Is Tropic Utah Worth Visiting? Discover a Charming Town with Big Adventures
Are you in search of interesting places to discover near Bryce Canyon Country? Look no further than Tropic, Utah! Nestled in the heart of Bryce Canyon Country, this small town packs a punch with its breathtaking scenery and endless adventures. But is Tropic Utah worth visiting? In this post, we’ll dive into all that Tropic offers and help you decide if it’s the right place for your future exploration.
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Welcome to Tropic Utah
Small towns, especially those with a preserved history, can offer much more than meets the eye. We had driven through Tropic, Utah a few times while visiting Bryce Canyon. Passing by in the car, it seems to be about three blocks long. We decided to see what was here on our way back from Mossy Cave.
Is Tropic Utah worth visiting?
Where is Tropic Utah?
In Garfield County, Utah, Tropic is a charming small town near the stunning Bryce Canyon National Park. To be more specific, it’s located just 7 miles east of the park entrance. The town is surrounded by majestic red cliffs and is nestled between two iconic scenic drives: Scenic Byway 12 and Highway 89. This prime location provides easy access to the national park and offers stunning views and plenty of outdoor activities. With its central location in one of the most beautiful areas of Utah, Tropic is an ideal place to base your Bryce Canyon adventures.
Key Statistics for Tropic Utah
- Town established 1892
- Town name origin: Named for its mild climate by settlers from Panguitch
- Elevation of Tropic: 6,309 feet
- Distant to Bryce Canyon National Park: 11 miles
- Local services: Campgrounds, lodging, restaurants, groceries, guides and outfitters, gifts, gasoline, post office, church, city park, laundromat, bank
Is Tropic Utah worth visiting?
Tropic Utah is a Great Location
With Bryce Canyon National Park in the backyard of Tropic and the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument at its front door, Tropic provides views of magnificent beauty in all directions. The town sits in an epicenter of geographic wonders. In just a short car drive, you can be transported to a national monument and several state parks, including Anasazi Indian Village, Escalante Petrified Forest, and Kodachrome Basin State Park.
Other nearby attractions include Bull Valley Gorge, Calf Creek Falls, Coyote Gulch, Grosvenor’s Arch, Hole in the Rock, Pine Lake, Powell Point, and Tropic Reservoir. The concentration of well over a dozen scenic destinations from Tropic makes this town a top consideration from which to venture out for local adventures.
Don’t be fooled by the small population and size of the town. Tropic makes for a wonderful base from which to explore the numerous surrounding outdoor wonderlands. This small ranching community sits in a beautiful valley surrounded by red cliffs in Utah’s Garfield County. It is located on Utah’s All-American Road and Scenic Byway 12, due east of Bryce Canyon City. The Bryce Canyon National Park entrance is only about 15 minutes away from Tropic. The town’s land area encompasses 8.4 square miles.
Is Tropic Utah worth visiting?
Things To Do In Tropic Utah
You’ll find many things to do in and around Tropic. Fill your calendar with adventure, hiking trips, and just admiring the natural beauty of the surrounding landscape. You can easily spend several days here and not run out of things to do.
Let’s get started by looking at some tourist options right in town.
Tropic Heritage Center
You can leave your car in the parking lot behind the town’s museum and Heritage Center. Outside the center, several plaques discuss the town’s history.
Not sure if the place was open when we arrived, we pulled into the barren parking lot. We were pleased when a tug on the front door pulled it open. We were warmly greeted and told we could explore two rooms with exhibits about the town’s history.
Tropic’s Earliest History Presented in the Heritage Center
The first room contains information that spans millions of years. Here, you can learn about the local geography. The information includes present-day facts and describes how geological changes morphed the area into its magnificent landscape today.
The room showcases several fossils, Native American artifacts, and recorded history from the town’s inception. Dinosaur fans will enjoy viewing the numerous bones displayed from these extinct species.
20th Century History – Tropic Heritage Center
The second room contains exhibits mainly from the early to the mid-20th century. One display focuses on schools in the community, which served a small student population through the decades. An interesting display is a copy of the dedication used for the high school in 1955.
Moving through this room counterclockwise, you will view early 20th-century entertainment relics and household implements.
We weren’t asked to pay a fee on our arrival but left a donation. Our visit inside lasted perhaps just 20 minutes, and we appreciated the historic glimpse of this small town.
