Bryce Canyon National Park proposes changes to reservation systems, fees for campgrounds
The National Park Service is proposing new rules for some of the most popular camping and hiking locations inside Bryce Canyon National Park.
Park officials announced Thursday they were taking public comment on a set of three new proposals they say will address some discrepancies in the existing campsite reservation and fee systems.
In addition, the changes could affect access to the park's popular Full Moon hiking trail programs.
Fee Activity | Change |
Campground Reservations | • Sunset Campground sites would become reservable mid-May through October six months in advance through Recreation.gov. • North Campground sites would remain reservable mid-May into October six months in advance through Recreation.gov, and first-come, first-served in winter months. |
Campground Fee | All sites in North and Sunset campgrounds would move to a flat fee of $30 per night. |
Full Moon Hikes | In-person, same-day lottery would be replaced with advance online registration through Recreation.gov. |
Changes to Bryce Canyon's campground reservations
The first proposal recommends setting similar rules for the park's Sunset campgrounds and North Campground, setting it up so both individual and group sites at both campgrounds would be available for reservations through Recreation.gov in the peak summer season.
Presently, Sunset campsites are first-come, first-served from mid-May through October, while its group sites are reservable 12 months in advance through Recreation.gov and then closed during the winter. At the North Campground, sites are reservable six months in advance for the summer and then transition to first-come, first-served in winter months.
The new rules would make the systems at both campgrounds more similar, with reservations for summer months allowed six months in advance.
Reservation fees for Bryce Canyon campgrounds
A second proposal increasing the fees for tent sites to $30 to match those at sites set aside for RVs. It would be the first change in fee structure since 2015.
Generators would still be prohibited in tent-only areas and would still be subject to limited operating hours in designated RV areas.
Senior Pass and Access Pass holders would continue to receive a 50% discount on all campsite reservation fees.
Reservation system for Full Moon Hike
Currently, the park requires visitors to arrive in person and participate in a ticket lottery in order to snag one of the 25 available slots for full-moon hikes under the park's popular Full Moon hike program.
Under the new proposal, first-come, first-served registration would be made available a few days prior to the hike, so those interested could pay a $1 fee and register online instead. Those reservations would also be offered through Recreation.gov.
How to submit a comment
Comments on the proposed changes must be submitted online at the National Park Service website by visiting parkplanning.nps.gov, and then selecting "Proposed Changes to Campground and Full Moon Hike Reservations at Bryce Canyon National Park."
Comments can also be dropped off at the Bryce Canyon Visitor Center by 5 p.m. on Aug. 31 or submitted by mail to: Superintendent, Bryce Canyon National Park, PO Box 640201, Bryce, UT 84764.
This article originally appeared on St. George Spectrum & Daily News: How new reservation systems could work at Bryce Canyon National Park
