A few hours is not enough time to spend in Bryce Canyon

In a recent blog entry , Jeanne Leblanc of the Hartford Courant lamented that she didn’t have enough time to spend in Bryce Canyon on her last trip and that she plans to return. She also talked about meeting a relentless chipmunk that wanted a snack from her. She heeded park rangers’ advice and did not feed the chipmunk.

Her experience, however, was much like many other Bryce Canyon visitors who come to southern Utah to visit Zion and decide to make the trip up to Bryce Canyon as well. Unfortunately, most visitors come, spend a few hours or so checking out the visitor center and walking the rim, but never take one of the many trails down into the main amphitheater or venture any further along the park’s 18-mile scenic drive, which features approximately 14 scenic viewpoints along its route. The next time you come to Bryce Canyon, plan to stay more than a couple of hours – stay a couple days. Allow Ruby’s Inn to be your home away from home and your headquarters for exploring one of the nation’s scenic crown jewels!

Travel writer calls Bryce Canyon a sampling of “nature’s eerie architecture”

Gary White of The Ledger in Lakeland, Florida recently made a trip to Bryce Canyon National Park, describing its hoodoo-filled amphitheaters as “ragged columns rising like massive stalagmites.” He said the hoodoos are the most picturesque at sunrise and sunset, when “the light strikes them at low angles and their tangerines and coppers take on an ethereal glow.” Awed not only by the park’s scenery, the park’s wildlife also amazed White. He described his experience viewing Steller’s jays, prairie dogs and pronghorns, most often referred to as antelopes. For the complete text of White’s article, click here . If you would like to see what White is talking about, we would love to host you at Ruby’s Inn, the hotel closest to Bryce Canyon’s entrance.

Exploring Bryce Canyon and southern Utah’s canyon country is like vacationing on another planet!

Cathy and Craig Copeland of The Calgary Herald recently wrote about exploring southern Utah, calling it “otherworldly as it gets without requiring a spacesuit to step out of your vehicle.” They also describe the region’s rock formations as remnants of a child sculpting with Play-Doh, since they display a variety of shapes that resemble flying saucers, hamburgers and mushrooms. According to the couple, the formations look so improbable, they could be right out of a Dr. Seuss book. To view the entire article, click here .

If you want to enjoy such an “otherworldly” experience, make Ruby’s Inn your base camp. Fall is an excellent time to visit Bryce Canyon and its surrounding attractions, including Red Canyon, Kodachrome Basin State Park, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument and Zion National Park.

See Bryce Canyon before stepping foot in the park!

Did you know you could see pictures and learn about Bryce Canyon National Park’s scenery before your visit? The park website features a virtual tour that includes descriptions and photos of the park’s major scenic areas. It includes stops along the park’s 18-mile scenic drive, including Swamp Canyon, Farview, Agua Canyon, Ponderosa Canyon and Rainbow and Yovimpa points, the southernmost stops on the drive. The virtual tour also highlights Paria View and Natural Bridge. Paria View features hoodoos that face the setting sun, a rarity within the park. Carved from some of the reddest sandstone of the Claron Formation, Natural Bridge’s hues provide a stark contrast to the evergreen forests surrounding it.

Participate in “Fee Free Day” at Bryce Canyon National Park

If you want to visit Bryce Canyon National Park without paying the entrance fee, then visit on Saturday, September 27, when the park will waive its usual entrance fee, even to commercial tours, in observance of National Public Lands Day. Besides free admission to national parks and public lands around the country, the day is also a time of service to enhance the parks, including cleaning up trash, improving trails, and planting trees and plants. The day started three years ago with only 700 volunteers. Last year, approximately 110,000 volunteers served at 1,300 locations administered by eight federal agencies in every state. To find out more about national public lands day, visit its website .

September is the time to catch fall foliage in Bryce Canyon

With elevations ranging from 6,800 to 9,000 feet, September is the month of the year to enjoy Bryce Canyon National Park’s changing leaves. The park’s most prevalent deciduous trees, quaking aspens, turn striking shades of gold and yellow. Connected by intertwined, underground root systems, vast stands of the park’s aspens change color in exactly the same shade. The brilliant colored leaves compliment the red, pink and orange shades of the park’s seemingly innumerable hoodoos, rock pinnacles formed by millions of years of wind and water. Call today to make your reservations with us to enjoy cooler temperatures, fewer crowds and a new perspective on incredible scenery!

