Good trails, Land Use and States' Rights, Western Trails

New Private stock use restrictions at Bryce Canyon National Park

For those who might be planning rides to Bryce Canyon National Park this year (2022), I had some erroneous information recently that private stock had been banned for the rest of 2022 until further hearings. That was incorrect.
 
I just got off the phone with the park service. Here is the current information re private stock. There was some sort of safety complaint by the mule ride concessionaire recently, regarding private stock use, and a move was made once again by the concessionaire to push for a ban of private stock on park trails, however the current park manager has been making every effort to keep the park open to private stock, as there has been a tremendous public push-back against a ban of private stock. The result was that the daytime use of private stock has been banned during the daytime operating hours of the concessionaire. Private stock use is now restricted to daylight hours after 5pm. All other time slots have been removed. Advance reservations are required.
 
Current time slots for private stock use will be every half-hour from 5pm until 7pm (so that the last group is off the trail before dark). Groups are limited to a maximum of 10 horses. Reservations must be made at least 72 hours in advance through the park service at 1-435-834-5500 (Link below).
 
There is a commission being formed including the NPS, Back Country Horsemen, and the concessionaire, among others, to create a new system of rules that will be reasonable and convenient for all park users, including those who wish to ride the park on private stock.
 
If you have been considering it, now might be a good time to join your local Back Country Horseman of America (BCHA) chapter! We are fighting a difficult battle to preserve our right to ride our horses on America’s wonderful back country trails.
 
Our local chapter here in Utah County is the Back Country Horsemen of Utah High-Lines and Hobbles Chapter. We meet the third Thursday evening of each month, have a monthly group ride, do service projects in cooperation with the USFS for trail maintenance, and host a number of other activities to help our members and others improve their horsemanship knowledge and skills. Come join us!
Help us keep our horse trails open!
 
If interested, send me an email at tony.henrie@westerntrailrider.com and I will hook you up.