Most Davis County residents know Bryce Canyon National Park as a hiker’s paradise, but few realize it can also be explored on two wheels in just a four-hour drive, with no park entry fees for bikers and walk-ins.

If you go, and you should, here’s a list of things you should know.

18 Miles of Paved Trails. The Bryce Canyon Shared-Use Path connects seamlessly with the Red Canyon Bicycle Trail in Dixie National Forest, allowing for up to 36 miles round-trip of gorgeous biking. The five-mile section into the park starts in Bryce Canyon City and goes past the Visitor Center, Sunrise Point, the historic Bryce Canyon Lodge, Sunset Point, and Inspiration Point. The 13-mile Red Canyon portion parallels Highway 12.

The Terrain. Don’t expect to see hoodoos on the winding five-mile path inside the park, at least not while on your bike. If you want to get up close and personal with the hoodoos or just check out the views, you’ll have to get off your bike. Lock it up at one of the racks located at all the viewpoints, the lodge, visitor center, and shuttle station. On your bike you’ll see lots of ponderosa pines, fir trees and blue skies. The trail climbs in elevation from north to south, gaining 746 feet and descending 266 feet. 

Setting off from Bryce Canyon City on the 13-mile Red Canyon Trail, you’ll first bike through Emory Valley, which some riders find boring and others love for its vast emptiness. Most people would agree, however, that the miles of trail leading up to and going by Red Canyon are the most spectacular with views of stunning red rock formations. If you want to get off your bike for a while, there are several nice benches strategically located along the route. Be prepared for lots of breaks in the pavement on this trail, which can be painful and jarring to arms, shoulders, butts and even feet. 

Eats and Drinks. Trail mix can get old. When a solid meal beckons, stop at one of the restaurants along way like the ones at Ruby’s Inn, Subway, and Bryce Canyon Pines.

Bike Rentals. A quick google search will help you locate bike rental shops in the area.  

Bathrooms. There are bathrooms at the various campgrounds along the route, the Red Canyon Visitor Center, and a truck stop on the Red Canyon portion of the trail.

Weather. If you plan to go this fall, the colors are popping on the drive to Bryce. In October, Bryce has average daily highs around 64 degrees and lows around 38 degrees, and gets colder as the month progresses. By November, temperatures drop significantly, with average daily highs around 45 degrees and average lows around 23 degrees. Both months can be unpredictable, with potential for cold nights, snow, and breezy conditions. 

Lodging. Fans of national park lodging might be lucky enough to snag a spot in the off-season in one of cozy stone-and-timber cabins tucked among the ponderosa pines steps from the canyon rim. The lodge was designed by famed National Park architect Gilbert Stanley Underwood with a massive stone fireplace and restaurant. If it’s fully booked, there are many other comfortable hotels and Airbnbs in the area.