the nearby Grand Canyon means a much less crowded and possibly less stressful experience for visitors.

Hiking in Bryce Canyon National Park.

Capitol Reef National Park.

There are so many different ways to see Bryce Canyon Country depending on the kinds of activities you like to do or the activities you’re open to trying. You could spend a lifetime exploring this area like John Weseley Powell did, but most people usually only have a few days or a weekend to spare. Here are a few must see attractions and things to do during your journey through Bryce Canyon Country:

Go horseback riding with Canyon Trail Rides

One of the most unique ways to see the formations inside Bryce Canyon National Park is by horseback. There are specific trails in the park that are “horse-only” and the only outfitted guide to lead tours is Canyon Trail Rides - who have been working in the park for over 50 years! Their extremely educated and dedicated guides will take you down to the bottom of the red rock hoodoos where no one else can access unless they’re on horseback.

On both their two and three hour tour, the guide will share information about how the hoodoos were formed, the bristlecone pines that carpet the floor, and the cowboy legends that have rode through the canyon walls. Not only is it a stunning ride, it is so much more fun to be riding a horse than hiking down then back up the steep canyon trails.

It’s always important to know that even though the bottom of the canyon can be up to 20-degrees hotter, you should wear long pants to prevent rubbing as you ride and you should secure all hats before departure. No bags of any kind are allowed on the tours. 

​Reserve a horse to take you through Bryce Canyon National Park on their website here: https://www.canyonrides.com/

Canyoneer with Expeditions of Escalante ​

The nearly two million acres that make up Grand Staircase Escalante are seemingly unexplored, yet there are people like Rick Greene of Expeditions of Escalante who have spent decades wandering through as many of the sandrock canyons as they can squeeze through.    There is only one designated trail in the entire monument. The rest is completely open for exploration, and Rick has found 33 incredible, unique spots he likes to take his tour groups.

Expeditions of Escalante leads all day adventures that range from easy slot canyon hikes to more extreme repelling expeditions depending on how comfortable people feel pushing their limits and going, literally, over the edge with Rick. Before you go on any canyoneering expedition with him, he will give you an extensive safety briefing; he takes his safety and the safety of his tour groups extremely seriously.

​All tours come with coffee and tea at his headquarters before departure, a packed lunch, water, all the required gear, and ice cream at the end.

Make sure to read and sign all of the waivers before arriving, or Rick will not take you out if you have not come prepared and dressed. You must wear long shorts or pants; leggings are not recommended due to tearing, long sleeves can be necessary, and sturdy hiking shoes are an absolute must!

If you are ready to go on an extremely different but rewarding adventure, reserve a day with Expeditions of Escalante here: https://www.excursionsofescalante.com/

Take a ride with Grand Staircase ATV ​

An easy way to explore the wonders around Bryce Canyon Country is by ATV or UTV (side-by-side). With Grand Staircase ATV’s Justin and Bree Shakespeare, you can either drive your own four-wheeler or have them show you around on theirs. Regardless, they will share their knowledge of the area and take you to all of their favorite places.

Bree and Justin have been guiding tours for almost 20 years, and both grew up in the small town of Tropic. They truly know the ins and outs of the monument, the public lands, and Bryce Canyon National Park. They have miles and miles of trails they can take you through on one of their one-day expeditions, or you can get adventurous and take a three-day trip that includes lodging and all your meals. 

Cover some ground and see as much of Bryce Canyon Country as you can on a customized tour with Grand Staircase ATV here: https://www.grandstaircaseatv.com/

There is so much to do and see in Bryce Canyon Country. It can feel overwhelming while planning a trip. Don’t feel like you have to squeeze it all in, because honestly, you will never truly see it all. No one ever has. With this seemingly endless beauty, history, mystery, and good people, Bryce Canyon Country is a guaranteed great time. When considering a trip to Southern Utah or Northern Arizona, you would be doing yourself a disservice if you didn’t consider visiting Bryce Canyon Country.

Read more guides on how to plan a trip to Bryce Canyon National Park, Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument, and Capitol Reef National Park below: