Bryce Canyon National Park is located in Bryce Canyon City, UT. It is massive at a whopping 36,000 acres. Each year over 2 million visitors take to Bryce Canyon to experience its natural beauty and unique hoodoo formations. Inside the park there are paved roads and large parking lots making it easier for visitors to drive around and find a good spot before setting off on their daily hike or activity.
Unique to Bryce Canyon National park are the hoodoos. Hoodoos are located on every continent, but according to the National Park Service, Bryce Canyon National Park is home to the largest concentration found anywhere on Earth. These are tall spire rock formations with irregular, jagged edges caused by erosion. The canyon is full of hoodoos and as you take trails down into the canyon, hikers are able to see them up close, some even have arches and pathways carved directly through them. The hoodoos are the main attraction of this park and create a place like nowhere else in the world.
Welcome sign into Bryce Canyon National Park!
TIPS FOR THE PARK
Check out the National Park Service (NPS) website for all park permits, fees, and reservations prior to arrival.
Start your day at the visitor center and familiarize yourself with the NPS Park Map
Get there early for sunrise and stay late for sunset! The sunrise/sunset over the hoodoos is pure magic.
Bring a jacket- even in the warmer weather the mornings and nights can get chilly.
A lot of the hikes go down into the canyon, but if you don't want to tackle the steep elevation, there are breathtaking rim trail hikes.
Be prepared for the heat, stay hydrated, and pack accordingly.
Leave no trace!
WHERE TO STAY
Lucky for visitors, Bryce Canyon National Park is located in Bryce Canyon City, UT which has a small downtown area to explore. It's a less than 10min drive to the park entrance. We'd recommend finding a hotel in the area to call home base. We stayed at the Best Western Plus in Bryce Canyon City and had a great experience. There's a pool, laundry facility, and it offers breakfast.
If you plan to do Bryce Canyon National Park within the same trip as Zion National Park, we'd recommend staying in Kanab, UT. It's about a 1.5 hour drive from both national parks and provides a more centralized location. The drive is beautiful and through Utah's countryside so it's not as painful as it sounds.
WHAT TO DO
Hike - Explore the various walking trails hiking around, down, and and through the canyon.
Drive - Take the paved park roads and pull off in the various view points.
Camp - Reserve a campsite through the National Park Service and spend a night at Bryce.
Horseback Riding - Third party companies offer g guided tour down into the canyon.
SITES TO SEE
Sunset to Sunrise Trail
Length: 1.0 mile
Difficulty: Easy, low impact
Detail: Park in the parking lot at sunset point
The sunset to sunrise trail is a low impact walk along the rim of Bryce Canyon. Visitors can park in any parking lot along the trail to quickly access any point through paved roads. There are fences along the walkway for safety looking into the canyon in most areas. There are also benches and tower viewers along the walkway should you want to stop for a good view.
Good views from the Sunrise to Sunset Trail along the rim on the canyon looking down.
Queens Garden Trail
Length: 1.8 mile
Difficulty: Moderate, moderate impact
Detail: Starts at sunrise point and hike down into the canyon, connects with the Navajo Loop.
The Queens Garden-Navajo Loop is the most popular hike in Bryce Canyon National Park. The Queens Garden portion begins at sunrise point, then visitors can descend down the winding walkways into the canyon. The path is not paved, but it is smooth and widely carved out. It is challenging, but accessible for all ages. Take note of the hoodoos all around you while you head down into the canyon.
Eye spy with my little eye a rock formation of Queen Victoria.
Navajo Loop
Length: 1.3 mile
Difficulty: Moderate, moderate impact
Detail: Starts at sunset point and hike down into the canyon, connects with the Queens Garden Trail.
The Navajo Loop is a moderate hike that descends down into Bryce Canyon and connects with the Queens Garden Trail. The hoodoos are the star of the show, but popular stops on the Navajo Loop are Thor's Hammer, Wall Street, and Two Bridges. Eventually, you'll make the 550ft hike back up and out of the canyon. On a hot day, this hike up can be exhausting. Be considerate of the time of the day you're visiting and the appropriate gear required.
Left to right: Thors Hammer, Two Bridges, and the hike down into the canyon
Bryce Amphitheater
The sunlight over the hoodoos created the dreamiest colors of reds, pinks, and blues. If you're able to catch the sunrise or sunset over the amphitheater, we highly recommend.
Sunset over Bryce Canyon Amphitheater.
NEARBY
Located in Kanab, this is a great BBQ spot offering western vibes and a relaxed atmosphere.
Located in Kabab, this was a great bakery offering coffee, lattes, and fresh baked goods.
Located in Bryce Canyon City, this restaurant gets full quickly, but has plenty of seating and a buffet style dinner.
Located in Bryce, this casual dining spot offers variety of Utah's finest brews and gives you that home-cooked meal that you're looking for.
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