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Bryce Canyon National Park is my favorite stop on a road trip of Utah’s Mighty 5 National Parks. It blew me away with its jaw-dropping views, candy corn colored hoodoos and sweeping vistas. It’s truly unlike any other place on earth. If this is your first time heading to Bryce Canyon, you are in for a full day (or week) of stunning beauty.

Park History

On June 8, 1923 Bryce Canyon National Monument was established to preserve the “unusual scenic beauty, scientific interest and importance.” On February 25, 1928 after being acquired by the National Park Service and became what is known today as Bryce Canyon National Park and is comprised of a total of 35, 835 acres.

From here you get some of the world’s best air quality, views of 3 different states and 200 miles worth of visibility. Like I said, there is no other place on the planet quite like Bryce Canyon National Park.

General Park Information

Park Entrance

Bryce Canyon National Park, UT-63, Bryce, Utah 84764

Hours of Operation

The park itself is open 24-hours a day but some of its buildings run on various set hours.

Visitor center: 8 am – 8 pm

Shuttle services

Though riding the free park shuttle is not mandatory it helps keep traffic congestion down significantly. You can park in the lots near the visitor center when you arrive and hop on the bus to take you just about anywhere in the park.

With limited parking in some of the look-offs the shuttle makes getting around less stressful. For more information on shuttle times or changes to the shuttle schedule, make sure to check the National Park Service site before your visit.

Park Accessibility

There are many areas within Bryce Canyon National Park that are accessible. For a complete list of accessible locations visit the National Park Service site.

Best time to visit

Like most of the National Park the peak season is in the summer months. If you visit in early fall you have the opportunity to hike the trails without the crowds, there is plenty of parking and you have the quiet to explore the incredible surreal beauty of the park.

The park is open year-round and the winter months are another great season to check out the snow-capped hoodoos and see the park in a different light. Though be aware that hiking some of the slot canyons and fins can be a bit more treacherous when they have a layer of snow on them.

Passes and fees

Depending if you are staying for the whole week or looking for a season pass will depend on the fee.

Private vehicle (good for 7 days): $35

No vehicle (per person; good for 7 days): $20

Or, if you are staying in Utah, a season pass to Bryce Canyon National Park is only $40.

If you plan to do more than just the one park I highly recommend getting the American the Beautiful pass. If you are planning to visit all 5 of Utah’s National Parks and maybe some others in the country, this pass will pay for itself ($80).

Getting there

If you are flying in to hike Bryce Canyon National Park you have a couple of options. Both Las Vegas and Salt Lake City are about 270 miles away. Though, as I recommended in my Ultimate Guide to Zion National Park, the best way to get there is through Las Vegas, which offers some great budget car rentals and hotels for when you arrive.

Where to stay

It can be tough to find places to stay in or near Bryce Canyon National Park between April-October due to high demand. If you are willing to drive a little in the morning to get to the park, Panguitch is a great little town and the best place to find reasonable accommodation.

Hotels

Depending on the time of year and if you are looking for luxury or something on a budget there are several options.

Budget:

In the winter you are more likely to find cheaper accommodation but the Moon Guide suggests Foster’s Motel, now known as Bryce UpTop Lodge ($72/night) and Bryce View Lodge ($60-70/night).

Hostels

Once again, the Cowboy Bunkhouse comes up as the hostel for this park, similar to Zion National Park.

Camping

As I mentioned above, getting a campsite in Bryce Canyon National Park between April-October can be a challenge. But if you are willing to go during the shoulder season you can find some amazing sites.

There are two campgrounds, the North Campground, which is first come first serve and the Sunset Campground, which requires a reservation. Both campgrounds have the same fees where tents it’s $20/night and RVs it’s $30/night.

Backcountry camping is also an option, and a popular one. It does require a permit that can be purchased from the Visitor Center for $5. You must pay in cash and be over 16 years old. There are 7 campsites on the 22.9-mile Under-the-Rim trail and 3 campsites on the 8.8-mile Riggs Spring Loop Trail.

Make sure to check the park website for information on water locations and bears and wildlife as well as the rules for backcountry camping.

What to eat

For several eating options visit Bryce Canyon City. There is a surprising amount of good dining in this area depending on what you are looking for.

For that authentic feeling that is also named after Bryce Canyons namesake, check out Ebenezer’s Barn and Grill. A couple of other favorites include Bryce Canyon Pines Restaurant and Ruby’s Inn.

Best Hikes

Depending on the type of hiking you are looking for, like longer hikes or day hikes, Bryce Canyon offers a whole host of variety. One of the best things to do that doesn’t require hiking is to check out the various overlooks. You can still see the incredible sweeping vistas without doing any type of strenuous hiking.

Easy to Moderate Hikes

Rim Trail

This easy trail is long but gives you are great view of Bryce Amphitheater. Most people do small sections of this 11-mile trail, starting at either Bryce Point or Fairyland Point.

Queen’s Garden Trail

What I like about this area is you can do parts of multiple trails as once, including the Rim Trail and the Navajo Loop Trail. This easy to moderate 1.8-mile trail starts at Inspiration Point and heads down into the hoodoos. If you are interested, the feature of this trail is a portly hoodoo resembling Queen Victoria.

Navajo Loop Trail

Personally, I preferred the Navajo Loop Trail of these three options. Though it’s a bit strenuous going through the switchbacks the view of Thor’s Hammer is definitely worth it. When we hiked this area, we started on the Peekaboo Trail and connected to the Queen’s Garden and Navajo Trails going all the way to Fairyland Point, where we did some more hiking (see below).

Difficult Hikes

If you are looking for something that’s a bit more of a challenge, and a little less overcrowded there are several longer trails available.

Fairyland Loop Trail

I loved this trail. Starting at Fairyland Point, this 8-mile loop is so stunning with its candy corn colored rocks and varied terrain. We saw maybe 5 other people total on this trail (in October) and every corner brought about another photo opportunity. I personally, don’t find this a strenuous hike but I can understand why it is considered as such.

Peekaboo Loop Trail

This was my first glimpse of Bryce Canyon (did I mention Bryce Canyon was my favorite of Utah’s Mighty 5?). The trail starts at Inspiration Point and I highly recommend starting early so you can see the sun as it spills over the valley and the hoodoos. I almost cried it was so beautiful. From here, as I mentioned above, you can hook onto the Navajo Trail and the Queen’s Garden Trail to extend your hike.

Under-the-Rim Trail

If you are looking for a multiday hike, make sure to check out the Under-the-Rim trail. This trail is 23-miles one way and has an elevation gain of 1,500-ft. Spanning from Bryce Point to Rainbow Point this is the longest trail in the park. Though you can combine it with the Riggs Spring Loop Trail for a total of 31.5-miles.

Concluding Thoughts

I can’t say enough about how much I love this park. It is beyond words beautiful, so go visit. It also makes a great trip when you combine it with a visit to Zion National Park.