Fall is a great time to visit Bryce Canyon

If you want to avoid the crowds and do not mind cooler temperatures, fall is an ideal time of year to visit Bryce Canyon National Park. You can still hike park trails and enjoy guided horseback rides or ATV rides from Ruby’s Inn outfitters. While on the trail, changing red and orange leaves will compliment the red and orange hues of Bryce Canyon’s hoodoos.

Before booking your room, check out our money-saving value packages to see if there is one that includes your desired activities and fits within your budget. Packages include extras such as meals at our adjacent restaurants and guided tours through our outfitters. We look forward to seeing you during this beautiful time of year!

Do not miss the chance to see Bryce Canyon from the air

If you want a breathtaking, unique view of Bryce Canyon National Park, ditch the roads and the trails and board a helicopter or an airplane for a birds-eye view of its colorful hoodoos, fins and arches. In addition to aerial tours of Bryce Canyon, Bryce Canyon Airlines offers scenic flights that also include Grand Canyon National Park, Lake Powell, Monument Valley and Zion National Park. Flying since 1977, Bryce Canyon Airlines can also provide you a flight to your next destination, including Page, Arizona, Cedar City, Utah, St. George, Utah and more. Visit the Bryce Canyon Airlines Page on the Rubys Inn website for more information about how you can see some of the southwest’s most spectacular scenic places from the air.

Join us for the Bryce Canyon Rim Run and Walk this weekend

This Saturday, August 23, starting at 9 a.m. one of Utah’s most scenic races, the 5-mile Bryce Canyon Rim Run and Walk, will take place. Traversing ponderosa pine forests and scenic views of Bryce Canyon, the course’s average elevation is 7,600 feet. The registration fee is only $25 per runner and includes a T-shirt, a western lunch, and a ticket to the Bryce Canyon Country Rodeo. For more information, visit our Rim Run page . We look forward to seeing you this weekend!

Couple from India calls Bryce Canyon a “poetic stone amphitheater”

In a recent travel column in the Deccan Herald, a couple from India talks about their recent explorations of Utah’s national parks, including Bryce Canyon. They described Bryce Canyon as “a poetic stone amphitheater with its myriad canyons, ‘fins’, and hoodoos — the magical pillars of rock in a hundred fantastic shapes and shades of red, ocher, brown and orange, with pine, spruce and fir embellishing the landscape.” Visiting in mid-May, the couple experienced a light dusting of snow – the first for their two children – and admired deer grazing from the road.

If you want an experience similar to this couple’s Ruby’s Inn, the closest accommodations to the entrance of Bryce Canyon, always has the red carpet rolled out with fine accommodations and desirable amenities.

Man runs 60 miles in the Bryce Canyon area to celebrate his 60th Birthday

Salt Lake Valley Resident and Panguitch native Dorrell Henderson decided to celebrate his 60th birthday in an unconventional way – by running 60 miles. Starting in Panguitch, Henderson ran down U.S. 89 to Scenic Byway 12, through Red Canyon, past Ruby’s Inn and then onto some of Bryce Canyon National Park’s trails to the town of Tropic. Henderson said if it wasn’t for his family and friends from the Locomotion Running Club, who ran alongside him for portions of the journey, he would not have made it. For a more detailed account of his journey, click here .

Feel like a “midget in fantasyland” hiking through Bryce Canyon’s hoodoos

Betsy Husband, a columnist for The Eureka (CA) Reporter, just wrote about her recent experience visiting Bryce Canyon National Park, saying she felt like a “midget in fantasyland” with the park’s colorful hoodoos towering above her. She talked about her experience watching the sunrise at Sunrise Point, taking pictures of wildlife such as deer antelope and wild turkeys and hiking the Navajo/Queen’s Garden trails, which make for a perfect round trip through striking formations such as Wall Street, Thor’s Hammer, Twin Bridges, and Queen Victoria herself. To read Husband’s full column, click here .

