Bryce Canyon, Utah

[eddie21]

There are a lot of great places to ride around there. A little further East, Escalante and Grand Staircase has some phenominal riding.

Not to mention the ride from Bryce Canyon to Zion NP approaching from the east. Outrageous scenery! One of the most picturesque rides I've ever done!

[BigD_83]

You've actually done that trip? I know google map shows 19 hrs approx.

Yup. It was over Christmas and New Year's two years ago as the last leg of our Western State National Park trip. We'd go back in a heartbeat.

[eddie21]

We'd go back in a heartbeat.

Exactly! That's why we've been there 3 times!

[prosnomonkey]

I've done both Bryce and Zion. We spent 4 days at Zion hiking around including an overnight backpack trip. We had planned to spend 3 days hiking Bryce, but spent a day there hiking, felt like we'd seen almost all of it, and went back to Zion. Both places are amazing and well worth the trip, I'm just suggesting spending less time in Bryce as 3 days seems like a lot.

disclaimer: I live in Utah during the winter, did the trips in spring and drove a car so Fatigue was not a factor

[Sandy]

I've been to Bryce a few times and while it is quite stunning, you can hike around most of it in a day. You mentioned Hwy 12. Well worth the drive from Bryce through Escalante, Boulder and over to Torrey. It puts you right near Capitol Reef Park which has become one of our favourite parks for hiking and mountain biking.

View from Hwy 12. with Capitol Reef in the distance.


If you hang a right at Boulder along 1668?? (Boulder - Bull Frog Rd.) it's paved for a while and you're treated to not much traffic and great scenery. It does however turn to good gravel and if you continue, depending on conditions of the day, you'll be able to get to Capitol Reef through the back door. Where 1668 meets 1670?? (Notom Rd.) you turn left towards Hwy 24 and Capitol Reef. That stretch will be good gravel but might be very washboardy. I wouldn't really recommend that route riding 2 up but you'll have to make a judgement call depending on the day. The paved part however I recommend, just turn around and go back to Hwy 12 when you're ready, it's not far IIRC. Just a cautionary note, if it at all looks like rain stay on the pavement or you'll be parked for 2 days waiting for the road to dry out. It can get that slimy.

View along 1668 just east of Boulder.


Further along 1668 if you're really brave. Once you're down you're at Notom Rd.

[spchips]

Secret to the national parks of the west is staying in the national forest campgrounds nearby if i recall there is a good one just outside of bryce. There are pay grounds with some facilities and lots of free camping with no facilities.

The road into and out of zion is a nice one.

[azr]

This is all really good info guys. Fantastic pictures Sandy, wow. I'm worried about the time though, 12 days. 3 days to get there starting from Mt Vernon/Everett area (we would leave the night before and cross the border), 4 days around the parks, 5 days to get home? I had to laugh, I was at work today in a clients home and while I'm standing in the living room looking at two very old, large prints on the wall, I ask him "where are these of", he responds "Bryce Canyon", I had to laugh.

[tkent02]

I've been to Bryce a few times and while it is quite stunning, you can hike around most of it in a day. You mentioned Hwy 12. Well worth the drive from Bryce through Escalante, Boulder and over to Torrey. It puts you right near Capitol Reef Park which has become one of our favourite parks for hiking and mountain biking.

View from Hwy 12. with Capitol Reef in the distance.


If you hang a right at Boulder along 1668?? (Boulder - Bull Frog Rd.) it's paved for a while and you're treated to not much traffic and great scenery. It does however turn to good gravel and if you continue, depending on conditions of the day, you'll be able to get to Capitol Reef through the back door. Where 1668 meets 1670?? (Notom Rd.) you turn left towards Hwy 24 and Capitol Reef. That stretch will be good gravel but might be very washboardy. I wouldn't really recommend that route riding 2 up but you'll have to make a judgement call depending on the day. The paved part however I recommend, just turn around and go back to Hwy 12 when you're ready, it's not far IIRC. Just a cautionary note, if it at all looks like rain stay on the pavement or you'll be parked for 2 days waiting for the road to dry out. It can get that slimy.

View along 1668 just east of Boulder.


Further along 1668 if you're really brave. Once you're down you're at Notom Rd.

All true, especially this:

If you hang a right at Boulder along 1668?? (Boulder - Bull Frog Rd.) it's paved for a while and you're treated to not much traffic and great scenery.

One of the coolest rides ever, ever. Better than anything in Zion or Bryce Canyon.

[azr]

Help me out, for the life of me I can't find 1668 near Boulder.

[Sandy]

Help me out, for the life of me I can't find 1668 near Boulder.

It's at the south end of town and heads due east. If you can't find it I'll post a JPG later.

[Sandy]

I just checked Google maps on my phone and there it's called Burr Trail Road and starts just south of town at a right angle turn in Hwy 12.

[azr]

Got it, thanks Sandy. I see what you meant about dirt, there's a lot of it no doubt about that but I guess as long as it's dry. How long does it take to do that road?

[Sandy]

You can view that route on Google Earth street view. We use that lots now for trip planning. Anyway, it looks like from where you leave Hwy 12 and reach Hwy 24 is about 110kms with less than 1/2 being gravel. The photo with our truck is at about the 25km point and you will lose pavement at about the 50km. point. That's about 6m short of the decent to Notom Rd. After you turn right it's another 25 - 30 kms up to Hwy 24 with the first 1/2 gravel. Not as much gravel as remember but then we spent a week off pavement at the time. Be very careful, Utah can become an addiction.

[eddie21]

Utah can become an addiction.

I agree with Sandy, Utah is the most scenic State I've been in, for sure! Now, if only they'd do something about their goofy 3.2% alcohol beer law.

[tkent02]

I agree with Sandy, Utah is the most scenic State I've been in, for sure! Now, if only they'd do something about their goofy 3.2% alcohol beer law.

There's a good reason for a big top box.