We are the one's trying to plan the trip to the Grand Canyon, North Rim, we thought we would leave there and ride in Bryce Canyon a little on our way back, but I'm having difficulty finding something on the website.  What I read seemed like no camping, directs you to Red Canyon, but that's in New Mexico from what I can tell.  See I am really confused.  If you know of a camping area, primitie is fine, that is accessible to the trails in Bryce Canyon.we appreciate the info. 

Thank you

I'll be happy to talk to you about it.  PM me.

Red Canyon is the canyon the hiway from Panguitch to Bryce follows up.  there are several trail heads that depart from Red Canyon. But most of the camp grounds in the canyon don't allow horses.

Several Suggestions.

Ruby's Inn just outside the gate of Byce has horse corrals.  You can put your horse in their horse motel for $10 a night. We usually leave the horses there and get room, at least for some members of our group who don't want to rough it.  Ruby's inn also has an RV park.  Leave your horses in the corrals by the rodeo grounds and camp with hook ups for your trailer in the RV park.

Corrals at Ruby's Inn

the other choice is to primative camp over near Castro Canyon.  There is NO Camping allowed in Castro or Lossee canyons, But you can primative camp with horses just outside the mouth of the canyons.

Bryce Canyon itselt only has 1 trail for you to ride. Depending on how fast you ride, It's a half day to all day trail ride. So if you are in the area, You will want to ride some of the other trails that are not in the Park.

Castro and Lossee canyons both have good horse trails. They are 20 miles from Bryce, so access is easy.  From Red Canyon you can ride up to Thunder Mountain Which is also a great trail. We usually ride in Bryce for the morning, Got eat Soup and Pie at Twin Pines Cafe  and then ride Thunder Mountain in the afternoon.   ( btw, anybody want to venture where Disney got the name for their Thunder Mountain roller coaster ride)

Me on Thunder Mountain

Usually when we are in the area, We also ride in the Grand Staircase Escalante. This is lower elevation than Bryce, So if it's cold up and Bryce, drop down into the Grand Staircase.  Most of this area is accessed south of Cannondale.

Willis canyon and Sheep Creek is a great ride down a narrow canyon

Also Capital Reef is not far away and has excellent Riding.

We spend a lot of time up in the san rafael swell.  ( I-70 splits the swell in half) Byrce has a million european tourist a year come through. They are fascinated by american cowboys. If you look the part your photo will appear on more coffee tables in Europe than your wife has photos of you at home. Going over to the Swell we get away from the tourist. Fewer rules about camping, almost no people, so you have the place to yourself.

It really gets narrow in places

Lot of people like to ride mules in this kind of country. But we prefer our horses.

One more point.

They will not allow you to bring your horses into Bryce Canyon with out current Coggins and health papers.  You will have to show them at the main gate when you enter the park.  Also the park usually likes to see your trailer cleaned out.  Meaning any old manure swept out of the trailer. Since you are supposed to feed certified weed free hay for 3days  prior to traveling onto public land. ( which there is no way they can enforce) They figure any road apples dropped along the trail will not contain weed seeds, But the livestock may track in seeds from manure on the hooves from what was in the trailer

Painted Horse thank you so much for the info and pictures.  Just looks beautiful. We were going to the Grand Canyon first, then were going up to Bryce, but the G Canyon is a pain, so have scratched that idea.  (We were riding our own mules down on N Rim) But too much trouble for just a 2 hour trip down and 2 hr up.  They said u could not go to bottom anymore.  Anyway.  Bryce was part of that trip.  Grand Canyon was on my husbands bucket list, but looks like he's gonna have to take it off.  If we decide to do Bryce anyway, I may pm you.  Thank you so much for all your help.  

here are a couple of websites from that area of the state.  The websites are geared to you hiring them and their horses for the rides. But the trails they list are public and anybody can ride. So the trail descripition will give you some ideas of trails around Bryce

http://www.brycecanyonhorseback.com/horserides-bryce-canyon.html

http://www.horserides.net/

There also is a good day ride in Zions National Park.  You enter the park at the Kolob Canyon Visitors center off I-15 .  There is a 7 mile long trail to Kolob arch ( you have to tie up and hike the last 1/2 mile) or you can continue across the hops valley for an additional 7 miles, Making it a 14 miles one ride.  It is an extremely long drive around to have somebody shuttle your trailer, So most folks ride across and back for a 28 mile day ride. It's not terrible tough terrain, but it can get hot during the summer months. There is horse water at LaVerkin Creek about 4 miles into the ride. This trail goes from the Lees Trailhead to the Hops Valley Trailhead.. The road that accesses the Hops Valley trail head is steep and winding, Wouldn't reccomend it for really large LQ trailers.

http://www.nps.gov/zion/planyourvisit/loader.cfm?csModule=security/getfile&pageid=531514

The Trail in Zions doesn't take you down into any narrow canyons, Most just along sheer walls.

Capital Reef National Park is close by and also has some great trails to explore.

http://www.utah.com/nationalparks/capitol_reef/horseback-riding.htm

I also like to get up high during the summer heat. areas like the Aquarius Plateau and Boulder Mountains are close to Bryce and are 10,000 elevations and are beautiful to ride across and explore. Easy rides where you are not on the side of cliffs.

Hope that gets you started.  There is more riding in that area than you could possible do in a summer.

So when you say North, Are you talking about up in John's Valley? Or are you talking more about the dirt road that heads up to Mud Springs and Pat Willis Draw? I've never explored that very much. May have to drive there and see whats in that area. I suspect you could also find some camping areas to the west over by Tropic Reservoir and Long Hollow.

There are some great rides south of I-70 in the Swell. 

Camp at Lost Springs and ride up Old Woman Canyon across the back of the reef and down Earnie Canyon.  There is often horse water at Lost springs

Camp at Buckskin Springs and ride up Chute Canyon, across the back of the reef and come down Wild Horse Wash

Camp just off the off ramp at Justensen Flats and ride down to the Old Copper Globe mine and over to the Window. But you will have to haul all your water in here.

Justensen Flats

Copper Globe

Camp near one of the Stock ponds near Sinbads Head or Swayze's Cabin and ride down Eagle Canyon

Swayze Cabin

Wild Mustangs on McKay Flat

Next time you ride out to Copper Globe, Continue on down to the "Window" This gap in the reef looks out over Red Canyon.  It's thousands of feet of drop below the window. Impressive view.

I think the absolute best ride in the North Swell is up McCarty canyon across the narrow neck of land and down Mesquite canyon.

It's not an easy trail to find. but it is well worth the trip.

This trail gives you an impressive view of Saddlehorse canyon

We do a lot of Friday-Saturday trips,  Often leave after work on Thursday.

I live between SLC and Ogden,  So down and back in the same day, Makes for a really long day.

McCarty canyon is tough to get a big trailer into.  So we usually load up smaller trailer and stay at Gilleys in Feron the night before.

It just depends who is going and what kinda rigs every body has

Was that over by the mouth of Castro Canyon?  I can't remember where I sent you.