Quick Stats
Creation Date
September 15, 1928
Entrance Fee
$25 per vehicle per week
Time Zone
Mountain (GMT-6 Daylight, GMT-7 Standard)
Lowest Elevation
6,620 feet at Yellow Creek
Highest Elevation
9,115 feet at Rainbow Point
Lowest Average Temp
9°F in January
Record Low Temp
-26°F in 1963
Highest Average Temp
78°F in July
Record High Temp
98°F in 2002
Park Creation Timeline
1923
On June 8, 1923, President Warren Harding signs the proclamation creating Bryce Canyon National Monument.
1924
The area is elevated to national park status as Utah National Park.
1928
Land acquisition is completed for the park and it is formally renamed Bryce Canyon National Park.
Animals and Plants
The most commonly seen large animal life is the mule deer, like most Utah parks. Rocky Mountain elk are rarely seen, as are coyote, pronghorn antelope, mountain lion, and desert cottontail.
Reptiles include several species of lizard, most commonly the mountain short-horned lizard. The park's resident venomous snake is the Great Basin rattlesnake.
A large number of bird species spend at least part of the year in the park. Two in particular, the violet green swallow and white-throated swift, entertain visitors in the summer. These birds reach speeds of up to 200 miles per hour while diving for insects.
Plant life varies as elevation increases. At the lowest elevations pinyon and Utah juniper are common. Further up ponderosa pine dominates the landscape. At the highest reaches of the park, douglas and white fir are common. In the most inhospitable places the bristlecone pine can be found. These trees can live for hundreds or thousands of years, often by keeping only a small part of itself alive.
Bryce Canyon National Park
Info at (435) 834-5322
Disclaimer