Bryce Canyon Overlook

Bryce Canyon is not a canyon. It is really a series of eroded amphitheaters along the edge of a mesa or high plateau. Many of the Utah of national parks and monuments have become impacted with millions of visitors. Bryce Canyon National Park is no exception. However, almost all of the visitors stay pretty much along the rim drive adjacent to parking areas. During busy times, parking is at a premium, but the trails below the rim remain almost unvisited. In addition, relatively few of the visitors drive past the first few overlooks. Considering the impact of the huge amount of traffic in such a small area, it is a mystery why the National Park Service has not instituted mandatory shuttle services in all of the national parks in Utah. This is especially true in Arches National Park. Bryce Canyon National Park does have a shuttle service but the park is still open to private vehicle traffic. In the case of both Bryce Canyon National Park and at Arches National Park mandatory shuttle service would cut down on the traffic and congestion in the parks. Mandatory shuttle service works well on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon National Park and in Zion National Park.