COVID-19 Traveler Alerts

(Updated 7/6/2020)

Bryce Canyon Country recognizes that travelers are concerned about impacts related to COVID-19.  As information is continually changing, we are making every effort to be a reliable resource and provide you with the most up-to-date information to help you have the best visitor experience.  We want to support travelers during this time, to speak to our staff call 1-800-444-6689 or email us at info@brycecanyoncountry.com.  

Please be advised that Garfield County is now in the Green or New Normal Risk Phase according to the Utah Leads Together Plan-4.6.  An overview of these guidelines can be found by following this link.

National Parks

Bryce Canyon National Park is OPEN, for additional planning and tips please visit: www.nps.gov/brca
Bryce Canyon National Park is collecting entrance fees from visitors. 

• Sunset Campground is open to the public for camping by reservation only- visit www.recreation.gov for reservation information; North Campground remains closed for paving. 
• Restrooms are available at Mossy Cave, Sunset Point, Inspiration Point, Fairview and Rainbow Points
• Free shuttle service has resumed and will run from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily in the Bryce Amphitheater; the Rainbow Bus Tour is not operating at this time; RVs are strongly encouraged to park at the shuttle station and utilize this service or the Shared Use Path, as parking is extremely limited for larger vehicles and congested parking lots may experience short -term closures at peak times. Current modifications to regular shuttle operations include:
  • Shuttle capacity is limited to 20 passengers at one time
  • Enter and exit through rear doors only (to accommodate plexiglass barrier installed for driver safety)
  • Visitor groups will be asked to sit together to maintain social distance from other groups
  • Passengers are asked to self-screen for symptoms posted on all busses, and to not ride if experiencing them
  • Free face masks will be available to all passengers
  • Current shuttle operations run from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.--check your stop for the last bus time of the day
• ​Mossy Cave area is currently under construction from July 6 to July 9.  During this time traffic can still travel through, but there will be no vehicle access to either the Mossy Cave restroom or trail. 
• ​Effective June 15 private horse reservation will resume in the park.  You can make a reservation for guided horseback rides inside of Bryce Canyon National Park by following this link. 
  • The Sunset Campground inside Bryce Canyon National Park will open to the public effective June 7, reservations only.  Reservations can be made here. 
• ​Phased Reopening Information can be found at the Bryce Canyon National Park website.
  • Tips for visiting Bryce Canyon National Park 
• ​The Lodge at Bryce Canyon is providing overnight lodging and take-out dining; breakfast from 7:30 a.m. to 10 a.m., lunch 12 p.m. to 3 p.m., and dinner 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
• Guided horseback rides inside the park are operating additional details can be found here. 
   
• Capitol Reef National Park
  • ​Opening Access to some areas on May 5: Read more about openings
     
• Zion National Park
  • Now collecting entrance fees and some shuttle services have resumed via a ticketing system: Read more about these changes

State Parks- OPEN

All public spaces, campgrounds, and trails are open at the three Utah State Park locations in Garfield County. 

• Anasazi State Park Museum 
• Escalante Petrified Forest State Park
• Kodachrome Basin State Park

Dixie National Forest Areas

• Red Canyon, Dixie National Forest- Trails are open to the public
• Dispersed camping is available on most of the Dixie National Forest
  • Dispersed Camping in Dave's Hollow area is closed.  
  • Guard stations and group camping sites are not open
• Visitor Center in Red Canyon is open Thursday- Monday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument

• Visitor Centers Closed
• Please remember to social distance on popular trails.

As you visit the community please remember things may take more time and everyone is doing the best they can.  Help our community and our visitors by following these guidelines: 

COVID-19 Activity Booklet

Download our COVID-19 Bryce and Beyond Booklet, watch for special contests and prizes for residents and non-residents on our Instagram and Facebook pages (Bryce Canyon Country)

Activity Booklet

Additional Updates County-Wide can be found at: 
Garfield County Commissioner Updates

Local businesses are monitoring this situation closely and continue to take extra precautions to sanitize and clean all public spaces. These businesses are working hard to take their time so you can take your time in our county. The Office of Tourism is doing our best to make sure we keep information current.  Please consider supporting these local businesses, many of them have been here for years and without your support, they may not be here in the future. 