Hiking the many trails of Bryce Canyon National Park is a breathtaking experience you will remember for the rest of your life. Book your accommodations at Ruby’s Inn and join us for one of the most scenic experiences in the Western United States.

Bryce Canyon Half Marathon and 5K this weekend

One of the most scenic running events in Utah, the Bryce Canyon Half Marathon and 5K Run/Walk is this Saturday, July 19. The half marathon begins at 6 a.m. right here at Ruby’s Inn and follows UT 63 and Scenic Byway 12 through Bryce Canyon National Park and Tropic on its way to Cannonville City Park. The entire half marathon course is on paved roads. The 5K starts at 6:30 a.m. It begins and ends at Cannonville City Park, following the road to Kodachrome Basin State Park along its path. For more information about the two races and to register, visit the half marathon’s website . A recent Daily Spectrum article also provides more detailed information.

When not enjoying Bryce Canyon National Park, visit the Bryce Canyon Elk and Wildlife Park

When you stay at Ruby’s Inn to explore the Bryce Canyon area, the national park is not the only attraction you will want to visit. Only 2.5 miles north of Ruby’s Inn (one mile north of UT 12 on Bryce Canyon Airport Road) is the Bryce Canyon Elk and Wildlife Park. Rocky Mountain Elk, American Bison, Fallow Deer, African Oryx, Indian Black Bluck Antelope, and other North American wildlife roam the park. To view the animals up close, visitors board an antique tractor drawn western hay wagon for guided tour, which lasts approximately an hour. After the wagon ride, visitors have the chance to feed some of the preserve’s most domesticated animals. For more information, visit the Wildlife Park’s website or the Ruby’s Inn lobby, where you can also purchase tickets to tour the preserve!

Bryce Canyon Trail Spotlight: Peek-A-Boo Loop Trail

Beginning at Bryce Point, located approximately six miles from Ruby's Inn, the 5.2 mile (round trip) Peek-A-Boo Loop Trail descends quickly into Bryce Canyon’s main amphitheater, boasting an elevation change of 1,100 feet. Near the beginning of the trail, hikers pass under several short tunnels and see stands of bristlecone pine, considered one of the oldest living organisms on earth. The major highlight of the hike is the Wall of Windows, a thin vertical fin of sedimentary rock that displays approximately one dozen small arches that over time will turn into a set of hoodoos. The colors of the Wall of Windows are the most spectacular in the morning when approached from the south. It is also best to take photographs of the Wall of Windows in the morning.

After the Wall of Windows, hikers pass by the Cathedral, an impressive hoodoo-filled butte. From the Cathedral, it is 0.5 miles to the trail’s junction with the Navajo Loop Trail. Hikers can choose to follow the east side of the loop back to Bryce Point or take the Navajo Loop Trail to Sunset Point. The main attraction of the east side of the loop is Fairy Castle, only 0.4 miles from the trail junction. Hikers share the trail with horse and mule riders on guided excursions offered by a national parks concessionaire. As such, seeing horse manure on the path is a common occurrence. Click here to visit the Peek-A-Boo Loop Trail page on the Bryce Canyon National Park website.

Bryce Canyon Astronomy Festival begins today

Bryce Canyon National Park boasts one of the darkest night skies in North America, meaning it is one of the best places in the country for stargazing. Taking advantage of its incredibly dark sky, Bryce Canyon will host its eighth annual Astronomy Festival, starting today (Wed. June 25) and running until Saturday (June 28). The festival includes lectures, workshops and stargazing through over 50 large telescopes. The keynote speaker will be astronaut Story Musgrave, who will make a presentation tonight at 8:30 p.m. at Panguitch’s Triple C Arena. Most other events will take place in the park, including Bryce Canyon Lodge’s auditorium, the visitor center’s theater and the North Campground’s amphitheater. For more information, read this recent Salt Lake Tribune article and check out the festival’s schedule of events .