Veteran’s Memorial Park in Tropic UT
Outside the town Heritage Center is the Tropic Utah Veteran’s Memorial Park. We spent time here after our visit looking at the humbling display that honors those who have served in the armed forces. One stone commemorates the names of locals who died in action, were held prisoners of war, and other members who served their country.
Visit Bryce Canyon National Park
Let’s start to explore the nearby places you can easily reach from Tropic Utah, beginning with the star attraction, Bryce Canyon National Park.
In just 15 minutes, you can reach the park entrance. This spectacular National Park boasts panoramic views of hoodoos. Bryce Canyon can be admired by driving through the park roads and stopping at the occasional turnouts and parking areas to take in the magnificent views. However, to get the full experience, you’ll want to immerse yourself in the red rock landscape with one or more hiking adventures.
There are several opportunities to walk down to the amphitheater floor, with hikes ranging in various levels to accommodate novice hikers and those seeking strenuous challenges.
The Wall Street area is a very popular hike and can be done as a partial hike down to the amphitheater floor and back up or as a complete loop. Here, you can see the iconic view of Thor’s Hammer among the spectacular hoodoos that fill the landscape.
It took millions of years of extremely slow natural processes to form the Bryce Canyon we see today. You won’t find more hoodoos elsewhere than in this National Park.
We suggest planning at least two days to take in the beauty of Bryce Canyon National Park. Read more about your options in this park in our related post:
Hiking Navajo Loop and Wall Street
Top tips for visiting Bryce Canyon National Park
- Plan for at least two days
- Stop at the Visitor Center to get current conditions and advice for your visit
- Get into the amphitheater via one or more hikes
- Don’t film and walk at the same time
Explore Picturesque Kodachrome Basin State Park
From Tropic Utah, you can reach Kodachrome Basin State Park in about 20 minutes by car. Take a left when you reach the fork in the road to get to the official park entrance. You’ll find a variety of hikes in this picturesque landscape suitable for all levels.
Kodachrome Basin Start Park is one of the most scenic spots in Southern Utah. From the trails to the incredible views, hiking through this land will stimulate your senses. Go in search of the chimney stack monolithic stone spires in the park – there are sixty-seven to be found in and around the park, formed over 180 million years.
It’s easy to take in several hikes on a singles afternoon. We selected the Grand Parade Trail and Angel’s Palace Trail during our visit. Other popular trails in this park include the Panorama, Sentinel, and Shakespeare Arch full loop trails. There are more than 12 miles of recreational trails throughout this park, attracting tourists worldwide for camping, photography, and hiking.
In the 1960s, the Kodak Film Corporation endorsed an official name change of this previous state reserve to Kodachrome Basin. This name reflected the park’s unique, colorful geology. And as the name suggests, it’s a place where you will want to bring your camera.
Top tips for visiting Kodachrome Basin State Park
- Plan a half-day minimum
- Stop at the Visitor Center to get current conditions and advice for your visit
- Identify which hike(s) will suit your difficulty level and the time available
- Bring your camera and take lots of pictures
Travel into Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument
For a deeper adventure, consider exploring Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. Start with the Visitor Center located in Cannonville.
This monument comprises many giant geological steps stretching from the Kaibab Plateau in northern Arizona to the Paunsaugunt Plateau in southern Utah. This series of cliffs rises 5,000 feet from bottom to top and is part of the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument.
This monument spans nearly 1.9 million acres and reveals incredible geological diversity. This monument is close to the size of Delaware. It’s a land with inhabitant roots among the Fremont and Anasazi, Hopi, Paiute, Ute, and Navajo. You’ll see more diversity of rock formations in this monument. And millions of years ago, this area was covered with water, so geologists continue to find fossils of sea animals in their explorations.
Given the immensity of the monument’s footprint, one way to get a sense of its massive area is to travel by car. This was our choice during our visit, and we enjoyed admiring the landscape via a morning road trip. There are turn-offs every few miles on Scenic Byway 12, where you can stop to admire the area and take some pictures.
If your schedule allows, explore the terrain on foot via one or more hikes. For a truly spectacular site, see about obtaining a permit to walk to the famous Wave in the area. Many hiking options in this monument offer much beauty and natural treasure.
The Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument is part of the Bureau of Land Management’s National Landscape Conservation System (NLCS). The Bureau’s work helps to protect the landscape for future generations.
