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.