News Release

2020 Season Begins at Bryce Canyon

NPS/Peter Densmore

News Release Date: March 11, 2020

Contact: Peter Densmore, 4358344744

With 2,594,904 recreational visits in 2019, Bryce Canyon National Park has enjoyed another year of global popularity. The park has remained above 2 million annual recreational visits since 2016, and is currently the 12th most-visited national park in the country. As Spring Break begins an early increase to visitation, park facilities will begin to reopen, hours will extend, and shuttle service will resume to best serve our 2020 visitors.

The park Visitor Center and Bookstore is currently open every day from 8:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Hours will be extended to 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 15th and then to 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 26th.

The Bryce Canyon Shuttle will begin its service on Friday, April 10th. Riding the shuttle bus is free but requires payment of the park’s entrance fee. From April 10th until May 7th, shuttles will run daily from 8:00 a.m. until the last bus leaves the park at 6:15 p.m. From May 8th until September 28th, the last bus time will extend to 8:10 p.m. Winding down, from September 29th until the shuttle concludes on October 18th the final bus time will return to 6:15 p.m. Twice-daily trips at 9:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. to the park’s southern views on the Rainbow Bus Tour will also resume on April 10th. This 3 ½ hour tour is free, but requires reservations, so inquire at the Shuttle Station in Bryce Canyon City or by calling [phone]. A reminder that vehicles over 20 feet are restricted from the Bryce Amphitheater parking areas (Sunrise, Sunset, Inspiration, and Bryce Points) during shuttle hours, so be sure to take advantage of this service to see the park’s most iconic areas.

Riding the shuttle is an excellent choice to pair with camping in one of the park’s developed campgrounds. Loop A of North Campground has remained open all winter for first-come-first-serve camping. Additional loops will open as weather permits. Sunset Campground will begin its season on April 15th with first-come-first-serve camping until May 20th, when reservation season will last until October 15th. Reservations can be made 6 months in advance at recreation.gov or by calling 877-444-6777. Sunset Campground will return to first-come-first-serve camping on October 16th until it closes for the season on October 31st.

Lodging within the park is currently available at the Sunset Lodge. Reservations can be made by visiting brycecanyonforever.com or by calling Forever Resorts at [phone]. Those looking for trail snacks, groceries, a penny machine, or showers can head over to the General Store at Sunrise Point, which is currently open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. with extended hours later in the season. Both the Sunrise Lodge and the historic Lodge at Bryce Canyon will open their doors on March 27th at 11:00 a.m. The Lodge at Bryce Canyon will offer full breakfast, lunch and dinner options for the season from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., 11:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., and 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Adjacent to the Lodge, Valhalla Pizzeria and Coffee Shop will reopen on Friday, May 22nd, and provide dining options from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. 

Most trails within the park are currently open. Due to unstable trail conditions, the Navajo Loop and the Rim Trail between Bryce and Inspiration Points remain closed. Visitors can still hike the first 0.1 mi/0.16 km of the “Two Bridges” side of the Navajo Loop to Thor’s Hammer, but no further until trail conditions improve. Construction to address deferred maintenance of the Bryce Canyon Lodge’s parking lot, the Lodge Loop road, and North Campground are scheduled for the 2020 summer season. Be prepared for short-term closures and alternative traffic or parking arrangements.

Ranger programs, including daily geology talks and rim walks as well as evening and astronomy programs will be offered as the season unfolds. Visit nps.gov/brca/planyourvisit/ranger-programs.htm for more information on standard program times and locations. Along with ranger programming, the park’s beloved annual festivals will continue in 2020. The Astronomy Festival is scheduled from June 17th – June 20th, and the Geology Festival from July 17th – July 18th. Both events will feature guest speakers, special ranger-guided activities, and opportunities for the entire family to enjoy while learning about the unique resources protected within Bryce Canyon National Park.

Additional information can also be obtained by visiting the park’s website at www.nps.gov/brca, or by calling the park’s main information line at [phone].