If we only have time to do one trip, should it be zion or bryce on horseback?we are doing the north rim of the GC also

we are getting so excited about 10 days now before we leave

melissa

if we do bryce, should it be thru ruby's or the park itself?

Melissa,

I have been extolling the virtues of riding in Bryce since I did it last summer. Definately do the in park version, not the Ruby's version. Ruby's does not go into the canyon, just around it.

Now as a disclaimer, we did not do the horse ride at Zion when there. I did ask the cowboys (who work all 3 locations) and they said that Bryce was preferable to Zion. I did not ask them to compare it to GC.

Do make reservations in advance with the park. We walked up and got on a standby list and did actually make it. I believe we did the 2 hour model and they sent 50 riders out on that one (in groups of 10).

If you prepare some corny cowboy humor in advance, the guides will love you for it.

We did both, and the Bryce trek was much better. They take you down into the canyon and what you see is more interesting. Also do the ranger walks.

We just returned from Zion and Bryce. We took the 3 hour trip into Bryce Canyon. It was just beautiful. I expected the same nose to tail type trail. It wasn't. This was about those beautiful hoodoos. We went through several tunnels,in and out of the eroded pillars, and on trails we could have never hiked. My kids 8 and 13 loved it.
The cowboys there recommend it over Zion or the N. rim. There is one particular joke that the cowboys kept repeating. When you see one of their horses urinating, tell them to turn the knob (saddle horn)to the left.

oh, this was through the park itself, not Ruby's. Also, consider the ATV rides at the corner near Ruby. That was a blast. The three hour ride into Red Canyon. it's and area much like Bryce canyon.