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3 hr
Three-hour guided ride through Dixie National Forest, exploring dramatic hoodoos and outlaw history
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1 hr 30 min
Ride through a dramatic red-rock canyon near Kanab, passing hidden lakes and meadows on a 2.5-mile trail.
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2 hr
Ride off-road through rugged terrain, then hike deep into a remote slot canyon with towering red walls.
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The landmarks, rooms, and views travelers on this tour remember — all visible on a single visit.
Features striking pink and red rock formations with a short, accessible loop perfect for photos.
They complement each other; most visitors who do both call the Bryce Canyon experience more dramatic, while the red canyon trail ride offers a quieter forest excursion.
| Feature | Top pick Red Canyon | Bryce Canyon Riding |
|---|---|---|
Environment |
Ponderosa pines and red rock walls | |
Difficulty Level |
Beginner to moderate | |
Crowd Levels |
Low to moderate | |
Permit/Booking Requirements |
None required for independent access | |
Proximity to Scenic Byway |
Directly adjacent access | |
| See tickets → |
Verdict: Choose the Red Canyon trail ride tour for peaceful woodland scenery, or select the rival option to view massive hoodoos.
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Arrive at the entrance, show your voucher on your phone, and walk in. Most tickets include priority or skip-the-line access.
Practical details for your visit straight from our verified partners — hours, access, rules, and how to get there.
Wear sturdy, closed-toe hiking boots suitable for sandy and uneven terrain. Dress in layers, as temperatures can fluctuate significantly at this high elevation.
No specific bag checks are in place, but visitors should carry essentials in a comfortable daypack. Keep all personal belongings secured in your vehicle or with you at all times.
Photography is encouraged throughout the area, especially the vibrant red rock hoodoos. Please stay on designated paths to protect the fragile soil crust when capturing your images.
The visitor center and several nearby trailheads offer accessible amenities. Paved sections of the bicycle trail provide easier movement for those with mobility aids.
The area is highly family-friendly with short, educational hikes like the Arches Trail. Children will enjoy the unique rock shapes and the Smokey Bear statue at the visitor center.
No food service is available on-site, so pack plenty of water and snacks. Picnicking is permitted at the designated areas near the campground.
Best time to go, insider tips, nearby landmarks, and the cancellation fine print — flip through to skim what matters to you.
Flexible, no hidden fees.
This is a public land area within Dixie National Forest with no entrance fee of 0 USD required. Access is unrestricted, and no cancellation policies apply to general entry.
Red Canyon stretches across eight thousand acres of Dixie National Forest, where erosion sculpted iron-oxide-laden Claron limestone into a labyrinth of hoodoos, arches, and fins over fifty million years. The canyon sits at 7,400 feet elevation along Scenic Byway 12, thirteen miles west of Bryce Canyon National Park, sharing the same Eocene-epoch geology but offering free public access and emptier trails. Ponderosa pines root in the rust-red soil, their dark trunks framing formations that shift from crimson to salmon depending on the sun's angle. Ancestral Puebloan and Fremont peoples traversed these corridors for centuries; later, Mormon pioneers carved wagon routes through the sandstone to reach the Paunsaugunt Plateau. Today the canyon serves equestrians, hikers, and photographers drawn to its accessible grandeur. The U.S. Forest Service maintains twelve miles of multi-use trail, including the Golden Wall Trail and the Buckhorn Trail, both open to horses and offering riders close-up passage beneath towering spires. Unlike the permit-controlled backcountry of neighboring parks, Red Canyon allows spontaneous exploration. Spring brings lupine and Indian paintbrush to the canyon floor; autumn turns the scrub oak to copper. The air holds the scent of pine resin and juniper. Guided horseback tours through Red Canyon typically follow the lower ridges and canyon washes, ascending gradually through stands of Gambel oak and emerging onto overlooks that reveal the Pink Cliffs escarpment to the east. Riders encounter geological features at walking speed—a pace that allows the eye to register cross-bedding patterns, differential weathering, and the faint striations left by ancient stream channels. The trail network connects to Thunder Mountain Trail, a nine-mile backcountry route reserved for experienced riders, and to shorter loops suitable for first-time equestrians. Outfitters operating red canyon trail ride tours provide horses trained for alpine terrain, along with interpretation of the canyon's ecology and human history. Most excursions depart between April and October, when snowmelt has cleared the higher trails and temperatures favor sustained riding. The canyon remains open year-round, though winter access requires caution on icy stretches of Byway 12. Rangers patrol from the Red Canyon Visitor Center, located at milepost 4, where trail maps and current conditions are posted daily.
"The canyon sits at 7,400 feet elevation along Scenic Byway 12, sharing the same Eocene-epoch geology as Bryce but offering free public access and emptier trails."
A step-by-step walkthrough of the visit — what you'll see, how long each stage takes, and the details that matter.
You arrive at the trailhead off Scenic Byway 12, where your guide matches you with a horse suited to your riding level. Morning light slants through the ponderosa canopy as you mount and set off at a walk, the saddle creaking softly beneath you. The trail climbs gently, switchbacking past juniper and manzanita, and within fifteen minutes the first hoodoos rise into view—rust-red pillars striped with white calcite, their shapes suggesting chess pieces and cathedral spires. Your horse navigates the sandy trail with practiced ease, pausing occasionally to sniff the air or shift weight on a steeper grade. You pass beneath a natural arch, its span broad enough to frame the distant Pink Cliffs, and emerge onto a ridge where the canyon opens wide. The guide points out layers in the rock face, naming formations and noting where peregrine falcons nest in spring. You dismount at a viewpoint, stretching your legs while the horses rest in the shade. The return descent winds through a wash lined with scrub oak, their leaves rustling in the afternoon breeze. You spot a lizard basking on a sun-warmed boulder, and the faint scent of sage rises from the trail. By the time you reach the trailhead, your thighs ache pleasantly, and your boots carry a fine coating of red dust—a tangible record of the ride.
The visitor center for your red canyon trail ride is open 10:00–15:00 Monday–Thursday and 08:30–17:00 Friday–Sunday.
There is a 0 USD entrance fee for the area, as it is part of the public Dixie National Forest.
For the best experience, arrive between 08:30–11:00 to avoid mid-day heat and ensure parking availability.
Pets are generally welcome in the Dixie National Forest but must be kept on a leash at all times for your safety and theirs.
No formal tickets are required; however, you should consult with local operators or the visitor center to organize your specific tour.
Wear closed-toe hiking boots and dress in layers to accommodate the desert temperature shifts typical for a red canyon trail ride.
Yes, this location is excellent for families, offering short paths suitable for children who wish to join a red canyon trail ride.
Prohibited items include fireworks, littering, and motorized vehicles on hiking-only paths during your red canyon trail ride.
You can find the area at Scenic Byway 12, Panguitch, UT 84759, USA, which is easily accessible by car.