BRYCE CANYON SOUTHERN UTAH - BUCKET LIST RIDE

We left Copper Cloud Ranch on Tuesday the 8th and headed north to Bryce Canyon City. You take highway 89 out of Kanab Utah all the way to highway 12 (Very scenic drive). We had planned on staying at Ruby's Rodeo Grounds owned and run by Ruby's Inn. They have a horse motel there. Once you get to town you can go to Ruby's Inn to make arrangements to stay at Rodeo grounds. You can also email Brady Syrett about staying at the rodeo grounds. He is very helpful and was even kind enough to lend us a stock trailer to haul out to Bryce and Lossee Canyon. brady@rubysinn.com 

Or call 800-468-8660

Now to book to ride Bryce you have to call the outfitters that run the trailrides out of Bryce. Contact them at 

Canyon Trail Rides located at

280 Bryce Way,,  P.O. Box 128,  Tropic, Utah. 84776

Phone: 435-679-8665 http://www.canyonrides.com

Make sure you have a current coggins and you have been feeding weed free hay or pellets for the last 24 hours. 

They are trying to change the rules about private horses in Bryce it is very important everyone email there comments before the end of April here is a link to the proposal 

http://www.nps.gov/brca/parknews/proposed-rule-change-for-private-horse-use.htm

There was 5 of us on this ride our good friend Sharon Jackson, our friends and neighbours from Merritt Ross and Irene Walker  and Ron and I. 

Photo credits to Kelly Allen, Ross Walker and Ron Stolp 

Leaving Paria Canyon Ranch

Arriving in Red Canyon area

Heading over to Bryce Canyon

Once we got parked and settle we headed over to Ruby's Inn for dinner. 

For $19.99 they have all you can eat Buffett. 

The next morning we hauled into Bryce. It is a $25 a car load for a 7 day pass. You must have current coggins for all horses. A park range will come and inspect your horses at the first parking lot then you head down to there maintenance yard and ride to trail head from there. Don't forget to call the outfitters to book a ride time. 

Canyon Trail Rides located at

280 Bryce Way,,  P.O. Box 128,  Tropic, Utah. 84776

Phone: 435-679-8665 http://www.canyonrides.com

This is the fenced trail you ride to the trail head from the maintenance yard. 

Make sure all horse are back up at the trailhead before heading down to the park trail. 

Here are all the trail horses and mules having a break before hitting the trail again at 2pm 

Our ride out time was 12:30pm

This is the top of the trail before taking the steep trail to the base of the Canyon.

The first part of the trail is a 2 way trail this is why it is important to have booked a time. The trail is too narrow to pass other horses. 

The first loop you ride counter clockwise

Heading down counter clockwise to the PeekaBoo trail

We are kind of in between the first loop and the Peekaboo loop. We took a break at the bottom. When you get to the base at the bottom go straight do not take the trail to the left that is the second part of the first loop. There is no real signage for the Peekaboo but you will see the sign below. 

Head straight up the trail until you see the PeekaBoo trailhead sign make sure you go Clockwise around this loop so make a left turn on trailhead

Follow this trail at the base straight until you reach the PeekaBoo

The PeekaBoo Trail is just breathtaking

You do a lot of climbing up and then down on this trail. 

Around every corner you go OMG

Going into the first PeekaBoo tunnel.

Sharon coming through the first tunnel

Irene and her young horse coming through the first tunnel.

Love this shot of Ron' horse between the ears. 

The trail rides have a nice rest area we used for our second break

Hunter is so tired he is ready to head back to Canada for a bit of a rest. 

Sharon in the snow. 

Great shot of Ron and Irene with the wall of windows behind them.

More wonderful shots 

This is one of my favourite parts of the trail.

This trail twists and turns all the way to the top then through the second tunnel

Irene was a little nervous on some of the trails with her young horse so just walked him a ways.

It was a little icy after this trail so we all go off and walked 

Getting back on after the icy spot

Heading back up the trail to the top

We managed to find someone to take a picture of all of us at the top. 

Left to right Kelly (Me), Ron, Sharon, Ross and the Irene.

Bucket list ride best one of the year and we have done some super rides.