News Releases

A ranger at Bryce Canyon National Park has died from injuries sustained after tripping and falling while on-duty. Around 11:30 p.m. on Friday, June 7, Park Ranger Tom Lorig was working with park visitors at Bryce Canyon’s annual Astronomy Festival. While directing a visitor to a shuttle bus, Ranger Lorig fell and struck his head on a large rock. Finding him unresponsive, the visitor quickly notified a nearby law enforcement ranger. National park rangers, medically-trained bystanders, and local EMS personnel cooperated to provide initial life-saving care, but were unsuccessful in reviving Ranger Lorig. He was 78 years old.

Utah Prairie Dog Day will return on Thursday, May 9 and feature ranger-led prairie dog viewing, family-friendly activity booths and a special keynote presentation by David Eads, an ecologist with the U.S. Geologic Survey. The event is free with park admission. For a detailed schedule, please visit go.nps.gov/UtahPrairieDogDay.

Beginning May 8, those planning to join a ranger-led full moon hike at Bryce Canyon National Park will be able to make reservations online via Recreation.gov. This will replace the old system, in which visitors were required to attend a 4 p.m. ticket lottery at the Visitor Center on the day of the hike.

Planning a visit to Bryce Canyon National Park this spring? Today the park announced updated facilities, concessions and shuttle information for its 2024 spring season. No reservations are required to enter Bryce Canyon National Park, but planning ahead will help park visitors to enjoy a predictable visit even on the busiest days.

Beginning April 1, those planning to ride private stock within Bryce Canyon National Park will be able to make ride reservations online via Recreation.gov. This will replace the old system, by which reservations were made by calling or e-mailing designated park staff during regular business hours. Information on private ride reservations as well as wrangler-led horse and mule rides can be found at go.nps.gov/BryceHorse.

Riding a horse or mule along the trails of Bryce Canyon National Park is an unforgettable and increasingly popular experience. To improve visitor service and trip planning, the park is proposing to manage private stock reservations online through Recreation.gov. This change would require riders bringing private stock into Bryce Canyon to pay a $1 processing fee per reservation. The park is seeking public comment on this proposed change until December 31, 2023.

Planning to camp in Bryce Canyon National Park next year? Today the park announced changes to its campground reservation system and fee structure. These changes are designed to improve both the visitor planning experience and campground operations.

Along with cooler temperatures and changing colors, autumn also brings annual changes to services and operations at Bryce Canyon National Park.

Since 1994, National Public Lands Day has mobilized volunteers on the fourth Saturday in September to celebrate and care for something we all share—our nation’s public lands. Bryce Canyon National Park invites the public to join rangers for a volunteer event on September 23, 2023, from 12:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Individuals, school groups, families and community organizations are all encouraged to participate. For more information and to sign up, please visit go.nps.gov/BrycePLD.

Bryce Canyon National Park received a report at 7 p.m. on Friday, August 25 of a hiker, 64-year-old Jeanne Roblez Howell of Flagstaff, Arizona, who was overdue from a 2 p.m. hike on the Fairyland Loop trail. A search of the area was conducted in cooperation with the Garfield County Sheriff’s office and the Utah Department of Public Safety. The body of Ms. Howell was discovered at 1:30 a.m. on August 26 within Campbell Canyon, approximately a mile east of the Fairyland Loop. She was pronounced deceased at the scene by a Garfield County medical examiner.