Explore Bryce Canyon National Park - Traveler Insights

A must when visiting the Beehive State, Bryce Canyon National Park is a dramatic landscape of sand, stone, and some of the darkest skies in the country. 

Over two million people visit this park annually, pulled in by its otherworldly forest of colorful hoodoos. Hoodoos are weirdly shaped, tall, thin rock spires formed millions of years ago by rain and frost. Horseback riding, hiking trails, sunsets, and scenic driving also await you in this ever-changing red-rock wonderland. 

If you’re visiting Bryce Canyon, this guide is for you! We’ll cover everything you need to know, from getting there to when to visit, where to stay, and things to do in Bryce Canyon National Park. 

Key Takeaways

• Bryce Canyon is located in Utah near Bryce Canyon City. The park is four hours from Salt Lake City, Utah, and Las Vegas, Nevada, and two hours from Springdale, Utah. 
• Driving is the best way to get to Bryce Canyon National Park. 
• The best way to get around Bryce Canyon National Park during the busy months is to jump on the shuttle. It’s free with park admission. 
• Accommodation within the park is available at the historic Lodge at Bryce Canyon and two campgrounds. 

Visiting Bryce Canyon National Park

Despite its name, Bryce Canyon is not a canyon. Let’s explain. A canyon is formed from erosion caused by a central stream– the Grand Canyon and the mighty Colorado River in Arizona, for example.

On the other hand, Bryce Canyon, Utah, was formed by a natural weathering phenomenon called frost wedging. This is where water seeps into tiny cracks on a rock, freezes, and thaws, causing the rock to disintegrate. When this happens repeatedly over millions of years, the result is the bizarre-shaped rock columns we see in Bryce Canyon. 

Where is Bryce Canyon National Park?

Bryce Canyon National Park is in southwestern Utah near Bryce Canyon City. The park is about four hours from Salt Lake City and Las Vegas and 2-2.5 hours from Springdale, UT. 

To get to Bryce Canyon National Park from:

Salt Lake City

Take I-15 S towards Las Vegas. After 216 miles, take exit 95 to turn left onto UT-20 E, right onto N Highway 89, and left onto UT-12 E. Follow the signs to the park. 

Las Vegas

Take I-15 N towards Salt Lake City for 205 miles. Take exit 95 to turn right onto UT-20 E and head southeast to N Highway 89, then turn left onto UT-12 E. Follow the signs to the national park. 

From Springdale

Head northeast on UT-9 E for 31.2 miles. Turn left onto US-89 N/State Street at Mt. Carmel junction, then Highway UT-12 E into the park. 

The closest airport to the park is Bryce Canyon Airport, while the closest major airports are Salt Lake City (SLC) and Harry Reid, formerly known as McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas. 

Best Time to Visit Bryce Canyon National Park

From June through September, summer is considered the peak season in Bryce Canyon. Schools are closed, and the weather offers highs in the 80s and lows in the 60s, making it the perfect time for families to explore. If you plan to visit around this time, you’ll need to book rental cars and hotels near Bryce Canyon National Park early enough to beat the crowds. 

The shoulder months of May and October are great for visiting Bryce Canyon National Park without the crowds. The temperatures during the day are pleasant for meandering through the hoodoos, and evenings are ideal for stargazing and campfire stories.

Bryce Canyon offers a different experience in the winter when the hoodoos are covered in snow. The cold season opens up additional activities in the park, including cross-country, snowshoeing, and exploring frozen waterfalls. And thanks to the smaller crowds, there is plenty of parking and excellent photo ops.

Note: Considering Bryce Canyon National Park elevations of 8000 to 9000 feet, you’ll require well-thought-out backpacking and camping checklists. 

Bryce Canyon National Park Camping and Lodging

There are only three places to stay inside Bryce Canyon National Park: The Lodge at Bryce Canyon and two campgrounds.

The Lodge at Bryce Canyon

This historic lodge is the only Bryce Canyon Lodging option. It was built in the 1920s and offers 114 rooms, comprising 70 motel-style rooms, 40 western cabins, and four rooms in the main lodge building. The lodge also features a restaurant, a gift shop, and an auditorium. A general store is within walking distance for all the snacks you need for your hiking trips. 

Completed in the 1920s, the Lodge at Bryce Canyon oozes old-world charm and a rustic feel. In other words, it’s not big on ACs, TVs, and microwaves. The biggest perk, however, is staying within walking distance of the canyon rim.

Bryce Canyon Lodge reservations are not required but are highly recommended. The lodge accepts reservations up to 13 months in advance. 

Bryce Canyon Camping

Bryce Canyon National Park has two tent and RV campgrounds for those who enjoy desert camping: North Campground and Sunset Campground. 

North Campground is a four-minute drive north of the lodging in Bryce Canyon National Park, just opposite the visitor center. The 99-site campground is open year-round and has two loops for tent campers and two others for RVers. There are no hookups, but there’s a dump station only during summer.

South Campground is a 2-minute drive south of the historic lodge. The campground is open seasonally from mid-April through mid-October, offering 100 regular sites and one group site. 