If you are a business and would like to provide an update please email falyn@brycecanyoncountry.com 

News Release

BLM Color Country District Office/Paria River District Office

Media Contacts: Christian Venhuizen (Iron/Beaver/Washington counties), 435-865-3081, cvenhuizen@blm.gov; David Hercher (Kane and Garfield counties), 435-899-0415, dhercher@blm.gov

June 24, 2020

Fire restrictions begin on BLM-administered lands in southwest Utah

CEDAR CITY, Utah – Fire restrictions will begin June 26 for all public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management in Beaver, Iron, Kane and Garfield counties and continue for Washington County, to help prevent wildland fires during this period of hazardous fire conditions.  

Preventable wildfires threaten lives, property, and precious resources. The national average of human-caused wildfires comprises 87 percent of all wildfire occurrences every year. Most of these fires can be prevented.

“We may be looking at another potentially severe fire season if warm, dry and windy weather continues to trend. We want people to continue recreating on public lands and enjoying their time on the Paria River and Color Country Districts,” said Paria River District Manager Harry Barber. “However, we also want the public to be aware that we all share in the responsibility to prevent wildfires. We hope to see that spirit of cooperation again this fire season; working together to help keep our public lands and communities safe and doing our part to mitigate human-caused wildfires, which will better enable firefighting resource availability to fight the naturally-occurring fires when they happen.”

“Preventing human-caused wildland fires is a key part in keeping our public lands available for everyone to explore and enjoy. It impacts our safety, our air quality, the ecosystems we manage and the communities that serve as our nation’s hubs for incredible outdoor recreation adventures,” said acting Color Country District Manager Randy Peterson. “Caring for public lands goes beyond the BLM’s employees. Success is defined by how we work together to manage public lands for our future generations.”

The BLM issued fire prevention orders that outline the restrictions after coordinating with the Color Country Interagency Fire partners, which manage wildland firefighting response throughout southwest Utah and portions of Arizona. Restrictions of specific activities will remain in place until long-term weather forecasts and environmental conditions provide a reduced risk for starting wildland fires.

Prohibited activities include:

1. Campfires, except in permanently constructed cement or metal fire pits provided in agency developed campgrounds and picnic areas;

2. grinding, cutting, and welding of metal;

3. operating or using any internal or external combustion engine without a spark arresting device properly installed, maintained and in effective working order as determined by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) recommended practices J335 and J350;

4. possession and/or detonation of explosives, including exploding targets, fireworks and incendiary or chemical devices, and pyrotechnics as defined by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the U.S. Department of Transportation. Binary explosives include, but are not limited to, pre-packaged products consisting of two separate components, usually an oxidizer like ammonium nitrate and a fuel such as aluminum or another metal. Fireworks include, but are not limited to, any device that produces noise, smoke, showers of sparks, or movement by combustion or explosive materials. This definition includes all classes of fireworks.

Individuals violating the prevention order can be subject to fines up to and including $1000 along with associated fire suppression and rehabilitation. All exemptions to the restrictions are obtained through local permits issued by the authorized officer for activities that will not conflict with the purpose of the order and any federal, state, or local officer or member of an organized rescue or firefighting force in the performance of an official duty.

Activities that are allowed, include:

1. 1. the use of devices fueled by petroleum or liquid petroleum gas in all locations;
2. 2. the use of campfires in permanently constructed cement or metal fire pits provided in agency developed campgrounds and picnic areas.
3. 3. the use of charcoal burning in developed campgrounds or picnic grounds within permanent fire rings or grills constructed of metal or concrete. In undeveloped camping locations, charcoal must be set in metal pans in areas clear of flammable vegetation within three diameter feet.
    

Helping prevent devastating fires is everyone’s responsibility. Take extra precaution before venturing out and please be careful with anything that could start a fire.

The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. In fiscal year 2018, the diverse activities authorized on BLM-managed lands generated $105 billion in economic output across the country. This economic activity supported 471,000 jobs and contributed substantial revenue to the U.S. Treasury and state governments, mostly through royalties on minerals.   

Follow the BLM on Twitter, Facebook, and Flickr @BLMUtah