Bryce Canyon National Park, Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument Information

Bryce Canyon National Park, Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument, Kodachrome Basin, Capitol Reef National Park, and more!

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In 1874, a few pioneers heard about the Paria valley from Native Americans.Paiute Indians described Bryce Canyon as "red rocks standing like men in a bowl shaped canyon." But for Ebenezer Bryce, the canyon was "a hell of a place to lose a cow!" Bryce Canyon was named for Ebenezer, who homesteaded at the mouth of the canyon in 1876. His cattle often wandered into the stone maze.

Other settlers followed and established ranches high on the plateau. Some of these pioneers didn't know Bryce Canyon even existed until they heard about it from neighbors in the area. Word of the beautiful canyon got around, and soon visitors came from far and wide to see the spectacular sight.

Canvas tents and log lodges were built to accommodate the visitors. Roads were hand-built through Red Canyon (Scenic Byway 12) and into Bryce Canyon (Hwy 63), and tours were offered through Union Pacific Railroad.

In 1925, the monument became the Utah National Park, and on February 25, 1928, it was designated Bryce Canyon National park.

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