National Parks

Bryce Canyon National Park

Bryce Canyon National Park is marked by the salmon and orange-colored limestone that create a maze of spires, pinnacles and fins. Bryce Canyon is technically not a canyon at all. It’s a series of 14 limestone amphitheaters cut into the eastern edge of the Paunsaugunt Plateau in southern Utah. It is 1.5 hours from Zion National Park and a 4-hour drive from Las Vegas.

Bryce Canyon National Park Map

Bryce: Shared Use Path

16 miles between Red Canyon Visitor Center and Inspiration Point at Bryce Canyon  MAP

In May of 2016, Bryce Canyon opened a Shared Use Path connecting Red Canyon to Bryce Canyon National Park. This paved trail runs along Route 12 and 63. It offers visitors an easy link from Bryce Canyon City, north of the park, to Inspiration Point inside the park. Depending on where you are staying, park at one of the many pull offs along route 12 or at Rudy’s Inn. If you choose to run into the park, the Shared Use path follows the shuttle route. Run along the path for as long as you desire enjoying the animated rock sculptures of this seemingly unreal landscape and use the shuttle to return to the start. As you pass the Visitor Center, you can’t miss the new solar collection system perched between parking areas. Both the Shared Use path and the PV display were added in preparation of the Centennial Celebration. Note that park entrance fees apply while running the path into the park. This path is a nice running option in the park but will not take you by the more spectacular sites or sections. For those, see below.

Rim Trail

5.5 miles from Fairyland to Bryce Point
www.wasatchandbeyond.com
The Rim Trail offers hikers the opportunity to see outstanding views of Bryce’s hoodoos from above. The entire Rim Trail extending from Fairyland to Bryce Point is 5.5 miles and has less than 200 feet elevation gain. The 1 mile stretch between Sunset and Sunrise points the trail is paved and fairly level. Other stretches of the path are well maintained dirt, and is more of a ‘trail run’, with some more challenging footing in sections. Also, this trail might be crowded during peak times, so if you really want to run it, go early and enjoy the sunrise, or during offpeak times. The shuttle hits many same viewpoints as the Rim Trail. So again, you can run the trail one-way and return to the start on the shuttle.

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