All sites in Bryce Canyon campgrounds are available on a first-come, first-served basis during the off-season. Reservations are necessary from mid-May to early October. There are flushing toilets, running water, and generators are allowed from 8 AM to 8 PM in some of the loops. 

Where to Stay Near Bryce Canyon National Park

It’s nice to stay inside Bryce Canyon National Park if you want to stay in the action. But it’s also not a big deal to stay outside the park. Bryce Canyon is open 24 hours, so no lines of cars are lined up at the gate trying to enter at 8 AM. 

In fact, the best place to stay near Bryce Canyon is just a three-minute drive from the park entrance at Ruby’s Inn.

Ruby’s Inn is a resort with hotel rooms, cabins, RV sites, tent sites, group tent sites, Indian TiPis, swimming pools, etc. They also offer bike and ATV/UTV rentals for all-round family fun. 

Bryce Canyon National Park Itinerary

Here’s our suggestion on how to spend a day in Bryce Canyon National Park. 

Stop in at the Bryce Canyon National Park Visitor Center

The visitor center opens from 8 AM every day and is an excellent place to start your Bryce Canyon visit. It’s about 1.5 miles south of the Bryce National Park sign on UT-63/Bryce Canyon Road. 

The visitor center has everything you’d expect from a busy park, including a store, a gift shop, a museum, first aid, and restrooms. The available park rangers will offer bits of essential information, from the weather to the condition of major Bryce Canyon trails. Remember to have your National Parks Passport stamp here, too! 

Sunrise Point

If you can be in the park before sunrise, skip the visitor center and head to Sunrise Point first. This is where all the action begins as the sun's golden rays hit the hoodoos to bring out their vast, colorful formations. You could spend 30 minutes to an hour simply admiring the views and soaking up the sun. 

Queen’s Garden Trail/Navajo Loop/Sunset Point Hike

There’s no better way to start your day than hiking to the bottom of the hoodoo world. The Queen’s Garden Trail starts around the Sunrise Point area. It zigzags amidst a garden of jaw-dropping rock formations for 0.8 miles to the bottom of the valley.

At the bottom, you can retrace your steps. But we recommend following the connector trail to the Navajo Loop trail, which takes you through a pine forest before ascending the rim to Sunset Point. 

The whole hike is about 2.9 miles and takes you through some of the best things to see in Bryce Canyon National Park. These include the Bryce Amphitheater, Thor’s Hammer, Wall Street, pine forests, and natural arches. 

The Queen’s Garden/Navajo Loop trail typically takes 1.5-2 hours. At Sunset Point, walk along the rim back to Sunrise Point, where you parked your car. 

Grab Lunch at the Lodge at Bryce Canyon

The hike above will put you around noon, depending on when you start your visit. The restaurant at the Lodge at Bryce Canyon is a great place to grab a quick and tasty meal in the world of hoodoos. Directly adjacent to the lodge is Valhalla Pizzeria and Coffee Shop, which serves pizzas, pastries, coffee, beer, and wine. 

Continue the Scenic Drive

After lunch, hop on your car again and continue with the Bryce Canyon scenic drive. This is an 18-mile drive (one way) with 10+ must-see stops, including Piracy Point, Fairview Point, Bryce Natural Point, and Rainbow and Yovimpa Points. 

Best Things to Do and See at Bryce Canyon National Park 

Bryce Canyon National Park Things to Do

Admiring the Hoodoos from the Rim

Bryce Canyon, Utah, has the largest collection of hoodoos in the world. The easiest way to admire these otherworldly rock formations is from the viewpoints along the rim. 

Sleeping Under the Stars

Thinking of camping at Bryce Canyon National Park? Great idea! Thanks to its remote location and high elevation, Bryce Canyon has some of the darkest skies in the nation. As the weather cools down for a comfortable night’s sleep, the skies put on a show of over two million stars, making this the best place for stargazing. 

Hiking

Hiking is one of the top Bryce Canyon things to do. There are six major hikes to explore here:

• Queen’s Garden (1.8 miles one way)
• Rim Trail (0.5 to 5.5 miles one way)
• Navajo Loop Trail (1.4 miles)
• Mossy Cave Trail (0.8 miles)
• Peek-a-Boo Loop Trail (5.5 miles)
• Under the Rim Loop Trail (23 miles one way, shuttle stops available)

Must-See Places to Visit in Bryce Canyon National Park

Sunrise and Sunset Points

These two points offer some of the best views of the hoodoos at sunrise and sunset. Some of the best hikes in Bryce Canyon also start and end around these points. 

Thor’s Hammer

A unique and incredibly photogenic rock formation in the Bryce Amphitheater. It’s accessible via Sunrise and Sunset Points along the Rim Trail. 

Grand Staircase Escalante Monument

A vast and rugged museum of colorful sedimentary rock layers that stretch from Bryce Canyon to the Grand Canyon. 

Final Thoughts

For those who want to check off every national park within the US borders, we can guarantee you’ll have fun at Bryce Canyon National Park. This is a unique place to visit for families, outdoor enthusiasts, geology lovers, and avid hikers.

Regardless of how you choose to experience it (hitting all the viewpoints, camping, hiking, biking, horse riding, or stargazing), this land of hoodoos is sure to leave you in awe!

Featured image by: Bill45.