Camping

Pets are accepted at all of the following campgrounds, but they must be leashed.

Inside the Park -- The two campgrounds at Bryce are typical of campgrounds in the West's national parks, offering plenty of trees for a genuine "forest camping" experience. On the other hand, facilities are limited. North Campground has 107 sites and Sunset Campground has 101 sites. Both are open to tent and RV campers. Sunset Campground is open May through September only, while a section of North Campground is open year-round. Although we would happily camp at either campground, we prefer North Campground because it's closer to the Rim Trail, making it easier to rush over to catch those amazing sunrise and sunset colors. Get to the park early to claim a site (usually by 2pm in the summer). Reservations are available during the warmer months for North Campground (tel. 877/444-6777; www.reserveusa.com) for an additional booking fee of $9, regardless of the number of days.

Showers ($2) and a coin-operated laundry, open from 7am to 8pm, are located at the General Store (for information, contact Bryce Canyon Lodge tel. 435/834-5361), which is a healthy walk from either campground. The park service operates an RV dump station ($2 fee) in the summer.

Outside the Park -- Just north of the entrance to the park is Ruby's Inn RV Park & Campground, 1280 S. Utah 63, Bryce, UT 84764 (tel. 866/866-6616 or 435/834-5301; www.rubysinn.com), which is situated just outside the park along the shuttle bus route. The RV and tent sites are mostly shady and attractive. The campground contains a game room, horseshoes, a swimming pool, barbecue grills, two coin-op laundries, and a store with groceries and RV supplies. A lake and a horse pasture are nearby. Also on the grounds are several camping cabins ($45 double) and tepees ($26 double), which share the campground's bathhouse and other facilities.

Bryce Canyon Resort, 13500 E. Utah 12 (P.O. Box 640006), Bryce, UT 84764 (tel. 866/834-0043 or 435/834-5351; fax 435/834-5256; www.brycecanyonresort.com), is at the junction of Utah Highways 12 and 63. It offers convenient tent and RV campsites within easy walking distance of the main boarding area for the Bryce Canyon Shuttle. There's also a motel and restaurant on the property.

Bryce Pioneer Village, 80 S. Main St. (Utah 12; P.O. Box 119), Tropic, UT 84776 (tel. 800/222-0381 or 435/679-8546; fax 435/679-8607; www.bpvillage.com), is a small motel/cabins/campground combination in nearby Tropic, with some shade trees and easy access to several restaurants.

Bryce Canyon Pines, milepost 10, Utah 12 (P.O. Box 64000-43), Bryce, UT 84764 (tel. 800/892-7923 or 435/834-5441; fax 435/834-5330; www.brycecanyonmotel.com), is part of a motel/restaurant/store/campground complex about 3 miles west of the park entrance road. The campsites, set back from the highway behind a gas station and store, are interspersed among ponderosa pines and junipers, with wildflowers and grasses. All RV sites have full hookups. Campers have access to the motel swimming pool across the street.

King Creek Campground, in the Powell District of the Dixie National Forest, 225 E. Canter St. (P.O. Box 80), Panguitch, UT 84759) (tel. 435/676-9300; www.fs.fed.us/dxnf), above Tropic Reservoir, has graded gravel roads and tent and RV sites nestled among tall ponderosa pines. The nearby reservoir has two boat ramps. To get to the campground from the park, head north 3 miles on Utah 63, then west on Utah 12 about 2 1/2 miles to the access road, turn south (left) and follow signs to Tropic Reservoir for about 7 miles to the campground.

About 9 1/2 miles west of the park is another Dixie National Forest campground, Red Canyon Campground (same contact as King Creek Campground, above). Nestled among the trees along the south side of Utah 12, the tent and RV sites offer terrific views of the red rock formations across the highway, although there is a bit of road noise. There's a volleyball court and a horseshoe pit, and there are a number of scenic trails close by. Showers cost $2, whether you're staying in the campground or not.

Kodachrome Basin State Park, about 22 miles southeast of the park, has an attractive tent and RV campground with sites scattered among unusual rock "chimneys" and piñon and juniper trees.