Dixie National Forest

Adjacent to Bryce Canyon National Park

The Dixie National Forest wraps around two-thirds of Bryce Canyon National Park: all down the west side, around the south end, and about halfway up the east side. There are a variety of outdoor activities in the forest -- hiking, mountain biking, fishing, camping, and cross-country skiing. Bryce Canyon National Park's Sheep Creek Trail connects with trails in the national forest. The climate and seasons here are similar to those in Bryce Canyon National Park.

Information & Visitor Centers -- Stop at the Dixie National Forest's Red Canyon Visitor Center (tel. 435/676-2676), along Utah 12 about 10 1/2 miles west of the Bryce Canyon National Park entrance road. It's usually open daily from early May to early October, and offers various interpretative programs on many Saturdays. Or contact the Powell District office of the Dixie National Forest, 225 E. Center St. (P.O. Box 80), Panguitch, UT 84759-0080 (tel. 435/676-9300; www.fs.fed.us/dxnf).

Camping -- King Creek Campground, above Tropic Reservoir, has graded gravel roads and sites nestled among tall ponderosa pines. About 9 1/2 miles west of the park is Red Canyon Campground, named for its vermilion-colored rock formations.

Sports & Fishing

Fishing -- The closest fishing hole to Bryce Canyon National Park is at Tropic Reservoir, in Dixie National Forest, which is a large lake in a ponderosa pine forest. From the national park entrance road, drive west about 3 miles on Utah 12 to a gravel road, turn left (south), and go about 7 miles. There is a forest service campground that's open in the summer, a boat ramp, and fishing for rainbow, brook, and cutthroat trout. Locals say fishing is sometimes better in streams above the lake than in the lake itself.

Hiking -- There are about a dozen trails in the Red Canyon area of the park, and a free map is available at visitor centers. Some trails are open to hikers only; others are also open to mountain bikers, equestrians, and those with all-terrain vehicles. One especially scenic multiuse trail is the 5.5-mile (one-way) Casto Canyon Trail, which runs along the bottom of Casto Canyon. It connects with the 8.9-mile (one-way) Cassidy Trail and the 2.9-mile (one-way) Losee Canyon Trail to produce a loop of about 17 miles that is ideal for a backpacking trip of several days. Watch for elk in the winter, and pronghorns and raptors year-round. The Casto Canyon and Losee Canyon trails are considered moderate, while Cassidy Trail ranges from easy to strenuous. Sheep Creek Trail connects the national forest to Bryce Canyon National Park.

For a quick walk, take the 1-mile Pink Ledges Trail, which is actually a series of short trails that starts just outside the Red Canyon Visitor Center. Rated moderate because of a few steep inclines, the trails have several signs discussing trees and plants, and good views of surrounding hoodoos. The only downside is that you can't escape the road noise from Utah 12.

Horseback Riding -- If you've brought your own horse, you'll have a number of riding opportunities on the forest's multiuse trails. Those without horses of their own can still explore Red Canyon on horseback with Red Canyon Horseback Rides (tel. 800/892-7923 or 435/834-5441; www.brycecanyonmotel.com), with offices at Bryce Canyon Pines. Trail rides are offered March through November, weather permitting, with rates of $10 for a half-hour, $20 for 1 hour, $50 for a half day, and $90 for a full day, which includes lunch. Minimum age is 6 for the half-hour and hour rides and 7 for the half- and full-day rides.

Mountain Biking -- There are numerous opportunities for mountain biking in the national forest, but only on roads and specified trails. A particularly popular route is Dave's Hollow Trail, which starts at the Bryce Canyon National Park boundary sign on Utah 63, the park entrance road, about 1 mile south of Ruby's Inn. The double-track trail goes west for about half a mile before connecting with Forest Road 090, where you turn south and ride for about three-quarters of a mile before turning right onto an easy ride through Dave's Hollow to the Dave's Hollow Forest Service Station on Forest Road 087. From here, you can retrace your route for an 8-mile round-trip ride; for a longer 12-mile loop, turn right on Forest Road 087 to Utah 12 and then right again back to Utah 63 and the starting point. A third option is to turn left on Forest Road 087 and follow it about 6 miles to Tropic Reservoir. This part of the journey does not form a loop, so you would turn around once you've reached the reservoir.

The Casto Canyon Trail, in Red Canyon, is an especially scenic trail open to hikers, mountain bikers, and those on horseback.

Mountain bikes can be rented across the road from Ruby's Inn at the American Car Care Center (tel. 866/866-6616 or 435/834-5232; www.rubysinn.com) for $20 for up to six hours and $35 for a full day.

Winter Activities -- Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing opportunities abound along trails and old roads in the national forest, and snowmobiling is also popular. Best Western Ruby's Inn grooms over 30 miles of cross-country ski trails for skating and classical skiing, and also rents equipment. Call for current rates.