Compiled from NPS releases
June 24, 2025
The growth in horseback riding at Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah has park officials reviewing their equestrian regulations and discussing how best park resources can be protected from that growth.
Between 2015 and 2021 the park saw a 650 percent increase in private riders, from 124 private riders in 33 group to 814 riders in 199 groups, and the growth has continued since then, according to a park release.
The park in 2014 had developed a reservation system for private riders to help spread riders out and avoid trail encounters between groups. In 2022, the park updated this system to avoid any overlap between private and guided rides, allowing private riders to reserve time slots between 4:30 p.m. and 7 p.m., after the commercial rides were off the trail each day.
The decision to change the horseback regulations in 2022 was spurred by conflicts between concessioner and private horse groups on steep, narrow trails. When private and concessioner groups meet on the trail, unfamiliar horses can behave unpredictably, creating interactions that are especially difficult for inexperienced concessioner riders to control safely, the park said at the time. Riders may also be forced to turn around, often in areas where steep cliffs and sensitive resources give little room to do so.
The park has recognized a growing interest in more riding opportunities — guided riding has increased by a marginal percentage, and private rides have increased by more than 700 percent since 2015.
Horseback riding, including guided and private riding, is integral to the park’s history and visitor experience, the release said. Guided horseback riding tours provide thousands of visitors with a unique experience to ride among the hoodoos. Private riders are also allowed to ride their own stock (horses and mules) on designated park trails.
That said, the increase in horseback travel has park staff assessing ways to provide access for horseback riders while also protecting natural and cultural resources and providing for a safe and enjoyable experience for both private users and guided tour groups...
Read more here:
https://www.nationalparkstraveler.org/2025/06/bryce-canyon-national-park-reassessing-horseback-travel
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