Your Guide to Bryce Canyon National Park

Due to Utah being home to five national parks and countless outdoor oases, Bryce Canyon has managed to stay somewhat under the radar. Nearby Zion National Park (view guide here) is larger and more accessible, resulting in Bryce getting less than one-third of the number of visitors. Personally, I find this a tragedy! Bryce is one of the most unique national parks in the US and should be on everyone’s itinerary, especially if you’re already planning to visit southern Utah.

What makes Bryce Canyon so special is that the park is characterized by giant geological structures called hoodoos—irregular spires of rock formed by frost weathering and stream erosion. Hoodoos exist on every continent, but Bryce is home to the largest concentration on earth.

I was lucky enough to visit Bryce Canyon this past summer with my husband and some good friends and had an amazing time. Read on to learn my recommendations for planning the perfect trip!

When to Go

The good news is that there is no bad time to visit Bryce. If you’re hoping to avoid crowds, try to plan your trip anytime from October through May. The summer is the most crowded time to visit and can be really hot, especially considering that many of the hikes in Bryce are unshaded. If the cold doesn’t bother you, the winter months shouldn’t be ruled out. Crowds are practically nonexistent and I’ve been told snow covered hoodoos are a sight to behold.

Since our trip was planned around a friend’s 30th birthday, we went to Bryce Canyon in mid-August. Even though we were there in the height of summer, we surprisingly didn’t have any issues with crowds. The park honestly felt fairly empty. To be on the safe side, if you choose to go in the summer months, it’s a good idea to do most of your exploration in the early morning hours or closer to dusk.

How Long to Stay

Bryce packs a lot of beauty in a small area of land. You don’t need that much time to explore the park in order to feel like you’ve gotten the full experience. Our group arrived on a Saturday afternoon, went to the park for sunset, did some hiking and further exploration on Sunday, and were ready to head out by 2:00pm. It didn’t feel rushed and or like we missed anything major. If you want a more leisurely experience, two nights would afford you with some extra down time.

Personally, I think Bryce should just be one stop on a larger itinerary. The park is within a few hours of other top tier attractions including Zion National Park, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Kodachrome Basin, and Vegas. Our group flew into Vegas, headed straight to Zion for two nights, Bryce for one night, and then spent two nights back in Vegas before flying out.

What to Do

Explore the Lookout Points

Despite its name, Bryce Canyon is actually not a canyon, but a collection of giant natural amphitheaters along the eastern side of the Paunsaugunt Plateau. The park’s only road weaves along the top of the plateau which means there are lookout points around every corner.

A great way to get acquainted with the park is to check out the various panoramas at Rainbow Point, Bryce Point, Inspiration Point, and more. There are plenty of parking lots to make jumping in and out of the car easy.

Watch Sunrise or Sunset

Watching a sunrise or sunset at Bryce is an otherworldly experience. Nothing beats seeing the sun cast golden light on the crimson-colored hoodoos. Because the amphitheater faces west, sunrise is undoubtedly the superior experience, however, sunset isn’t a bad alternative. Our group went at sunset because we all needed a bit of rest following two 5am wakeup calls in Zion. Sometimes you need your beauty sleep.

In terms of the best views, you really can’t go wrong with watching the sunrise from any of Bryce’s lookout points. Due to the name, many people end up at Sunrise Point, but I’ve heard it has a tendency to be overcrowded. Try Inspiration Point for a better experience. If you choose to go at sunset like us, Paria View is one of the few places where the rock formations face west to catch the evening light.

Hike Amongst the Hoodoos

A trip to Bryce Canyon isn’t complete without exploring the park’s famous hoodoos up close. We chose to hike Queen’s Garden/Navajo Loop (2.9 miles, 646 ft) in order to see some of the park’s more popular sites including Wall Street and Thor’s Hammer. I recommend starting at Sunrise Point and following the trail clockwise to end up at Sunset Point.

If you have more time, consider adding Peekaboo Loop Trail (5.2 miles, 1,453ft) to your itinerary. The trail goes through another area of the park and is typically less crowded. There is even the option to take the trail on horseback if you’re interested.

Go Stargazing

If you’re interested in astronomy or just a sucker for a good view, Bryce is one of the best places to go stargazing. The national park is a certified dark sky park which translates to exceptional night skies. Head to one of the lookout points a few hours before dawn or after sunset to observe hoodoos silhouetted by the Milky Way.

Where to Stay

There isn’t a lot near Bryce Canyon so deciding where to stay can be… interesting. We decided to get an AirBnB in Panguitch which is a 25 minute drive from the park. Panguitch is nothing to get excited about, but it has the benefit of a few restaurants and a grocery store. The best meal we had was actually breakfast from a small coffee stall called Wanderlust Cowgirl Coffee. Their homemade kolaches were amazing.

There are a few recognizable hotel chains right outside the park, but dining choices in the area are limited. I thought it was worth staying slightly further out, especially considering that Panguitch is west of the park and closer to Zion.

If you’re interested in a bit more adventure, another option is to camp. There are two campgrounds within the park; North Campground and Sunset Campground. North Campground requires reservations in the summer months so be sure to book ahead. Sunset Campground is first-come, first-serve all year round.

Dos & Don’ts

Do get an America the Beautiful National Park Pass

The pass gets you into more than 2,000 federal recreation sites across the country and covers all passengers in a personal vehicle. At $80, it’s a spectacular deal.

Don’t forget to make your camping reservation far in advance

Spots start to book up six months in advance and it can be risky to rely on first come, first served alternatives—especially in the height of summer.

Do pack snacks to take inside the park

If you get hungry, there aren’t a lot of food options inside the park and absolutely none to get excited about. Trust me.

Don’t get a late start on hiking

Even though Bryce doesn’t get as many visitors as other national parks, it’s still a good idea to get an early start. Consider getting to the park for sunrise and starting your hike shortly after.

Bryce Canyon exceeded my expectations in every way. It’s one of the most unique national parks in the US and should be on everyone’s bucket list. Hopefully my recommendations are helpful, but as always, if you have any questions, feel free to drop me a note! Enjoy your trip!

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My name is Kolby Tallentire and I’m the creator of Tallentire Travels. This site formed out of my unending love of travel. My goal is to bring you the most unique and affordable travel recommendations for every destination. Learn More