Plan Your Visit to Bryce Canyon National Park Travel Guide
Bryce Canyon National Park is known for its red, orange, pink, and white amphitheaters of hoodoos. You will also find slot canyons, fins, arches, spires, arches, bridges, a cave, and a waterfall. Mountain lions, pronghorn deer, prairie dogs, and chipmunks live in the canyon. Park activities include 60 miles of hiking trails, ranger-led horseback rides, and cycling. Plan your visit with this Bryce Canyon National Park Travel Guide.
You are excited to visit Bryce Canyon National Park and want to know the best time of year to visit, where to stay, what not to miss, and where to eat while there. Researching the best things to do while visiting Bryce Canyon National Park while working full time is overwhelming and you don’t have hours to spend on the internet. Save time and plan an unforgettable trip full of top activities with this Bryce Canyon National Park travel blog.
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Where is Bryce Canyon National Park
Bryce Canyon National Park is located in southern Utah. The closest airports are Las Vegas and Salt Lake City. It is a 4-hour drive to Bryce Canyon for both places. If you are planning to visit Zion National Park, fly into Las Vegas and stop there first. Bryce Canyon is a 1.5 drive from Zion National Park and 4.5 hours to Arches National Park.
Facts About Bryce Canyon National Park
Bryce Canyon became a National Monument in 1923 and was designated as a National Park in 1928.
It is the second most popular of the “Mighty 5” Utah national parks and has 2.5 million visitors annually.
The park is 35,835 acres, and it is the smallest national park in Utah.
Bryce Canyon is not a canyon, it is several natural amphitheaters. The largest is Bryce Amphitheater, it is 12 miles long, 3 miles wide, and 800 feet deep. It includes Bryce,
Inspiration, Sunset, and Sunrise Points.
Bryce Canyon has the largest collection of hoodoos in the world, some are up to 200 feet high.
Hoodoos are tall skinny spires of rock formed over thousands of years of repeated freezing and thawing of water.
Bryce Canyons’ pink cliffs are the first step in the Grand Staircase.
The endangered Utah prairie dog lives in Bryce Canyon.
This is a certified dark sky park and a great place to view the Milky Way.
Best Time of Year to Visit Bryce Canyon National Park
Fall is the best time of year to visit Bryce Canyon National Park. Crowds are thin and temperatures are in the mid-50s to mid-60s. Snow is possible anytime between October and April, trails may be closed. Winter temperatures are between 30 and below zero. Most overlooks are open during the winter months. Trails may still have ice in early spring and rain is common in late spring. Summer brings temperatures in the mid-’80s but can get hot midday. July and August are high seasons, expect crowds.
How Much Time Should I plan at Bryce Canyon National Park
One day in the park allows enough time to stop at all the viewpoints and hike through the Navajo Trail.
Accommodation in Bryce Canyon National Park
There are 2 campgrounds with 200 sites at Bryce Canyon National Park, the North Campground and Sunset Campground. Campsites are available first-come, first-served, and fill quickly. There are 8 backcountry camping sites available by permit. Bryce Canyon Lodge is the only accommodation in the park. WiFi is only available in the lobby and rooms do not have TVs. Hotels are located in Bryce Canyon City, Tropic, Cannonville, and Henrieville.
Where to Eat at Bryce Canyon National Park
There are two food options in Bryce Canyon National Park, both are located in the lodge. The restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, expect to wait for a table. Valhalla Pizza Cafe is open for lunch and dinner from May through September. Dawg House food truck may be at Fairview Point during lunch hours. It is also possible to purchase a picnic lunch at the general store near Sunrise Point.
Bryce Canyon National Park Hikes
Walk a section of the rim between Sunset Point and Sunrise Point.
Navajo Loop Trail, 1.3 mile RT past Wall Street, Twin Bridges, Thor’s Hammer, and the switchbacks.
Queens Garden Trail, 1.8 mile RT past a silhouette of Queen Victoria on a hoodoo.
Rim Trail is 4.7 miles one way beginning at Fairyland Point and ending at Bryce Point.
Peekaboo Loop Trail, 4.8 mile RT past the Wall of Windows.
Fairyland Loop Trail, 8 miles.
Mossy Cave Trail, 1 mile RT to a waterfall.
Bryce Canyon National Park Highlights
Take the 37-mile RT scenic drive stopping at Sunrise Point, Sunset Point, Bryce Point, Paria, and Bryce Arch viewpoints.
Climb Inspiration Point for the best view in the park.
Hike the Navajo Loop through Wall Street.
Stop by the Mossy Cave waterfall.
Things to Do at Bryce Canyon National Park
Stop at the visitor center museum and learn the geology of Bryce’s hoodoos.
Watch the sunrise at SUNSET point, and watch the sunset at the Paria viewpoint.
Take the scenic drive and stop at all 15 viewpoints.
Book a guided horse trip through the amphitheater.
Take a ranger-led horseback ride.
Go star gazing or take a ranger-led full moon hike.
Cross-country ski or snowshoe in the winter.
Stop for souvenirs in Old Bryce Town and enjoy a huckleberry ice cream cone.
Enjoy dinner with live music at Ebenezer’s Barn and Grill.
Cycle the shared trail system between Red Canyon and Bryce Canyon.
Be sure to check the Bryce Canyon National Park Service for current events.
Tips for Visiting Bryce Canyon National Park
Bryce Canyon is open 24/7, the visitor center opens at 8 am.
Sunrise is the best time to photograph the hoodoos without harsh shadows, 2 hours before sunset is also gorgeous.
Arrive early, there is only 1 parking spot for every 4 cars that enter the park.
Parking lots are small and fill quickly, utilize the free shuttle which runs every 15 minutes.
RVs larger than 20′ cannot park in most of the parking lots.
Bring a picnic lunch to the park and avoid wasting time waiting for a table at the restaurant.
Stop and rest often if you are not used to hiking in high elevations.
Start your hikes early in the day, bring plenty of water, and wear sunscreen.
Begin the scenic drive at Rainbow Point and work your way back, all viewpoints are on the east side of the road.
Leashed pets are allowed on paved surfaces including viewpoints.
Watch for thunderstorms and seek shelter in a car or building if there is lightning.
Drones are not allowed in Bryce Canyon National Park.
Buildings, restrooms, and the path connecting Sunrise and Sunset viewpoints are wheelchair accessible.
Practice Leave No Trace Principles.
Purchase an America the Beautiful Pass and keep exploring National Parks.
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