The Bryce Canyon Half Marathon & 5K will be held on July 15, 2023. While the race is typically held the second weekend in July, the race was moved back one week this year to accommodate holiday weekends.
2023 marks the 20th anniversary of the Bryce Canyon Half Marathon & 5K. This race started as an Eagle Scout project and has transformed into a non-profit event, hosted by the Bryce Community Foundation. The proceeds of the race are donated each year to local projects throughout the county. The foundation has been able to support school and community projects, as well as our local hospital over the last twenty years.
Each year the race welcomes nearly 1,000 runners to our beautiful area, many of whom return year after year. LaRee Bybee, committee member, shared, “Runners comment time and again that our race has an amazing community feeling. Everyone is friendly, helpful, and supportive. Runners love the organization and enthusiasm shown by the water station and finish line volunteers, many of whom have been volunteering since the beginning of the race. We are lucky to have great community support, our community personality shows, and the runners come back for it year after year.”
The Bryce Canyon Half Marathon starts just outside the rodeo grounds in Bryce Canyon City, travels down Highway 12 through Tropic, and ends just outside the Escalante Grand Staircase Visitors Center in Cannonville.
Special permitting allows for the runners to run on the scenic byway eastbound lane, while the Utah Highway Patrol pilots traffic in the westbound lane, recirculating the traffic loop every 30-40 minutes. Additional time should be factored into travel plans from 6am-9am on July 15th due to the traffic pattern. After 9am the road will be reopened for traffic in both lanes.
The Bryce Canyon 5K starts at the Cannonville Town Park, runs through sections of Cannonville and ends in the same finisher’s corral as the half marathon.
Race committee member Kami Brinkerhoff said, “It has been a wonderful experience to see the race grow from the very beginning. Committee members past and present, volunteers, local resources such as bus drivers, law enforcement, as well as businesses that provide services or sponsorships have allowed the race to grow into the success it is today. It is amazing to see a community pull together and support our event, and we hope it benefits the community in turn through tourism and community grants.”
Registration for each of the Bryce Canyon Half Marathon & 5K has been open online at brycecanyonhalfmarathon.com and will still have bibs available for registration at Tropic Town Park on July 14th starting at 10am.
– Bryce Canyon Half Marathon Committee
