Check out these 15 incredible Bryce Canyon National Park Hikes and viewpoints that you won’t want to miss, plus detailed information about visiting this stunning Utah park!
Bryce Canyon National Park, located in southern Utah, is an incredible place to visit!
It boasts the largest collection of hoodoos on the planet through a series of natural amphitheaters. If you don’t know what a hoodoo is, it is the official term for the tall rocky columns that you will see throughout the park.
Bryce Canyon is one of the smallest National Parks in the United States, so you can see most of the park in just a couple of days. You can even see many of the best highlights if you only have one day to visit the park. You could easily add a visit to Bryce Canyon into a longer National Parks road trip.
In this post you will find:
- Information About Your Visit to Bryce Canyon
- 7 Awesome Bryce Canyon National Park Hikes (+ two bonus hikes!)
- 6 Incredible Bryce Canyon National Park Viewpoints
Park Admission
Bryce Canyon National Park is open 24 hours per day, 365 days per year.
Click here to view admission fees for visiting Bryce Canyon National Park.
It is worth buying an annual American the Beautiful Pass if you plan on visiting 3 or more National Park Service sites throughout the year. The pass gives you access to more than 2,000 federal recreation areas across the U.S. (including every U.S. National Park). You can buy an America the Beautiful Pass online or in person at many federal recreation sites (search here)
When to Visit
The rim of Bryce Canyon is over 9,000 ft elevation at its highest point. Due to this high-elevation climate, weather can be extremely variable.
Check the NPS website for current conditions and closures before your visit. There are pros and cons to visiting during each season.
October-April
Average highs are between 36-58°F, with lows in the teens and 20s. We visited in mid-March one year, and many of the main trails were still closed because of heavy snowfall.
However, you can beat the crowds, easily find parking, participate in winter activities, and find cheaper lodging during these non-peak months. Seeing those bright orange hoodoos dusted with fresh snow is quite a treat!
May-September
These are the most popular months to visit and for good reason. The weather is much more favorable with average highs between 65-80ºF daily.
If you visit during these months, you have a much better chance of having all of the roads and trails open and available for use. There are also more activities going on within the park.
However, summer monsoon thunderstorms are common between July and September, and the park can be very, very crowded during these peak months. Heading into the park early in the day can help avoid heat and crowds!
Where to Stay
There is only one lodge within the actual park, and it fills up very quickly, so you will have to book quite far in advance. The lodge is steps away from spectacular views and hiking, but it is bare-bones and does not have some of the modern conveniences like TVs or air conditioning that you would find in a hotel.
There are two campgrounds in Bryce Canyon National Park – North Campground and Sunset Campground. Both are located near the lodge.
Bryce Canyon City
This is a very small town located just outside the park entrance, making it a very convenient location to stay. The town is dominated by tourism and consists of a few hotels, short-term rentals, restaurants, and entertainment options.
Tropic
Tropic is another small town about 15 minutes from the park. It has a few restaurants, a small grocery store, and is not as touristy.
Click here to search for hotels in Bryce Canyon City or Tropic
Kanab
If you plan on visiting multiple parks in southwest Utah, Kanab is a wonderful option for your home base during your stay.
~75 miles (1 hour, 20 min) from Bryce Canyon National Park
~30 miles (35 minutes) from Zion National Park
~75 miles to Page, Arizona (Horseshoe Bend, Lake Powell, Antelope Canyon)
~80 miles to Grand Canyon National Park North Rim
In addition to being close to all of these incredibly popular destinations, Kanab itself is a very charming town with many lodging and restaurant options and lots of hiking and activities to do.
Click here to check out our unique Airbnb in Kanab.
Navigating the Park
If you plan to visit Bryce Canyon during a time of year that is less busy, or if you plan to head into the park early, it shouldn’t be too difficult to drive your car through the park and find parking at the viewpoints and trailheads.
Bryce Canyon National Park can get very crowded during peak season, so there is a free shuttle offered to help cut down on traffic. Parking lots fill up very quickly, making it nearly impossible to find parking at some of the most popular spots unless you are riding the shuttle.
