

But Red Canyon is a great late morning or early afternoon alternative during those periods when Bryce is packed.įor further insight to some of the other wonders along Utah’s Scenic Byway 12, then check out my posts about Bryce Canyon National Park, Kodachrome Basin State Park, and Capitol Reef National Park.Īnd if you are looking for a great place to stay while exploring this part of Utah, then check out my post on the Sevier River Ranch and Cattle Company.Window._PUBLIC_PATH_ = JSON.parse("\"https:\\u002F\\\\u002Fblossom-flex-ui\\u002F\"") We only encountered one other couple on our 2.2 mile Sunday afternoon hike.īut, this is not a suggestion to skip Bryce. You shouldn’t!! I rate the Bryce Canyon Amphitheater as Utah’s single greatest sight. If you are looking for a great way to enjoy hoodoos without crowds, then be sure to stop at Red Canyon.

There is no entrance fee when visiting Red Canyon. And it’s not crowded! Sometimes getting into Utah’s National Parks can be an exercise in patience, and Bryce Canyon is no exception. Rather than retracing your steps along the trail, you can cross the highway and returned to the Visitor’s Center along the paved bike trail (a shorter 0.5 miles) Final Thoughts and Tips The Birdseye trail ends next to the highway. Here’s some photos from along this trail: The hoodoos aren’t as concentrated or close along this trail, but the scenery is no less spectacular. This trail follows along the edge of the lower canyon walls, offering views out across the entire area. This is a 1 mile hike that offers a different taste of the Canyon’s topography. Here’s what you can expect to see along the trail: Birdseye TrailĪt the end of the Pink Ledges Trail, you can return to the Visitors Center, or you can continue hiking westward along the Birdseye Trail. The colors here though are more uniform than Bryce’s – a deeper red color in contrast to the pinks, oranges, reds, and whites of Bryce Canyon. You find yourself passing by and looking up at awe-inspiring hoodoos. Hiking the Pink Ledges Trail is similar to hiking through the bottom of the Bryce Amphitheater. It’s a little steep in a couple of sections, but rates the entire hike as Easy. Because it’s so short, even if you are just passing through, I recommend that you stop and hike it. It’s relatively short, but packs in a lot of great scenery over its 0.7 miles. This trail starts at the eastern end of the main parking lot. Another popular trail that I’d hoped to hike – the Golden Wall Trail – had been damaged by recent heavy rain, making certain sections difficult to pass. We hiked the Pink Ledges Trail and the Birdseye Trail. A paved biking trail also runs for 11 miles along the highway in this area.
Red ledges inn bryce canyon national park utah free#
Your stay with us includes Direct TV, free WiFi, a light continental breakfast, mini-fridge, microwave, coffee, A/C, guest laundry, and discounts for AARP, Government, and AAA (3 diamond). Come and enjoy comfortable rooms in the tranquil town of Tropic. From here, you can access several trails through the canyon. At the Red Ledges Inn, we offer 65 rooms, including suites, at rates from 80 to 145. Its large visitors center and parking lot sits right alongside the highway. Red Canyon is managed by the US Forest Service. Its red rock features offer striking contrast to the Forest’s green ponderosa pines. Red Canyon sits within the Dixie National Forest. The limestone edges of the plateau have been eroded with time to reveal spectacularly colored cliffs and hoodoos. Red Canyon and Bryce Canyon sit on opposite sides of the Paunsaungunt Plateau, and demonstrate similar erosive geology. And, every stop along the way is a highlight. The drive along the Byway offers an amazing variety of Utah topography and grandeur. Along the way, it passes the entrance to Bryce Canyon National Park (transecting its northern corner), passes near the entrance to Kodachrome Basin State Park, passes through Grand Staircase – Escalante National Monument, crosses up and over Boulder Mountain, and ends at Torrey Utah just outside Capitol Reef. It starts at Red Canyon and ends at Capitol Reef National Park.

This 120 mile stretch of highway is considered one of the most scenic in the United States. Scenic Byway 12 starts just south of Panquitch Utah in the southwest part of the state – a 3.5 hour drive from Salt Lake City.