Top tips for visiting Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument
- Stop in the town of Escalante for coffee or lunch
- Pull off the road often to admire the scenery
Explore Mossy Cave
Just 5 minutes north of Tropic, you’ll find the entrance to the Mossy Cave trail. This is a popular hiking spot, so early arrival is a good choice for landing a parking space. The walk to Mossy Cave is easy, with a walking path that follows a running stream. Looking up during the walk, you’ll see incredible geological formations.
The walk to the cave (actually more of a grotto) is reasonably short. You can read about how weather patterns intersect with geology here to form this specific formation.
And this location has more than just the cave (grotto). You can also venture to a nearby waterfall.
The Mossy Cave trail is a great hiking choice for people of all ages. It provides excellent views of hoodoos without committing to longer and steeper walking paths. This trail is rated easy and has a round-trip of 0.9 miles.
This stop lasted us about an hour. It is an enjoyable addition to your travels if you are in the area of Bryce Canyon National Park.
Read about our day in this article: Mossy Cave
Pass on Widtsoe Ghost Town
You might hear someone mention a Ghost Town in nearby Widtsoe, as was said to us during our stay nearby. Save yourself some time and scratch this one off of your itinerary. We drove out here and learned that there is no ghost town here after all. Hopefully, our tip saves you a few hours that could be better spent exploring the cool sights in nearby areas. Widtsoe just is not one of these.
You can read more about our attempt to visit Widtsoe Ghost Town here.
Anasazi State Park
Now, we start to get into options about 90 minutes away from Tropic. It’s still reasonable, but further in distance. Consider a drive out to Anasazi State Park. This place is home to Native American village ruins that have roots to the Anasazi. You can visit a museum on-site to learn more about the history of the land and its prior inhabitants.
Zion National Park
You can make a day trip from the area with a drive to Zion National Park. This location is also about 90 minutes away and is a must-see in southern Utah. Zion National Park offers unique and memorable hiking adventures. The topography changes here from the hoodoos you will see in Bryce Canyon National Park. Geology buffs will love this landscape.
Read more about exploring Zion National Park here.
And learn about the differences between Zion and Bryce by reading our article, Zion vs. Bryce – Honest Comparison & Which is Better?
Dixie National Forest
Nearby is the largest national forest in the state of Utah. Spanning over two million acres, you can experience a landscape that spans green forests to impressive red rock formations. There is so much geological diversity in southern Utah; spending time in Dixie National Forest is one way to realize these differences. It’s also a great place to catch glimpses of Southern Utah wildlife.
Is Tropic Utah worth visiting?
More Outdoor Activities Near Tropic Utah
Outdoor adventures abound in and around Tropic Utah. This area caters to outdoor enthusiasts ranging from beginners to seasoned adventurers. Here is a listing of more activities to consider:
Telescope tours: If outer space and the universe fascinate you, consider a special telescope tour when in Tropic Utah. The rural darkness and vast skies create an ideal environment for viewing the stars. A telescope tour will help you appreciate the beauty of space.
Horseback and mule rides: You can find options in the area to spend a day riding a horse or mule. It’s a great leisurely way to experience the landscape. Let the horse or mule do the walking while you gaze at the splendid scenery around Tropic Utah. Here is a great option to consider
Horseback Riding Experience through Red Canyon with a Guide
This experience is rated 5 Stars on Viator with 183 reviews!
Tour length – 2 Hours, Cost $
Go horseback riding in the same landscape traveled by Butch Cassidy. Suitable to all experience levels, you’ll be led by an experienced rider and learn about the local history during your ride. You’ll explore places you can’t easily reach from the road. This tour starts in Bryce Canyon City, just 20 minutes from Tropic.
ATV rides: If you want to experience the area at a higher speed, perhaps an ATV experience is suited for you. Explore the area trails while riding an ATV. You’ll find options for rent; you can bring your own or even join an ATV tour.
Rubys Inn ATV Trails – P.O. Box 640001, Bryce City, UT 84764
Back Country ATV – 80 S. Main Hwy 12, Tropic, UT 84776
Hiking Experiences: Explore the area on foot with a local guide. Here is a great option:
Hiking Experience in Bryce Canyon National Park
This experience is rated 5 Stars on Viator with 33 reviews!
Tour length – 5 Hours, Cost $$
Let the experienced local guide you on a hike in Bryce Canyon. The experienced guides know the best ways of navigating Bryce Canyon trails. You’ll save time, avoid closed areas, and spend more time hiking. This tour starts in Bryce Canyon City, just 20 minutes from Tropic.
