Though it’s the smallest of southern Utah’s national parks, Bryce Canyon stands among the most prized. But despite its name, is not a canyon, but a collection of giant natural amphitheaters along the eastern side of the Paunsaugunt Plateau. Repeated freezes and thaws have eroded soft sandstone and limestone into a unique landscape, among which sandcastle spires, known as hoodoos, are the most famous. Hoodoos exist on every continent, but here is the largest concentration found anywhere on Earth. Bryce Canyon National Park sits at a much higher elevation than nearby Zion National Park. High altitude means cooler temperatures than other Utah parks. Since the park is relatively small, you can see a lot in just one day, but there is still a lot more to explore if you would like to stay longer.

→BEFORE YOU GO

RESEARCH – Before you go, search for the places you want to see, things you want to do… Most important pieces of information you can find on a U.S. National Park Service site, a lot of interesting stuff and personal experiences from fellow travelers and bloggers, and my favorite, travel guidebooks. You never know whether you’ll have a reception on your phone, so it’s good to have some paper maps in your hand. I get most of my books from Book Depository. A lot of great information you can also find on Bryce Canyon Country site.
 

ENTRANCE FEE – Like in other National Parks, there is also an entrance fee, 35$ per vehicle for 7 days. If you are planning to visit more National Parks or even some recreation areas, I recommend buying an Annual Pass, America the Beautiful. It costs 80$, valid for a year and covers the pass owner and three accompanying adults. You can buy it when entering the park, or online at USGS Store or at Rei.

TRANSPORTATION – Most people arrive in their own car. In summer can get crowded so take advantage of the park’s free shuttle buses, which stop at all of the major sights and trailheads. It’s best to come early to park in some of the bigger parking spots, for example at Inspiration Point, and then walk around or use the shuttle. If you want to go all the way to Rainbow point, it’s easier to go by car, and just stop along the sights near the road all the way.

WHEN TO GO – The park is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Temperatures from May to August are moderately hot, afternoon thundershowers are common in late summer. From September to October are mild days, but you still need a warm coat. Winter is very cold with snow on the ground.

→WHERE TO STAY

If you are staying in Bryce for more days, it’s best to sleep in the park. The historic Lodge at Bryce Canyon and its surrounding structures are located a short walk from the park’s iconic Bryce Amphitheater and offer 114 rooms including lodge suites, motel rooms, and cabins. Reservations are highly recommended. The Park also has two campgrounds, North and Sunset, located in close proximity to the visitor center, Bryce Canyon Lodge and the geologic wonder that is the Bryce Amphitheater. Sites fill by early afternoon during the summer months. You can also stay in different lodges and motels/hotels outside the park.

BRYCE GATEWAY CABINS – this is a place where we stayed last year, it was the cheapest place we could find at the time near the park. It cost 235,17 USD for two nights for a cabin with two queen size beds. These cabins are in a quiet place just 20 minutes drive from Bryce Canyon National Park.
PANGUITCH ESCAPE – This is a holiday house located in Panguitch, and offers accommodation for up to 10 people. Very nicely equipped and just around 30km from the Bryce Canyon.
BEST WESTERN PLUS RUBY’S INN – This one is really close to the park, located just 1,6 km from Bryce Canyon National Park. Each room at this hotel is air-conditioned and comes with a TV. Every room is equipped with a private bathroom. Superior rooms feature a spa bath or a hot tub. Best Western Plus Ruby’s Inn features an on-site gift shop and general store boasting an impressive selection of authentic, southwestern Native American arts and crafts. Guests can also find food, camping gear, clothing and more.
BYBEE’S STEPPINGSTONE MOTEL – This is a simple motel with very good prices, located in Tropic, just around 15 minutes from the park. Each air-conditioned room is equipped with a microwave, a small refrigerator and an electric kettle at Bybee’s Steppingstone Motel. An en suite bathroom equipped with a hairdryer is also included. So it’s just enough for a short stay.

