#BRYCE CANYON NATIONAL PARK UTAH WEATHER HOW TO#
#BRYCE CANYON NATIONAL PARK UTAH WEATHER SERIES#

“The park’s clean air, high elevation and remote location combine to offer some of the nation’s darkest skies accessible by a paved road,” Densmore added. The park is also a stargazer's paradise with official International Dark Sky status. “This sequence contains one of the Earth’s most complete fossil records of the last 200 million years, including the last supercontinents, the first dinosaurs and flowering plants, and within Bryce Canyon’s Pink Cliffs the dawn of recent life.”

#BRYCE CANYON NATIONAL PARK UTAH WEATHER SERIES#

“Standing there at the southern edge of the plateau, one stands upon the top step of the Grand Staircase – a series of colorful cliffs linking the Grand Canyon to Bryce Canyon,” Densmore said. The park also has some of the longest views on the continent. On especially clear days, he said visitors at Yovimpa Point can see Humphreys Peak in Arizona, 150 miles away across the Grand Canyon. This is connected to the Paiute legend of this area, which tells of the Legend People being turned to stone by the trickster god Coyote as punishment,” Densmore told USA TODAY. Hoodoos are rocky spires that have been sculpted by erosion over time. “Hoodoo comes from a Southern Paiute word, oo’doo, which describes something that is scary or inspires fear. Which state has the most national parks? Get to know America's 63 national parks Why is Bryce Canyon so famous?īryce Canyon has the highest concentration of hoodoos in the world. Love nature but hate crowds? America's least-visited national parks are perfect for you Here’s what visitors should know about Bryce Canyon, the latest national park in USA TODAY’s yearlong series: “Coming here and seeing that for themselves, I think you need a word at least as strong as magic to describe what that experience is like.” “I think this is a landscape that many people still don’t realize even exists on the planet, much less in their own country,” Bryce Canyon visual information specialist and spokesman Peter Densmore said in a video on the park’s website. And there’s certainly a lot to celebrate.įrom its iconic hoodoo rock formations to its dazzling night sky, Bryce Canyon’s sights are simply breathtaking. Because of its higher elevation, Bryce is cooler than the other national parks and carries snow longer into spring.The national park marks its 100th year within the National Park Service on Thursday and has events planned all year long. November–March are the coldest, with temperatures peaking in the 30–40☏’s and freezing at night. Summer visitation peaks during July’s “monsoon” season where travelers will encounter generally dry, warm weather around 80☏ interspersed with dramatic afternoon lightning storms. Travelers will experience the best of Southern Utah’s mountain and desert climates at Bryce Canyon. More travel tips for visiting Bryce Canyon.

View a downloadable map of Bryce Canyon National Park.

#BRYCE CANYON NATIONAL PARK UTAH WEATHER HOW TO#

Read these resources to learn how to travel thoughtfully and experience Bryce Canyon National Park most fully. Save Presidents Day weekend in February for the Bryce Canyon Winter Festival or bring your own mule for the May Mule Days. The rim at Bryce varies from 8,000 to 9,000 feet. High altitude hiking means sunscreen, hats, long sleeves and extra water. Sign up early for astronomy programs.įull moon hikes mean eerily well-lit hoodoos, but don’t forget your headlamp and jacket. Navajo Trail to Queens Garden is one of the best 3-mile hikes anywhere and solace-seekers should consider the 8-mile Fairyland Loop.īryce Canyon’s pristine dark skies mean incredibly starry nights.

Bryce canyon national park utah weather