You can access the shuttle from Bryce Canyon City or the parking lot across from the Visitor Center in the park. The shuttle stops at the most popular points and comes every 15 minutes, making it easy and convenient to use.
The park shuttle is also a great option if you want to do a one-way hike and then take the shuttle back to where your car is parked (this would be perfect for a one-way hike along the rim trail).
Click here to learn more about the Bryce Canyon National Park Shuttle from the NPS website
There is also a free shuttle tour offered by the National Park Service. Reservations must be made in advance for this tour. Click here to learn more about the Rainbow Point Shuttle Tour.
Bryce Canyon Maps – Park Map, Trail Map, Campground Map, & Area Map
Bryce Canyon National Park Hikes: What to Bring
- Plenty of water & snacks
- Sun Protection – hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, SPF chapstick
- Park Map (can get this at the visitor centers or entrance stations in the park)
- Trail Maps
- Mini First Aid Kit
- Rain Jacket & layers (park temps vary at different elevations)
- Trekking poles – (these save my knees when going down steep declines and help with balance!)
- Camera
Best Things to Do in Bryce Canyon National Park
7 Incredible Bryce Canyon National Park Hikes
1. Rim Trail
Distance: 5.5 miles one-way (~3 hours)
Elevation Gain: 1177 feet
Difficulty: Moderate
Trailhead Location: Fairyland Point, but can be accessed from Sunset, Sunset, Inspiration, & Bryce Points as well
The Rim Trail wraps around the rims of Fairyland Canyon and Bryce Canyon passing by some of the most popular viewpoints in the park.
You will be treated to extraordinary hoodoo-filled valley views throughout the hike. You can start at different viewpoints to make this hike as short or as long as you would like.
There is a free shuttle offered by the NPS that can take you back to your starting point if you want to do a one-way hike.
2. Queens Garden Trail
Distance: 1.8 miles out and back (1-2 hours)
Elevation Gain: 357 feet
Difficulty: Moderate
Trailhead Location: Sunrise Point
Start this hike early, as it is one of the most popular in the park. You will beat the crowds and the heat (if you go in the summer) by getting an early start!
This is the least difficult trail that descends into the canyon. You will start at Sunrise Point, head into the canyon, and then return the same way. You will see some interesting rock formations along the way!
3. Najavo Loop Trail
Distance: 1.3 miles (1-1.5 hours)
Elevation Gain: 550 feet
Difficulty: Moderate
Trailhead Location: Sunset Point
This trail takes you from Sunset Point to the bottom of the canyon and passes by many unique and interesting features, including Thor’s Hammer, Two Bridges, and Wall Street.
This hike is not a loop in the winter, as the Wall Street section is closed during the winter months.
Bonus: Combine the Queens Garden Trail, Najavo Loop Trail, & Rim Trail into one Epic hike!
Distance: 2.9 miles (2-3 hours)
Elevation Gain: 615 feet
Difficulty: Moderate
Trailhead Location: Sunrise or Sunset Point
Queens Garden & Navajo Loop Trails
You will start at Sunrise Point, hike the Queen Gardens Trail, then connect to the Navajo Loop. You will exit at Sunset Point and then take the Rim Trail back to Sunrise Point where you began.
The NPS recommends hiking this combination loop in this clockwise direction, however, we must not have gotten that memo when we went because we did it counterclockwise starting and ending at Sunset Point.
We started early, so we did not encounter too many people heading in the opposite direction.
4. Mossy Cave Trail
Distance: .8 miles (~20 minutes)
Elevation Gain: 200 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Trailhead Location: Off of Hwy 12 – there will be a marked pull-off on the south side of the road (not in the main area of the park)
This is a short and easy hike that follows a stream and leads to a mossy grotto. You will be treated to a waterfall or water drippings (depending on rainfall levels) in the warmer seasons and spectacular hanging icicles in the winter.
Two stream crossings are normally quite easy to navigate (rock hop), but if water levels are higher (like in the spring from winter runoff) the crossings could be a bit more challenging if you don’t want to get wet.
The National Park Service recommends not visiting this trail between 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. because it has gotten very popular and overcrowded. Go early if you want to avoid crowds!
Make sure to only park in designated parking areas or you will be ticketed or towed.
