On our epic summer road trip we made a stop at Bryce Canyon National Park and it was incredible! We love that the Utah Mighty 5 are all so close to each other and you can easily visit multiple parks on one trip. Keep reading for our tips on visiting Bryce Canyon National Park with kids. My very first tip? Plan more than one day if you can!
what are the Utah Mighty 5?
The Mighty 5 are the five National Parks that are located in Utah. Although Zion National Park is probably the most well-known, each park in southern Utah is impressive. They’re known for their distinctive red rock and towering formations. However, did you know that each of the five National Parks in Utah are also certified Dark Sky Parks? That means that any time of day or any time of year is a good time to visit one of the Utah Mighty 5.
| Zion National Park with Kids |
the history of Bryce Canyon
Before its life as a National Park, Paiute Indians occupied the area starting around 1200 A.D. Pioneers passed through the area in the 19th century. Bryce Canyon was designated a national monument on June 8, 1923. It wasn’t until 5 years later that it officially became a National Park, becoming the second National Park in Utah. Many improvements were made to the park in the 1930s to make the park and its trails much more accessible to the public.
where does the name come from?
A group of families established the town of Clifton near the junction of the Paria River and Henrieville Creek, in 1874. Ebenezer Bryce and his family arrived in Clifton in 1875, but soon moved upstream to Henderson Valley (New Clifton). Ebenezer helped to complete a seven mile irrigation ditch from Paria Creek. Bryce built a road into the pink cliffs to make timber more accessible. People started to call the amphitheater where the road terminated, “Bryce’s Canyon.” Ebenezer Bryce and his family moved to Arizona in 1880, but the Bryce’s Canyon name stuck.
www.nps.gov/brca
Bryce Canyon National Park with kids
the best hikes with kids
The Rim Trail is a one way trail–it is not a loop. So you can decide how much of the 11 miles you actually want to cover with your kids. We hiked from Sunset to Sunrise Points and back (this portion of the trail is paved), which is about 2 miles total. The Rim Trail is an easy hike with very little elevation change and gives you a great view of the hoodoos. If you only have a few hours in the park this is the trail to take.
Know before you go: There is very little shade in Bryce Canyon so starting early in the day will be your best bet to beat the heat. You will also want to make sure everyone has plenty of water and sunscreen.
If you can make it to the north part of the park don’t miss Mossy Cave. This hike is extremely popular but if you can get there in the early morning (before 10 am) or evening (after 6 pm) you’ll be rewarded with an easy streamside walk that has icicles in winter and dripping moss in the summer. The trail is less than a mile in total.
hike the hoodoos
Hoodoos are the iconic rock formations that most people associate with Bryce Canyon National Park. You can find hoodoos in other locations across the world, but you won’t see more in one area than here! In fact, did you know Bryce Canyon was the design inspiration for Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at Disneyland? If you’re visiting Bryce Canyon National Park with kids ask them if the rock formations look familiar! You can even earn a special “I Hiked the Hoodoos” sticker if you hike 3 miles or more. Find out more [here].
experience a horseback ride
Canyon Trail Rides offers guided horse tours into Bryce Amphitheater. We saw a tour leaving to go down when we visited and there were all ages and abilities of riders! Guided trail tours typically run from April through October. There are also certain areas and times when you’re allowed to bring your own horses and mules to tour the area.
become a junior ranger
I always recommend that if you have kids you participate in the Junior Ranger program. We have a rule in our family–no screens inside National Park boundaries. Working on their Junior Ranger booklets is the perfect activity for our kids to do in the car while we’re exploring!
take a scenic drive
The Southern Scenic Drive takes you 18 miles through the entire park. It also offers you the opportunity to get out at several viewpoints along the way. A scenic drive is especially a great option if you’ve got little ones taking a nap in the car that you don’t want to interrupt.
Have you been to Bryce Canyon National Park before?
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