All the tips you need to spend one day in Bryce Canyon National Park. From the best viewpoints over this park’s typical rock formations to short trails that allow you to see the park from another perspective. Find out all the best things to do in Bryce Canyon!

Bryce Canyon may be a small park, but it is one of the most surprising national parks in the Southwest. The landscapes are breathtaking at any time of year!

What is so characteristic of the Bryce Canyon landscape and attracts so many visitors are its rock formations, known as hoodoos. Hoodoos are tall, narrow rock spires formed by erosion. This type of formation exists in various places around the world (such as Cappadocia in Turkey), but it is in Bryce Canyon that we find a larger concentration of this type of rock formation.

💡 EXTRA TIP: Would you like to learn more about how hoodoos are formed? Then I suggest reading more about it on the official Bryce Canyon website.

The name of these formations is also related to Hoodoo spirituality, according to which certain natural forms have powers. In fact, many of these formations in Bryce Canyon were considered by Native Americans to be the petrified remains of living beings who had been punished for bad behaviour.

The area where the park is located was colonised by Mormon pioneers at the end of the 19th century and is named after Ebenezer Bryce who settled there. Bryce Canyon was first considered a national monument and it wasn’t until 1928 that it was established as a national park.

In this post, you’ll find a Bryce Canyon guide, including the best things to do in Bryce Canyon in one day, but also other useful information such as:

• How much time to spend at Bryce Canyon
• Best time to visit Bryce Canyon National Park
• Best Bryce Canyon hikes
• Best places to stay in Bryce Canyon

Bryce Canyon is located in the south of Utah, in the United States. It’s not exactly close to any of the big cities in the United States and these are the driving distances from the nearest major cities:

• Las Vegas – 3h50 (229 mi/368 km)
• Salt Lake City – 3h50 (268 mi/431 km)

Zion National Park is one of the most popular national parks in the United States and is about 1 hour and a half drive from Bryce Canyon. Thus, these parks are usually visited together.

Bryce Canyon is well worth a visit! It’s no coincidence that I say Bryce Canyon was my favourite national park on my road trip through the national parks of the Southwest 🥰.

The Hoodoo Amphitheatre is a sight you’ll never forget! As well as stunning scenery throughout the park, its relatively small size helps to ensure that you don’t feel overwhelmed with what to include in a visit. Plus, if you decide only to visit it for half a day or one day, you won’t feel like you’re missing out on too much.

What’s more, I’m not the only one who feels this way. Of the many people I spoke to who made a similar trip through US National Parks, they all loved Bryce Canyon! So if there’s one national park in the United States you shouldn’t miss, it’s this one!!!

Bryce Canyon is located at a fairly high altitude (over 2400 metres/8000 ft) and for this reason, the temperatures in the park are quite low all year round.

In winter, it even snows, so some trails (or parts of them) are closed. However, although the snow might be inconvenient to those who visit Bryce Canyon, the truth is that it makes the landscapes even more magical. The snow-covered hoodoos are even more special 😍.

So, the best time to go to Bryce Canyon is probably spring (April to June) and autumn (September and October). As well as the temperatures being more bearable in these months, the park receives fewer tourists. July and August are when the temperatures are highest, but this is also the time with the most visitors in the park. In addition, July and August are also the wettest months.

To give you an idea, I visited in the first half of April and there was still snow in the park, so some trails were closed. What’s more, it was freezing when I visited (0 °C/32 °F, with a real feel of -5 °C/23 °F).

Temperatures are more acceptable during the day, especially if you’re hiking any of the trails. However, if you’re planning to visit Bryce Canyon, the best advice I can give you is to take warm clothes, as you’ll really need them 😉. Check out the official website for more information on the weather in Bryce Canyon.

Bryce Canyon is a small park, covering just 145 square kilometres. So, the ideal duration to visit the main attractions in Bryce Canyon is between half a day to one full day.

In half a day, you’ll have the opportunity to visit the best viewpoints in the Bryce Canyon amphitheatre and also hike what is probably the best trail in Bryce Canyon National Park.

If you have a full day to visit the park, you can extend your visit to lesser-known places in the park and take the opportunity to hike other trails, for example.

In my case, I ended up spending just one morning in the park and that was all I needed to see the main sights. So, in the section of this article where I mention what to do in Bryce National Park, you’ll find a half-day and a full-day version of the itinerary.

