NATIONAL PARK SERVICE • U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Foundation Document Bryce Canyon National Park Utah May 2014 Foundation Document State Overview ¦¨§70 ¨¦§15 ¨¦§80 Utah ¨¦§70 Capitol Bryce Canyon National Reef Park National Park ¦¨§15 ¬«22 Cedar Breaks National Monument Bryce Canyon National Glen Canyon Park National Recreation Area Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument Zion National Park Utah ¤£89 Arizona Rainbow Bridge National Monument Pipe Spring National Monument Á Grand Canyon National Park 0 2010 Miles Bryce Canyon National Park Contents Introduction 1 Part 1: Core Components 4 Brief Description of Bryce Canyon National Park 5 Park Purpose 7 Park Significance 8 Interpretive Themes 9 Fundamental Resources and Values 10 Other Important Resources and Values 14 Summary 15 Part 2: Dynamic Components 16 Special Mandates and Administrative Commitments 16 Assessment of Planning and Data Needs 16 Analysis of Fundamental Resources and Values 16 Analysis of Other Important Resources and Values 45 Identification of Key Parkwide or Major Issues 56 Prioritization of Planning and Data Needs 57 Part 3: Meeting Attendees, Preparers, and Consultants 65 Appendixes 67 Appendix A: Enabling Legislation and Legislative Acts for Bryce Canyon National Park 67 Appendix B: Related Federal Legislation, Regulations, and Executive Orders 70 Appendix C: Inventory of Special Mandates and Administrative Commitments 72 Appendix D: Literature Cited 75 Foundation Document Bryce Canyon National Park Introduction Every unit of the national park system is required to have a formal statement of its core mission. The core mission is derived from the park’s enabling legislation and/or proclamation establishing the park unit and subsequent legislation specific to that unit. As such, it provides basic guidance—a foundation for planning and management. Increasing emphasis on government accountability and restrained federal spending demand that all stakeholders are aware of the purpose, significance, interpretive themes, fundamental resources and values, and special mandates and administrative commitments of a park unit, as well as the legal and policy requirements for administration and resource protection that factor into management decisions. A primary benefit of developing a foundation document is the opportunity to integrate and coordinate all kinds and levels of planning from a single, shared understanding of what is most important about the park. The process of developing a foundation document begins with gathering and integrating information about the park. Next, this information is refined and focused to determine what the most important attributes of the park are. The process of preparing a foundation document aids park managers, staff, and the public in identifying and clearly stating in one document the essential information that is necessary for park management to consider when determining future planning efforts, outlining key planning issues, and protecting resources and values that are integral to park purpose and identity. A foundation document serves as the underlying guidance for management and planning decisions for a national park unit. It describes the core mission of the park unit by identifying the purpose, significance, fundamental and important resources and values, interpretive themes, assessment of planning and data needs, special mandates and administrative commitments, and the unit’s setting in the regional context. The development of a foundation document for Bryce Canyon National Park is an important part of effectively managing the park over the long term and protecting park resources and values that are integral to the purpose and identity of the park unit. The park atlas is also a part of the foundation project. It is a geographic information system (GIS) product that can be published as a hard copy paper atlas and as electronic geospatial data in a Web-mapping environment. The purpose of the park atlas is to act as a reference for park projects and to facilitate planning decisions as a GIS-based planning support tool. The atlas covers various geographic elements that are important for park management such as natural and cultural resources, visitor use patterns, and facilities. It can be developed as part of a planning project (e.g., general management plan or foundation document), although it can also be designed as an independent product. Engagement with state and local governments, American Indian tribes and interested organizations is an essential aspect of park management. Decisions of local government and national park managers have reciprocal effects. Bryce Canyon National Park is an important part of the local and regional community. The park will strive to develop beneficial relationships and work cooperatively with local governments, Indian tribes, and civic organizations to find solutions to problems, and identify opportunities to sustain and enhance cooperative conservation, education, visitor services, local commerce, emergency response plans, and other activities of joint interest within established authorities and NPS policies. 