Bryce Canyon Trail Spotlight: Riggs Spring Loop

The Riggs Loop Trail, which begins at Yovimpa Point at the south end of Bryce Canyon National Park, is not well known but it is worth the trip. The trail meanders through fir, spruce and bristlecone forests. Stands of quaking aspens and red cliffs greet hikers on the eastern portion of the trail. The path’s western section is steeper and winds through denser forests. The western portion is prettiest in the morning, when the sun causes the rock formations’ to light up with color. A shaded spring near the middle of the route provides a welcoming respite, an ideal place to stop for lunch. Hikers should treat the water from the spring before drinking it. Hikers can complete the trail in one day but many choose to camp overnight to enjoy the peace, solitude and beauty. Overnight hikers must obtain a backcountry permit at the park visitor center.

The trail is approximately 8.8 miles round trip, features an elevation change of 1,635 feet and takes about six hours to hike in one day. For more information on the trail, visit Riggs Spring Loop Trail description on the Bryce Canyon National Park website or David Day’s detailed description from his book about Utah backcountry trails.

Bryce Canyon Trail Spotlight: Mossy Cave

Only a four-mile drive east of the intersection of UT 12 and UT 63 will take you to the Mossy Cave Trail, a pleasant stroll located away from the main tourist area of Bryce Canyon National Park. The trailhead is on the right side of the road immediately after crossing a bridge. The trail leads through Water Canyon, paralleling an irrigation ditch dug by Mormon pioneers in the late 19th century and still in use today. The left fork of the trail leads to Mossy Cave, a spectacular rock overhang fed by an underground spring is at the end of the trail. At the end of the right fork, you will find a small waterfall. The 0.9-mile (round trip), level trail is ideal for small children and allows visitors the opportunity to view hoodoos up close without steep descents or climbs. For more information, visit the Mossy Cave Trail description on the Bryce Canyon National Park website.

Hikers feel like they are on another planet while exploring Bryce Canyon

A contributing writer for a community newspaper in New Jersey recently wrote an article about her experience hiking in Bryce Canyon National Park, saying she felt as if she were in a story by Ray Bradbury, author of Fahrenheit 451 and Something Wicked This Way Comes. She said she felt like she was on Mars in one section of the popular Navajo Loop Trail. She described some of Bryce Canyon’s hoodoos as “giant rocky snow people wearing flat hats.” That is the beauty of hiking the park’s trails. You let your imagination run wild deciding what you think the park’s formations resemble, whether it is a dog, a tool, or a ship. Another recent article touted Bryce Canyon as one of the best national parks in North America, saying that it is “renowned as the most colorful of national parks.” Now that it is summer, it is the perfect time to hike park trails and discover the “rocky snow people” yourself.

Bryce Canyon makes a great vacation spot closer to home for Utahns

We at Ruby’s Inn might be seeing a lot more Utahns this summer as gas prices alter state residents’ plans to go on a summer vacation further from home. A recent Salt Lake Tribune editorial encourages Utahns to stay close to home for their summer vacations and visit Utah’s national parks, including Bryce Canyon. Another recent Tribune article describes Bryce Canyon as a less crowded national park option compared to Zion and Arches.

Apparently, Bryce Canyon’s vast array of hoodoos resembles the buildings of Chicago’s skyline, according to a Chicago Tribune blog . The blog entry features photo comparisons of the two, bringing a fresh perspective to Bryce Canyon’s colorful scenery.

Bryce Canyon’s panoramic landscape awaits you this summer, whether you are a Utahn, a Chicagoan, or from anywhere else in the U.S. or the world. Whenever you visit the area, book your lodging at Ruby’s Inn – the most comprehensive hotel in the Bryce Canyon area.

Bryce Canyon shuttle begins summer schedule

Beginning Friday, May 23, the Bryce Canyon Shuttle will begin its summer schedule, operating daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. until September 28. The voluntary shuttle, implemented to help reduce automobile traffic in the most popular places in the park, is voluntary. The shuttle will operate from a new facility and parking lot located across UT 63 from Ruby’s Inn – a partnership between Ruby’s Inn, Bryce Canyon National Park and other entities. For further details about the shuttle, read this recent Daily Spectrum article or check out the Bryce Canyon Shuttle information page .