You have to pay to enter Bryce Canyon. There are various entrance tickets and passes available. For example, entrance fees with a private vehicle are 35 USD (the price is per vehicle, not per person). This entrance fee gives you access to the park for 7 days! There is also an annual pass which costs 70 USD.

However, if you wish to visit other national parks in the United States, other options are more worthwhile. One such example is the America the Beautiful annual pass. This pass costs 80 USD per vehicle and is valid for one year for all the national parks in the country. Given the average price of entry to the various parks, you only need to visit 3 national parks in a year to make it worth buying America the Beautiful! More information about the passes is available here.

Any of these tickets or passes can be bought at the entrances to the various national parks. I should warn you, however, that some entrances/parks may only accept card payments. In the case of Bryce Canyon, they accept both card and cash payments. You can also buy your entrance tickets online if you wish to spend less time queuing to enter the park😉.

If you choose to buy the America the Beautiful annual pass, once you’ve bought it, you’ll need to show your pass and ID when entering each park, as the pass is non-transferable.

The mobile coverage in Bryce Canyon is quite spotty, so you should be prepared for not having access to the internet. I suggest downloading the park’s map beforehand so that it’s available offline on Google Maps.

Alternatively, there is free Wi-Fi in the park, but only in the Visitor Centre. The areas of the park where you’re most likely to get mobile coverage are the Visitor Centre and the Bryce Amphitheatre viewpoints.

The closest airport to Bryce Canyon is Cedar City, which is about 1 hour and 40 minutes by car from Bryce Canyon. This airport has connections with some major cities in the United States, such as Salt Lake City, Philadelphia, Austin, Phoenix, Boston, Seattle, San Francisco, Chicago, Miami, Los Angeles, New York, among others.

The airport also has some connections with cities in Canada and Mexico, but the connections are mostly domestic.

Since Las Vegas is one of the larger cities “closest” to Bryce Canyon, there are several tours available to visit Bryce Canyon from Las Vegas. Most tours combine a visit to Bryce Canyon with the nearby Zion National Park. These are some examples of tours available from Las Vegas:

Bryce Canyon has only one entrance. Although the park is open 24 hours a day, the ticket booth at the entrance is not open 24/7. So if you arrive at the park early (to watch the sunrise, for example), there probably won’t be anyone at the entrance. In that case, you’ll have to pay the entrance fee (or show a pass, if have one) when you exit the park.

Although Bryce Canyon is a relatively small park, the distance between the main attractions requires a car to help you get around. Unlike other parks in the United States, in this park, a standard vehicle should be fine, and you don’t need a high-clearance vehicle.

However, during the park’s most popular months, there is a free shuttle service to get around the park. Unlike other national parks (e.g. Zion National Park or the Grand Canyon), it is not mandatory to use this service to get around the park. However, in the busiest months, it can be difficult to find parking in the various car parks inside Bryce Canyon.

Most visitors arrive at the park between 9 am and 10 am, so if you plan to arrive after that time, the shuttle should be something to consider.

💡 EXTRA TIP: When I visited Bryce Canyon, I was doing a road trip through other national parks in the United States. There’s no doubt that renting a car was the best option, as it gave me a lot of freedom to prepare my itinerary. I rented a Toyota RAV4 from Avis in Los Angeles and really enjoyed their service. Although I didn’t need this feature for what I visited in Bryce Canyon, I paid a bit more and decided to rent a high-clearance vehicle, which is an excellent option if you want to drive on some of the dirt roads that exist in the US national parks.

The Bryce Canyon shuttle service runs from April to mid-October and is included in the park’s admission fee. It operates from 8 am to 6 pm, except in the busiest months when it runs until 8 pm. In any case, it’s always best to confirm the shuttle’s operating hours in advance.

On average, buses arrive every 15 minutes and cover the main stops inside the park, but also some in Bryce Canyon City, outside the park. In the image below, you can see which stops are included in this service:

One of the best ways to take advantage of this service is to park your car at the Shuttle Station in Bryce Canyon City and travel around the park using the shuttle. In the months with more tourists, this may even be the best option to avoid possible traffic inside the park and difficulty finding parking.

In my case, as I visited at the beginning of April, the park wasn’t very crowded yet and I ended up not using this service, opting instead to drive around inside the park.

Bryce Canyon City is an excellent option for looking for accommodation outside the park and this is where some of the best places to stay near Bryce Canyon are located. You can also use the shuttle bus to get to the park and also to explore its main points of interest.

