Casto Canyon

1. Gorgeous, fun ride

by drc, Saturday, September 04, 2010 10:31 PM

Casto Canyon is part of Red Canyon, which is just outside of Bryce Canyon NP. Red Canyon cuts through the same red sandstone that you see near the bottom of Bryce. It has spectacular, almost alien-looking rock spires and other formations.

The trail is not very technical and, like most canyon bottom trails, doesn't ascend or descend very steeply or very much. There is enough gradient, however, to make the return trip fun if you decide to do the 11-mile out-and-back (which is what I did.) There are also other trails that you can combine with this one to make a big loop.

Mostly, it's just a sand and dirt mix with a few rocks and quite a few arroyo crossings. Very accessible to beginners, and the scenery makes this trail worth the ride for anyone.