We have two spring break specials going right now. Check out the Winter Warmer (now till March 31st) and the Spring Fling (April 1st till April 29th) at www.bryceres.com/bcg.
Bryce Canyon National Park News Release
March 2, 2010
For Immediate Release
D
an Ng (435) 834-4740, 10-02
Abundant Snow Blankets Park for Spring Break Visitors
Winter is perhaps the most beautiful time to visit Bryce Canyon National Park. The colorful red hoodoos are layered in bands of white snow. This season, Bryce Canyon, as well as many locations in the Southwest, received well above average precipitation. Nearly 110 inches of snow have fallen (20 inches above normal) and the current snowpack at the Visitor Center (elev. 7,900 ft.) measures 39 inches. March temperatures average in the 40’s during the day and the teens at night.
Fairyland and Paria View roads remain unplowed for use by cross-country skiers and snowshoers. All other park roads and viewpoints remain open, though the main road to Rainbow Point may be temporarily closed due to snowstorms. The Visitor Center is open daily from 8:00 AM-4:30 PM. Visitors are reminded to prepare for winter driving conditions, high altitude and to dress warmly for the cold temperatures and snow.
Day hiking trails are open, but are snow-covered and icy. Queens Garden and Navajo Loop have received the most use this winter and currently are covered with several inches of packed snow and ice. Hiking boots/snowboots with traction devices are highly recommended. Other trails such as Fairyland Loop, Peekaboo Loop, Rim Trail (except for the Sunset to Sunrise section) are more difficult to navigate due to deep snow. Snowshoes are recommended for these trails. Due to deep snow, backcountry hiking is not recommended.
The Ruby’s Inn Nordic Center rents snowshoes, cross-country skis and snowboots. Bryce Canyon park rangers offer guided snowshoe hikes (with free snowshoes), talks and occasional evening programs. Inquire at the Visitor Center. Cross-country ski trails in the park are ungroomed 2-track trails. The slope between the Plateau Rim and 7600 foot contour elevation is closed to skiing, snowboarding, sledding or sliding devices. Below the Rim, cross country skiing is permitted on the Under the Rim trail and Riggs Spring Loop. Ruby’s Inn grooms ski trails outside the park.
The Bryce Canyon Lodge is currently closed and reopens April 1. The General Store (showers, laundry, groceries, snacks) reopens in mid-April. Horseback rides will resume once trails are free of snow and ice.
For more information, please visit the park’s website at: www.nps.gov/brca or call 435-834-5322.
The winter festival was a great success. Stay tuned for pictures!
The 25th Bryce Canyon Winter festival is this weekend! Come and enjoy the activities. We have everything from ski races to geology hikes. Rooms are still available. See a description below. For more info visit http://www.rubysinn.com/winter.html
Our good friend Osamu Hoshino has been busy promoting “Astrotourism” check out his pics from his last trip to Bryce a few weeks ago. © Osamu Hoshino. Bryce Canyon National Park is one of the darkest places in the USA and is ideal for star viewing. Come stay at our hotel and check it out.
The Navajo Loop Trail in Bryce Canyon National Park rated the #1 thing to do on your trip to Utah! See the article at http://travel.utah.gov/publications/documents/newsletters/files/2010_01_21/Daily%20Express%20_Jan_2_2010.pdf
Snow!!!January 22, 2010
We are excited to have received over three feet of new snow here at Ruby’s Inn. When we get things cleaned up, we are going to have the best Ski/Snowshow/Snowmobile conditions we have had for sometime. See pictures attached.
It is snowing today here at the Bryce Canyon Grand Hotel. The ski trails are in great shape and the canyon is absolutely beautiful with a fresh blanket of snow on it. Come and join us for a horse drawn sleigh ride or come rent some skis. See our live webcam at http://www.rubysinn.com/webcam.html