In my case, I chose to stay at Bryce View Lodge. This accommodation is a basic motel and I confess that the main reason for choosing it was its proximity to the park entrance, as it’s less than 10 minutes away by car.

Anyway, the room was comfortable and breakfast was included. The price for one night for two people was 75€.

The small town of Tropic is another of the best places to stay near Bryce Canyon, as it’s less than 15 minutes by car from the park’s entrance.

In any case, I’d like to share some additional suggestions for accommodation near Bryce Canyon:

There is also accommodation inside the park – Bryce Canyon Lodge, which is usually open from Spring to Autumn. As this is the only accommodation inside the park, if this is where you want to stay, you should book as far in advance as possible.

Alternatively, it is also possible to camp at Bryce Canyon. There are two campsites: North Campground and Sunset Campground. North Campground is open all year round, while the other campground is closed from November to April. At certain times of the year, you have to book a place at the campsite. I suggest you read the updated information on camping in Bryce Canyon.

Unlike other parks in the United States, it is possible to buy food and have meals inside Bryce Canyon. Some of the places where you can eat are:

• Bryce Canyon Lodge: is open almost all year round and serves breakfast, lunch and dinner
• General Store: on-the-go food and drink options
• Valhalla Pizzeria and Coffee Shop: only open in high season and serves mostly pizzas

Despite the availability of these options, my suggestion, should you choose to have a meal at Bryce Canyon, is to pack a picnic. After all, it’s not every day that you can eat with a view like this! There are several places equipped for picnics at Bryce Canyon.

Alternatively, there are some restaurant options in Bryce Canyon City. For example, I had a meal at Bryce Canyon Pines Restaurant and the prices were relatively affordable.

When you enter Bryce Canyon, you will receive a map of the park. However, I’d like to share a map of the main area of the park to help you plan your visit in advance.

Given the size of the park, the top things to do in Bryce Canyon can be visited in half a day. So I’m going to divide this one-day Bryce Canyon itinerary into two parts: morning and afternoon. In the morning, I’ll include those places that are absolutely a must-visit and, in the afternoon, I’ll include other places that are less well-known but also interesting for those who have more time available.

Bryce Canyon is particularly beautiful at sunrise. So I suggest starting the day early to watch the sunrise from one of the viewpoints over the Bryce Amphitheatre 🥰. In my case, for example, I chose to watch the sunrise, return to the accommodation for breakfast and then return to the park later to continue visiting!

Start the day watching the sunrise from Sunrise Point. This viewpoint is one of several viewpoints in the Bryce Amphitheatre. The car park is very close to the viewpoint, which can be visited in just a few minutes. However, I doubt you won’t be mesmerised by the scenery and extend your visit a little longer.

One of the best trails in Bryce Canyon is the Navajo Loop, which can be combined with the Queen’s Garden Trail. This trail is simply marvellous and a way to get a closer look at the hoodoos. If seeing these magnificent rock formations from the viewpoints is an unforgettable experience, wait until you get down to the valley where you can get closer to them.

You can start this trail at either Sunrise or Sunset Point. Since it’s the most popular trail in the park, you’ll find a lot of tourists here. If you want to ensure a visit with as few people as possible, start this trail as early as possible.

Some of the main attractions on the route are Thor’s Hammer (one of the park’s most popular rock formations), Two Bridges and Wall Street (a slot canyon).

I suggest parking at Sunset Point, taking part of the Rim Trail (0.8 km/0.5 mi) to Sunrise Point and from there taking the Queen’s Garden Trail (2.7 km/1.7 mi) to the Navajo Loop. On the Navajo Loop, you can climb back up to Sunset Point via Wall Street (1.1 km/0.7 mi) or through the other part of the trail (1 km/0.6 mi) where you’ll find the Two Bridges and Thor’s Hammer. The Wall Street part is closed in winter. The trail can also be walked in reverse order.

💡 EXTRA TIP: If you don’t want to hike up the valley, but would like to do a trail in the park, I suggest what is probably one of the best hikes in Bryce Canyon for this type of situation. It’s the trail that connects Sunset to Sunrise Point and is only 1.6 kilometres (1 mi) long with little elevation gain. This trail is part of a larger trail (Rim Trail) that connects various viewpoints in the park.

