News Release

Navajo Loop Reopens in Time for Geology Festival

Date: July 9, 2019
Contact: Peter Densmore, 435-834-4744

What better way to enjoy midsummer in southwest Utah than with high plateau breezes and hikes within beautiful redrock canyons? After extensive trail repairs to its “Two Bridges” side, the entirety of the 1.3-mile Navajo Loop trail is now open to enjoy and explore at Bryce Canyon National Park. Located just below Sunset Point in the Bryce Amphitheater, the many switchbacks of the popular Navajo Loop and portions of other trails were damaged and temporarily closed by last year’s especially wet winter. Thanks to the steady efforts of the park’s trail crew over the past months, all of the park’s scenic front-country trails are now reopened to the visiting public.

Navajo Loop’s reopening is just in time for those planning to visit during the park’s 13th annual Geology Festival, which will begin on Friday, July 26th and last through Saturday, July 27th. This popular event will feature geology and paleontology-themed booths and activities at the park’s Visitor Center, along with special ranger programs, plein-air painting demonstrations, and special programs each night of the festival in the Bryce Lodge auditorium. Evening program speakers this year include Dr. Robert Eves of Southern Utah University and Dr. Patricia “Pat” Cashman of University of Nevada, Reno. Visit the Geology Festival page of the park website at www.nps.gov/brca/annual-geology-festival.htm to plan your visit. 

The Geology Festival follows one month after the conclusion of the park’s 19th annual Astronomy Festival, which was as popular as ever with over 4,500 total visitors over the four day festival. The park again wishes to thank NASA, Dr. Amber Straughn, the Bryce Canyon Natural History Association, Bryce Canyon City, University of Utah, the Salt Lake Astronomical Society, Cache Valley Astronomical Society, Ruby’s Inn, our many volunteers, staff, and those who visited for their support of this year’s festival.  The festival also celebrated 50 years of interpretive astronomy programs at the park. The 2020 Astronomy Festival is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, June 17th – Saturday, June 20th.

We welcome you to come beat the heat at 8,000 feet this summer, and if you’re planning to visit the park, be sure to review Alerts on the page website at www.nps.gov/brca for the most current information on park trails, campgrounds, and facilities.

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