5. Bristlecone Loop Trail
Distance: 1-mile loop (~30 minutes)
Elevation Gain: 200 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Trailhead Location: Rainbow Point or Yovimpa Point
This trail offers a nice variety – you will walk through a 1,800-year-old fir & pine forest and will be treated to vast sweeping vista views along the way.
This trail stays above the canyon rim, making it good for all skill levels. It is a quick-and-easy family favorite among some of the oldest trees on the planet.
6. Fairyland Loop
Distance: 8-mile loop (4-5 hours)
Elevation Gain: 1716 feet
Difficulty: Strenuous
Trailhead Location: Fairyland Point
This day hike travels through Fairyland Amphitheater. You will get to see many neat rock formations along the hike and will feel a great sense of accomplishment upon completing the loop.
You will find a lot fewer people on this trail, making it a fun adventure away from the crowds.
7. Peekaboo Loop Trail
Distance: 5.5 miles (3-4 hours)
Elevation Gain: 1571 feet (woof!)
Difficulty: Strenuous
Trailhead Location: Bryce Point
A steep and strenuous, but stunning hike! If you are looking for a challenge – this hike will give it to you.
A clockwise direction is required for this loop trail. This trail is named after the natural arch windows that you can see through along the hike.
Bonus: combine the previously mentioned Queens Garden + Peekaboo Loop + Navajo Loop + Rim Trails
Distance: 6.4-mile figure 8 loop (4-5 hours)
Elevation Gain: 1631 feet
Difficulty: Strenuous
Trailhead Location: Sunrise or Sunset Point
Start at sunrise point, and descend into the canyon via the Queen’s Garden Trail. After about 1.5 miles you will reach an intersection – take a left toward Peekaboo Loop.
A clockwise direction is required on Peekaboo Loop Trail. After completing the loop, you will take a 0.3-mile connector trail to an intersection where you will take a sharp left to continue onto Navajo Loop Trail toward Sunset Point.
When you reach Sunset Point, you will take the Rim Trail back to Sunrise Point where you began!
6 Stunning Bryce Canyon Viewpoints
These 6 viewpoints are organized in order from the beginning of the scenic drive to the end. The scenic drive is 38 miles round trip, and there are a total of 13 viewpoints along the way.
If you have plenty of time, stop at each one and check out the views. If you want the most bang for your buck, the following 6 viewpoints are the best stops to make in our opinion.
1. Fairyland Point
Your first stop along the incredible Bryce Canyon scenic drive, this view won’t disappoint. You will have a grand view over Fairyland Canyon.
Fairyland Point offers a different view and perspective than the main section of the park, and is typically less crowded!
2. Sunrise & Sunset Points
These two very popular viewpoints are 1 mile apart. You can walk from one to the other along the paved Rim Trail. Despite the names, these viewpoints are gorgeous any time of day.
Both points overlook the famous Bryce Amphitheater and are filled with layers and layers of incredible hoodoo formations.
3. Inspiration Point
As the name indicates, you will feel inspired looking out high above the differing levels of colorful hoodoos that fill the canyon.
There are 3 different viewpoints at Inspiration Point, and each one gains elevation and gets more spectacular as you continue. If you are limited on time, head straight to the final top viewpoint.
4. Bryce Point
Bryce Point is in the same area as Inspiration Point, but it is about 200 feet higher in elevation and gives you a different perspective. You will have a short hike to get to the stunning viewpoint.
5. Natural Bridge
This is one of my favorite views in the park! You will stand on the edge of the canyon and have a perfect view of this incredible natural arch. I love the contrast of the orange rock with the bright green forest peeking through.
There is a small parking area for Natural Bridge right off the main park road (about 12 miles from the Visitor Center).
6. Yovimpa & Rainbow Points
These viewpoints are the furthest from the Visitor Center at the end of the scenic drive. Rainbow Point is the highest point in the park at 9,115 feet.
Each viewpoint offers a sweeping view for miles and miles. They face opposite directions and are very close together, so it is worth checking out both viewpoints.
That rounds out our list of the best Bryce Canyon National Park Hikes & Viewpoints.
Feel free to leave a comment about your favorite things to do/see in Bryce Canyon National Park!
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