A budget, family-friendly Bryce Canyon lodging option
Bryce View Lodge is a clean, comfortable budget option next to Utah’s Bryce Canyon National Park. Because it’s paired with Ruby’s Inn, a sprawling Best Western property that’s much more than a hotel (horseback riding stables, gallery, grocery store, gift shops, restaurant and more–much more), a room at the Bryce View Lodge is a way to save money for extras–we added in a horseback ride. Guests at Bryce View Lodge can also use Ruby’s Inn’s pool.
Where if you can’t find something to buy, you’re not looking
These two hotels are across the road from each other so the walk between is not far–or do what we did–drive. Parking is ample.
From Ruby’s Inn you can also catch the Bryce Canyon National Park Shuttle, although if you want to take the guided shuttle tour, book the day before to not get closed out. The shuttle is free, but you need to pay for park admission.
Due to timing, we drove through the park ourselves. If you do miss the guided tour sign up, there are other shuttles that go through the park but without the guided narration. These shuttles are hop-on and hop-off at various points throughout the park.
When I made reservations for Bryce View Lodge using the reservation feature on the website, I added the horseback ride at Ruby’s Horseback Riding Adventures for my son and me. After we arrived at the lodge, we switched our horseback ride time without a problem.
You get your horseback ride voucher when you check in. To change a horseback ride time, you go to Ruby’s Inn where there is a counter dedicated to Ruby’s Horseback Riding Adventures. The staff could not be more accommodating.
On the rim of Bryce Canyon
Our ride was the one and a half hour version that led on a trail through woods until we reached the rim of Bryce Canyon for a stunning vista. It was perfect for my 10 year-old and my body that’s not used to riding for hours on a horse.
We went on the 10:30 a.m. ride. I wouldn’t go later than that if you are traveling in the summer. The sun is intense. If you want to take pictures, use a point and shoot since the horses move along at a hard to take pictures pace.
Because of our horseback ride time, we asked if we could check out of the hotel at 12:30. The answer was yes.
Tip for the park: If you have children in tow, have them sign up for the Junior Ranger program at the park’s visitor’s center. This prompted us to go the the ranger talk at 2 p.m. at Sunset Point. The ranger talked about the geological formations of the park. Plus, my son had a great time learning about this natural wonder in an interesting way.
Tip for breakfast: Breakfast is not included although there was a coffee maker in the room. Make coffee in the room to keep breakfast on a budget. The buffet, $10.99 and $7.99 for kids, was worth the price. The selections including sausage, eggs, bacon, french toast, fresh fruit and more were tasty and abundant. Coffee is more than $2.
Tip for more family fun: If you come on a Wednesday through Saturday, Ruby’s Inn also has a rodeo. We missed it by a day. Rats.
A queen-sized double
Our double queen-sized bed room was $89 at the AAA rate. With the horseback ride, our bill was $216 which included tax.
Book online at Expedia.
105 E Center Street
Bryce Canyon City, UT 84764 USA
Phone: 435-834-5180 • Toll Free: 888-279-2304
Photos courtesy of Jamie Rhein