→WHAT TO DO & SEE IN 1 DAY

INSPIRATION POINT

Park your car at the parking spot near the Inspiration point. It’ best to come early to get a parking spot easier, or to watch the sunrise. This is just a really short walk from the parking to this amazing view.
”The viewpoint at Inspiration Point consists of three levels that provide varied spectacular perspectives of the main amphitheater. From here, visitors look toward the Silent City (near Sunset Point) with its many rows of seemingly frozen hoodoos set against the backdrop of Boat Mesa. All who look out from this point are bound to be inspired, considering the intricacies of the hoodoos and their formation through the erosion of the Claron Formation.” (- www.nps.gov/brca)

SUNSET POINT

From Inspiration Point hike to Sunset Point. This is just a short walk. “Sunset Point offers vistas of some of the most famous and breathtaking of Bryce Canyon’s hoodoos. Directly below the point and to the south, the Silent City rises from the canyon floor. This is a maze of hoodoos and fins packed in tight formation. Just below the overlook on the northern edge, Thor’s Hammer stands alone. Striking in form due to its isolation from other hoodoos, Thor’s Hammer is a favorite among visitors.”
From there you can start your next hike, Navajo Loop.

NAVAJO LOOP

Navajo Trail begins at Sunset Point and travels down into the main amphitheater. It passes alongside Thor’s hammer, beneath Two Bridges, a pair of small water carved arches and through Wall Street, a narrow canyon with steep rock walls. There were quite a few rocks falls in the past in part of this trail, so it could happen that half of the trail is closed. The trail is moderate to sometimes strenuous, but not too long, it takes around 1-2 hours.
When we were there, the Wall Street part of the loop was closed, due to rock fall. So we decided to do the Navajo + Queen’s Garden Combination.

NAVAJO LOOP + QUEEN’S GARDEN COMBINATION

Although Navajo Loop is spectacular all through the hike, it is very steep to hike back up. So the easier way is to hike down on the Navajo trail, and then continue back through Queen’s Garden trail. Another advantage of taking this trail is that you spend time on the canyon floor, where tall pines provide shade. This whole trail takes around 2-3 hours, and you finish at the Sunrise Point.
 

SUNRISE POINT

“The view to the northeast from Sunrise Point captures Boat Mesa and the Sinking Ship, set against the stark Pink Cliffs of the Aquarius Plateau. Boat Mesa, capped by the resistant rock called “The Conglomerate at Boat Mesa,” rises above the hoodoos of Fairyland Canyon to an elevation of 8073 feet.”
You can take a short break here. There is Bryce Canyon General Store, shuttle bus stop, restrooms, drinking water, showers, laundry, Snack Bar… There is also a parking spot, but it’s usually quickly full.

RIM TRAIL

Two whole Rim trail actually stretches from Bryce Point to Fairyland Point, distance is around 9km one way, and it takes around 2-3h. It an easy, sometimes moderate trail. You can take a part of this trail from Sunrise Point to Inspiration Point, where you have parked your car. This is around 2,3km one way and it takes around 35 minutes.

BRYCE POINT

If you have time, you can hike a little more, to Bryce Point. Or you can go by car. It might get hard to get a parking spot, but this is just a viewpoint, and many visitors don’t stay too long.
“From Bryce Point, one of the most scenic vistas of the full amphitheater and all its wonders amaze the visitor. Bryce Point is famous for its extraordinary sunrises. From here you can watch the tops of hoodoos set alight as if by fire from the first rays of the rising sun. Like fire, the orange light quickly spreads driving shadows from all but the deepest recesses of the amphitheater.”

DRIVING THE BRYCE CANYON SCENIC DRIVE

From Inspiration Point where you left your car, you can now drive all the way to the end of the park, to Rainbow Point. This takes around 25 minutes one way. First, stop at the Rainbow Point. Then continue driving back and stop at all the interesting viewpoints you would like to see. There are a lot of viewpoints accessible just a few steps from the parking place, but there are also some trails. There is not to miss a Yovimpa Point, Black Birch Canyon, Agua Canyon, two large formations of precariously balanced, top-heavy hoodoos that could tip at any time, Natural Bridge and so much more.