Bryce Canyon and Ruby’s Inn receiving positive press

In the last week, there have been three articles in the news about Bryce Canyon, two of them mentioning Ruby’s Inn. The first, a column in The Coast News , a newspaper in Encinitas, California, describes the awe the writer felt as she hiked among Bryce Canyon’s colorful hoodoos. She stayed at Ruby’s Inn during her trip. She is complimentary of our hotel. She even relates some of our history. The next article about Bryce Canyon within the last week appeared in The Salt Lake Tribune . The article lists Bryce Canyon National Park as one of Utah’s seven natural wonders. Another Salt Lake Tribune article tells about the late Bob Syrett, an owner of Ruby’s Inn, being honored for his work in Utah tourism at the Utah Tourism Conference in Salt Lake City last week. Come join us this spring, summer or fall so Bryce Canyon can inspire you and you can take advantage of the excellent accommodations at our Bryce Canyon hotel!

Bryce Canyon Trail Spotlight: Bristlecone Loop

Last week we highlighted the closest Bryce Canyon National Park hiking trail to Ruby’s Inn. This week we will spotlight one of the trails that is located farthest away – the Bristlecone Loop Trail. Accessed via Rainbow Point at the southern end of the park’s scenic drive, the Bristlecone Loop traverses the highest portion of the park, reaching elevations up to 9,100 feet above sea level. The trail received its name because of the stands of bristlecone pine you will see along the route. Bristlecones are some of the earth’s oldest living organisms. Some of the specimens you will see along the trail are nearly 1,800 years old! In addition to bristlecone pine, you will also see Blue Spruce, Douglas Fir and White Fir.

Another attraction of this trail is its stellar views into the Four Corners area, due to the Bryce Canyon’s fresh air and excellent visibility. During your jaunt along the one-mile path you might also catch a glimpse of the area’s wildlife, including grouse, woodpeckers, ravens, and a variety of chipmunks and squirrels.

Click here for the official National Park Service web page about the trail

Bryce Canyon Trail Spotlight: Fairyland Loop

Most Ruby’s Inn guests enjoy hiking in Bryce Canyon National Park during their stay. As such, we would like to highlight the park’s trails in this blog to help you plan your hiking itinerary. We will begin with the Fairyland Loop Trail, the closest Bryce Canyon trail to your accommodations at Ruby’s Inn.

The Fairyland Loop Trail begins at Fairyland Point, reached by taking a left onto a spur road off UT 63 even before you reach the park’s fee station, only minutes from your Ruby’s Inn motel room. The 8-mile round trip hike offers spectacular views of colorful hoodoos and mesas. It is an ideal trail to hike if you would like to get away from the crowds. The first 1.5 miles of the trail winds through the north side of Boat Mesa, descending into Fairyland Canyon, the lowest point of the hike. The next 2.5 miles climbs out of Fairyland Canyon and offers views of Sinking Ship Mesa , which truly resembles an enormous sinking ship.

The mid-way point of the hike is the 0.2-mile spur trail to Tower Bridge , an excellent spot for a lunch break. From the Tower Bridge Junction, the trail ascends 1.5 miles back to the rim of Bryce Canyon’s main amphitheater. This portion of the trail traverses Campbell Canyon and offers superb views of the Chinese Wall. When you reach the rim, you can return to Fairyland Point or stroll along the rim to Sunrise Point and the park’s main tourist area.

Click here for the official National Park Service web page about the trail and here for a description of the trail on the Travel West website.

At Ruby’s Inn, you can retrace the hoof prints of Butch Cassidy!

Butch Cassidy was one of the most notorious outlaws of the American West. Born and raised in southern Utah, Cassidy and his gang often hid out in various locations in the region in between robberies. When you visit Ruby’s Inn, a full-service hotel located at the gateway to Utah’s Bryce Canyon National Park, you can participate in a guided horseback ride on the Cassidy Trail in nearby Red Canyon, a precursor to Bryce Canyon on Scenic Byway 12. According to a recent Los Angeles Times article , the Cassidy Trail is where a young Butch (born Robert Leroy Parker) escaped from a posse trying to catch him for rustling. When you take a guided horseback ride with a Ruby’s Inn wrangler, you will find out more about the area’s outlaw history, as well as its geology and wildlife. Ruby’s Inn offers one-and-a-half hour rides, half-day rides, and full day rides. Visit our horse rides page for more information.

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Winter Fun!

I am excited to inform you about our new snow, and the activities that we are now offering. http://www.rubysinn.com/winter.html