Fishing in Tropic Utah
One way to spend a peaceful day is with a fishing pole in hand. Nearby the town of Tropic, two popular areas for fishing include Tropic Reservoir and Pine Lake. Located in the Dixie National Forest, spend a day fishing for rainbow and cutthroat trout.
You can fish from either a boat or the shore at Tropic Reservoir. Pine Lake offers fishing from the shore or a canoe.
Is Tropic Utah worth visiting?
The Best Places to Stay While Visiting Tropic Utah
You’ll find various lodging options in and around Tropic Utah, from traditional hotels and campgrounds to more unique accommodations. Here are our top recommendations:
Bryce Canyon Inn:
This Inn is rated 4.7 Stars on Expedia with 910 reviews!
This top-rated inn is a great lodging option. Stay in your own private cabin by night and explore the area’s superb scenery by day.
Here’s what one past guest said about this Inn:
“Stayed here on a multi-day trip through Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks. Loved the cabin. It was clean, comfortable, and nicely appointed. The internet was exemplary as was the coffee and pastries at the coffee shop attached to the cabins. Staff was super friendly. We got coffee and breakfast early in the morning before heading into the park.”
(Jennifer – An Expedia reviewer)
Bryce Trails Bed & Breakfast:
This B&B is rated 4.5 Stars on Expedia with 209 reviews!
Located in the backyard of Bryce Canyon National Park, this lovely B&B affords quaint and comfortable rooms. Each room has personalized décor and is named after popular hikes in the area. Open year-round.
This top-rated inn is a great lodging option. Stay in your own private cabin by night and explore the area’s superb scenery by day.
Here’s what one past guest said about this B&B:
“Very pleasant stay with extremely comfortable beds. The morning breakfasts (served at 8am) are gourmet-quality (We had eggs benedict). A special treat was that the owner made us an excellent and much-appreciated “to-go” breakfast because of our early departure the day we left. It’s a relatively short drive to the park (about 20 mins), but you will need your own transportation to get to the park.”
(Ashburn D.. – An Expedia reviewer)
Campgrounds: We recommend the Bryce Canyon RV Resort in nearby Cannonville. This is a great option, especially for people traveling with an RV to the area.
Is Tropic Utah worth visiting?
The Best Places to Eat in Tropic Utah
After a day of exploration, rest your feet and step into a local restaurant to experience local dining.
IDK Barbecue: Offering a Southern Utah take on BBQ, this eatery offers Dutch Oven Corn Bread and Peach Cobbler. And their Sinceriously Awesome Sauce is to die for. BBQ lovers will want to try the Brisket, Ribs, and Pulled Pork – all smoked to perfection.
This Restaurant is rated 4.5 Stars on TripAdvisor with 469 reviews!
Address: 161 North Main Street, Tropic, UT 84776
Stone Hearth Grill: Offering casual fine dining, this restaurant offers local cuisine with an American vibe. The menu is vegetarian-friendly and offers vegan options. The Stone Hearth Grille has views in all directions. Outdoor seating options are a great place to view the sunset and the changing colors on the mountains as you eat dinner. It is open from 5 PM to 9 PM. Reservations are recommended.
This Restaurant is rated 4.5 Stars on TripAdvisor with 990 reviews!
Address: 1380 West Stone Canyon Lane Near Bryce Canyon, Tropic, UT 84776
Scout Park: You can also enjoy lunch in the town park. We packed lunch with us on an afternoon visiting Tropic and found ample shade and picnic tables just off the main road in Tropic at Scout Park. This is a nice play to enjoy a quiet lunch in the park and listen to the song of abundant birds in the surrounding trees.
This park offers outside grills and a spacious lawn for playing volleyball and frisbee. The playground includes swings, slides, and a merry-go-round for the kids. You can even use a horseshoe pit for some friendly competition.
Amenities in Tropic Utah
Tropic Utah offers numerous services and amenities. While the town is small, it does provide a small visitor center, groceries, a gas station, and a post office.
Is Tropic Utah worth visiting?
When is the Best Time to Visit Tropic Utah?
Tropic Utah is a great year-round destination. In the wintertime, you can see the landscape from a unique perspective. Skiing, snowshoeing, winter hiking, and cross-country skiing are among the activities you can enjoy here. You can even try ice fishing at Tropic Reservoir. Do pay attention to the local weather reports for road conditions and daily forecasts during this time of year.
