Bryce Canyon: Campfires Only Allowed in Established Fire Pits
At Bryce Canyon, you can only light a fire in an existing fire pit. Here's what that rule means for your visit.
By Jocelyn Pion,
Right now, Bryce Canyon is tightly regulating campfires. The rule fits in a single sentence: you can only light a fire in the established fire pits, the ones the park has built and maintains. In other words, no makeshift fire ring thrown together on an open site, no quick circle of stones, no campfire out in the backcountry.
In practice, this rule is aimed mainly at campers. If you're planning to spend the night, scout out a site with a permanent fire pit ahead of time, because that's the only place you're allowed to build a fire. For cooking, a gas stove is still the simplest and safest option, since it doesn't depend on those fixed pits and you can take it anywhere.
Why the caution? Bryce Canyon sits at high elevation, on a dry plateau where the air is crisp and the vegetation stays flammable for much of the year. One ember carried off by the wind is enough to start a fire that's hard to control. By keeping the flames in pits built for the purpose, the park cuts that risk and protects both visitors and the pine and juniper forests that ring the famous orange rock hoodoos.
When it comes to prep, keep three habits in mind. Check the current restrictions right before you leave, since they can tighten during a drought. Bring what you need to cook without an open flame. And never leave embers unattended, even in an approved fire pit.
To place this stop in your trip and plan the rest of your visit, lean on the Bryce Canyon park guide. If you're traveling in a van or camper, the question of where to camp and build a fire comes up at every stop, and we cover it in our road trip itinerary that runs through this park.