Useful information about the trail

• Start of the trail: Sunrise Point or Sunset Point
• Distance: 4.6 km (2.9 mi)
• Recommended duration: 2 to 3 hours
• Difficulty: moderate due to some of the trail’s uphill sections
• Elevation: 191 meters (625 ft)
• Parking is available at Sunrise Point or Sunset Point car parks
• Part of the Navajo Loop is closed in winter (the Wall Street part)

Sunset Point is another of Bryce Canyon’s viewpoints. The views are similar to those from Sunrise Point, but I personally enjoyed this one more.

Time to head towards another viewpoint – Inspiration Point. Unlike the last two viewpoints, this one is wider and the perfect place to admire the large number of hoodoos in Bryce Canyon.

There are actually two viewpoints. One is the Upper Inspiration Point and the other Lower Inspiration Point. Both have similar views and are worth it!

And to finish off this morning in Bryce Canyon, drive a few more minutes to Bryce Point. This is also a wider viewpoint where you can see the true size of the Bryce Amphitheatre. To say that the landscape is beautiful is an understatement 🥰!

If you have more time on your hands, then there are more places you can add to the list of what to see in Bryce Canyon. Remember that these are lesser-known points of interest that can be skipped for those who have less time to visit the park.

There is a road of about 28 km (18 mi) that crosses Bryce Canyon. All the viewpoints I suggest visiting in the morning are located on the first 5 km (3 mi) of this road. So, if you decide to extend your visit during the afternoon, I recommend driving the rest of this road to Rainbow Point and Yovimpa Point. These viewpoints are also the highest in the park.

On the way to these two viewpoints, you can also stop to admire Natural Bridge – a kind of natural arch. All these spots are easily accessible!

There are other stops along the Southern Scenic Drive, but these are the ones that look the most interesting!

And because one of the most incredible ways to enjoy this park is by hiking, I suggest choosing one of the other trails in the park to end this Bryce Canyon National Park itinerary. Here are some suggestions:

The trail starts at Bryce Point and is a loop hike of 8.9 km (5.5 mi). It’s a trail that allows you to descend into the valley and get a closer look at the hoodoos. The recommended time for the trail is 3 to 4 hours and it looks like a lot of fun.

Part of the longer Fairyland Loop trail (12.9 km/8 mi), the Tower Bridge trail is an out-and-back trail to the Tower Bridge hoodoo. The trail is 4.8 km/3 mi long and the recommended duration is 2 to 3 hours.

A less popular trail of around 6.4 km/4 mi and an elevation of 420 metres/1380 ft. The recommended time for this trail is between 3 and 4 hours, and this is a linear trail. The starting point is Bryce Point and the hoodoos visible on this trail appear to have a kind of hat, hence the name of the trail 😁.

Although it’s one of the shortest trails in the park (1.3 km/0.8 mi), this is another of Bryce Canyon’s best-known hikes. An hour is enough to walk the trail and its main attractions are Water Canyon and Mossy Cave, where there is a waterfall in summer and icicles in winter. If you opt for this short trail only, you’ll have time to add something else to your itinerary.

If you choose to spend just one day in Bryce Canyon National Park and do this trail, I would follow the morning plan and just do this hike in the afternoon! The trail is about 12.9 km/8 mi long and has an elevation of 579 metres/1380 ft, which makes it a demanding trail. Given how demanding the hike is, it’s one of the least crowded trails in the park. The recommended time for this trail is between 4 and 5 hours.

Hiking in Bryce Canyon National Park is an interesting activity! However, depending on the weather conditions at the time of your visit, you should take some aspects into consideration. These are some of the park’s official recommendations:

• Bryce Canyon is located at an altitude of over 2400 metres, so it’s usually cold. You should wear suitable clothing, especially in winter.
• In winter and early spring, the park has several areas covered in snow and/or mud. Wear appropriate footwear and walk carefully.
• Some trails or parts of them are closed during the colder months. It is essential to comply with the rules defined by the park.
• Ensure the necessary hydration while hiking any trail.
• Given the altitude at which the park is located, it’s normal to feel more tired when walking the trails. Take this into account when planning your itinerary.
• On days with fewer hours of daylight, make sure you return from the trail when there is still light since it gets dark earlier.
• Especially in July and August, watch out for thunderstorms. If it thunders, seek shelter in a building or car, avoiding trees, hoodoos or other tall objects.
• If you’re going to walk a trail alone, tell someone you know that you’re doing it.

Finally, don’t forget the Leave No Trace principle, by complying with its 7 principles: prepare your visit in advance, dispose of rubbish in appropriate places, leave everything the same way as you found it, minimise the impact of any campfires, respect wildlife, be respectful to other visitors and comply with the camping rules.

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