Spring through fall is a great time to experience hiking and the great outdoors. Tropic is a great destination regardless of the season of the year.
The climate is generally mild. The last frost is typically toward the end of April. Freezing often begins in mid-October.
Tropic Utah – The Birth of a Town
The founding of the first community east of Bryce Canyon National Park came to pass upon the efforts of bringing water to the area.
We love the quote that is attributed on this plaque that discusses bringing water to the town.
“It will be no exaggeration to say that this was the greatest jollification ever had in this section of the country…We had barbecue, we had beef, we had veal, we had lamb and mutton.. We danced all night until broad daylight…”
-Andrew Hansen, one of the founding residents of Tropic, describes the celebration honoring the arrival of water via the Tropic Ditch on May 23, 1892.
On that very special day, water flowed over a dry canal bed into a parched area. At that moment, the town of Tropic was born. The work done in this era of building a 10-mile long canal to divert water on the Paunsaugunt Plateau continues to bring irrigation water to Tropic today.
Ebenezer Bryce – Founding Father
A Scotsman, Ebenezer Bryce, settled just south of the area in 1875, where Bryce Creek meets the Paria River. Along with Daniel Goulding, they dug a 7-mile canal from Pine Creek to irrigate their East Valley farmlands. He also built a road in the highlands above his ranch to access timber and drinkable water. In those days, the locals called the area Bryce’s Canyon. Fast forward to the present day, we call the area Bryce Canyon National Park.
We were told that his original cabin was located in the town. Heading out to find the actual cabin, we were directed to the location – a motel grounds at the end of the town in Tropic. Speaking to the proprietor there, she mentioned that the cabin has been disassembled and is in storage. She said there were no known plans as regards a timetable for restoring the cabin. We would have liked to have seen this piece of history, but it is currently unavailable for viewing.
Pioneer Spirit
Back in those days, it was make-do or go without.
“You just raised your gardens, you bottled fruits and vegetables, you stored your vegetables in the cellars and if the cow went dry, why you went without milk unless you could borrow some from the neighbors.”
June Shakespear, Tropic resident, recalling early Tropic community life
Naming the Town of Tropic
Several names were initially proposed for the town, including some honoring Mormons. Ultimately, it was Andrew J. Hansen who proposed the name “Tropic”. With a bit of a marketing frame of mind, he believed the vision of a place where tropical fruits might be grown would attract people to the very small town.
Tropic Utah was established in 1892, starting with 15 families. After more than a hundred years, the town boasts just over 500 residents and maintains a country living atmosphere.
Notable People of Tropic Utah
Wanda Day, the drummer from the rock band “4 Non Blondes,” died at the early age of 36 on July 10, 1997. Her body is buried in the Tropic cemetery.
Is Tropic Utah worth visiting?
Directions to Tropic Utah
If you’re coming from out of state, the best way to get to Tropic is by flying into Las Vegas or Salt Lake City and renting a car.
From Las Vegas, it’s about a 4-hour drive (260 miles), and from Salt Lake City, it’s about a 4.5-hour drive (266 miles).
To get to Tropic Utah from Las Vegas, you will first need to head north on I-15 towards Salt Lake City. After about 120 miles, take exit 95 towards Cedar City. From there, merge onto UT-20 East and continue for approximately 81 miles until you reach US Highway 89. Take a left onto US-89 North and continue for about 54 miles until you reach the town of Tropic.
From Salt Lake City, you will take I-15 South towards Las Vegas. After about 170 miles, take exit 95 towards Cedar City and merge onto UT-20 East. Continue for approximately 81 miles until reaching US Highway 89. Then take a left onto US-89 North and drive for another 54 miles until arriving in Tropic.
Once you’ve arrived in Tropic, you can easily navigate the town by foot or car. If you’re already in Utah, Tropic is easily accessible from nearby towns such as Panguitch (19 miles away) and Kanab (76 miles away).
Is Tropic Utah worth visiting?
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Is Tropic Utah worth visiting?
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Tropic Utah – Uncommon Beauty in Any Direction
In Tropic, it is said that the sun sets in the East. Well, while that really isn’t what happens, it is recommended to face east when the sun sets. In the early evening sunshine, Powell Point glows as if there is a light from inside. The mountain setting is glorious for watching shadows and golden light play across this landscape.
Thanks for reading this blog post exploring the question, “Is Tropic Utah worth visiting.” We hope to see you at the places where we go!
Julie & Art
#tropicutah #tropicut
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