1 Foundation Document 2 Trail 3 mi Distance Restrooms Amphitheater Overlook 5 km indicator Ranger station Campground Horse/hiking Picnic area Unpaved road trail Shuttle bus stop Backcountry campsite To Antimony 36 mi 0 0.5 1 Kilometer 58 km 0 0.5 1 Mile North S F F I L C K er S iv N L R I L I L P H I T E r T IN ie L l P v E e i E H S a H E T r N Visitor Center T D E R Bryce Canyon p R k Shakespear Point i o r Airport S m o o O 7842 ft F Tower N L 2390 m C Chinese Bridge A d To 89 T t N Wall s n Y r 11mi a a a E O l il 18km N y 12 r North i a 3 mi TR F O 5km PI C C A 087 63 Mossy N Y Dump station Cave O N P Trail I Paria NYON N CA River 6832 ft Horse Trail K r 2082 m (horses only) e Mossy v WA R i TE General store Cave To Escalante R Showers n Bryce Canyon City J 33mi e T C d r O r Shuttle Parking a 53km Que a L L Laundry e i L n G s l E and Boarding Area I Y F r F H e O Sunrise i h S v itc ic D L e p ro L S T O Point W Corral R i Queen m k Lodge Victoria r o F T r 3 mi a 5 km i l ek B re ryce C D Fairyland Point AV To ES t 7758 ft F Thors Hammer s A a Tropic 2365 m IR E H OL Y LO 1 mi LA W N Y 2 km D E Fairyland CA Sunset N N Sinking Ship L O B YO Sunset O N 7405 ft L Y A T 2257 m N M A Point ESA A V C Navajo DIXIE 1 mi Silent C 2 km Trai A Fairyland Loop Trail Loop l M City Wall im PB Peekaboo Loop Trail R EL Trail NATIONAL FOREST L ON Street NY C E Horse/hiking trail CA I C Bryce Amphitheater (see detail map) P Y O R Tower R B Visitor Center Bridge T The Bristlecone Inspiration Point Cathedral 7894 ft 2406 m Point U 8017 ft A Sunrise Point 2444 m Road closed A N Y O N ek 7 mi E C re here during C The 11 km 2 mi Lodge E yce winter storms No T B R Y C Br trailers Alligator 3 km A beyond 7200 ft s L Sunset Point 2195 m this point w summer 8000 ft o only 2438 m d P n i 8100 ft R W i 2469 m m f o Inspiration Point T l ra l Road closed here il a during winter storms W 8296 ft R Bryce Point im Bryce Point 2529 m T No trailers T rail N beyond this point Under-the-Rim Trail U 2 mi (Bryce Point to Rainbow Point) 3 km G Hat Shop 2 mi Under-the- U Rim Trail 3 km A 3 mi 5 km S North Paria View N 8176 ft 0 0.5 Kilometer 2492 m To To U BRYCE CANYON NATIONAL PARK Rainbow Point 0 0.5 Mile Paria View A Creek P To w King Creek Yello Sheep Creek Group site Connecting Trail 6800 ft 2073 m S W F F H P I I I N L T K C E Swamp Canyon M Und 7998 ft er- A 2438 m th e -Rim Trail Tropic N Reservoir Swamp Canyon Connecting Trail Pas tu S re h e e W p N a s O h Y Swamp B N Canyon Butte E 3 mi A C N 8302 ft 5 km 2534 m C P H E M a C A s re SHEEP CREEK FLAT t e k W S N Mud Canyon O NY CA UD Butte M 8330 ft 2539 m F o r k N O Y N U A C n d S Noon Canyon e Whiteman e v r Butte i - e Connecting t 8466 ft N r h O NO Trail e 2580 m - R i m T R r i v a e i r GARFIELD COUNTY l KANE COUNTY Piracy Point Farview Point 8819 ft 2688 m W il lis NYON Natural CA GE Bridge ID Creek BR DIXIE 6 mi P 10 km I N N K O NATIONAL FOREST Y N A C C L I F A U Deer Mountain F G A 7833 ft S 2387 m N O Horse Y N Mountain Agua A C Canyon Agua A Canyon S Connecting O R Trail E D E N G O ID P R Ponderosa Canyon 8766 ft A 2672 m S O ER D ON Black Iron P Birch Spring Canyon Under-the-Rim Trail (Rainbow Point to Bryce Point) r e v i 2 mi R 3 km Riggs Spring Loop Trail r THE P e RO i M v O N e Bristlecone T S Rainbow Point O Loop Trail R 9115 ft Y 2778 m Yovimpa Twin Point Hills C O k R r R o A F L H O M L U L T O t T s Yovimpa O W a N E Pass H O PINK CLIFFS L L O W Group site Riggs Spring 7480 ft 2280 m Trail 3 mi Distance Restrooms Amphitheater Overlook 5 km indicator Ranger station Campground Horse/hiking Picnic area Unpaved road trail Shuttle bus stop Backcountry campsite To Antimony 36 mi 0 0.5 1 Kilometer 58 km 0 0.5 1 Mile North S F F I L C K er S iv N L R I L I L P H I T E r T IN ie L P v E e E H S H E T N D E Bryce Canyon k R Shakespear Point r Airport S o O 7842 ft F N 2390 m C A To 89 t N s 11mi a Y E O 18km N 12 T 3 mi RO 5km PI C C A 087 63 Mossy N Y Cave O N P Trail I Paria NYON N CA River 6832 ft K r 2082 m e Mossy v WA R i TE Cave To Escalante R Bryce Canyon City J 33mi C O Shuttle Parking 53km L L L E and Boarding Area I Y F r F H e O i h S v itc ic D L e p ro L S T O W k r o F 3 mi 5 km D Fairyland Point AV ES t 7758 ft F s A a 2365 m IR E H OL Y LO 1 mi LA W N Y 2 km D E Fairyland CA N Sinking Ship L B YO O N 7405 ft L AT 2257 m M A ESA V DIXIE 1 mi C 2 km Tra A Fairyland Loop Trail il M im PB R EL NATIONAL FOREST L N