Bryce Canyon National Park Itinerary: 11 Best Things To Do in Bryce Canyon National Park
Bryce Canyon National Park is the land of the hoodoos! Around every corner, you can find the thin, tall spires of rocks, and they are beautiful! They make Bryce Canyon National Park very different from other national parks in Utah! This guide will review everything you need to know to create the perfect Bryce Canyon National Park itinerary, including travel tips, where to stay, the best hikes in Bryce Canyon National Park, and the best things to do in Bryce Canyon National Park.
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Travel Tips for Creating a Bryce Canyon National Park Itinerary
Time needed to explore
I recommend allocating 1-2 days in Bryce Canyon National Park depending on what you want to do. If you are looking just to drive and view the overlooks, only 1 day is needed.
If you want to explore the best hikes in Bryce Canyon National Park, I recommend allocating 1-2 days. We did a few hikes and viewed every overlook all in 1 day and did not feel rushed! Although, we were in the park from dawn to dusk!
Things to know before you go
The weather in Bryce Canyon National Park can vary greatly in one day. The drive into Bryce Canyon National Park gains a lot of elevation with the endpoint being over 9,000 feet high, so you can expect a temperature drop.
Also, the hoodoos are really cool features here, however, the views will eventually start to look the same. I’m not saying they are any less beautiful, but we were kind of over it towards the end of the day.
Tips and Tricks
As I said above, the weather in Bryce Canyon National Park can vary, so I recommend bringing a few layers of clothes to accommodate the temperature drop! Also, the parking lots are small, so I recommend heading into the park early. We saw all of the overlooks in a half day because we were in the park before most people. This gave us plenty of time to hike during the other half of the day!
If Bryce Canyon National Park is very busy, there is a free shuttle that stops at all of the popular attractions. Parking lots are small, so using the free shuttle in Bryce Canyon National Park is a great way to avoid stress and easily see all of the beautiful sights!
Always remember to leave no trace.
It’s crucial to pack out what you pack in and leave no trash. Some of these spots have trash bins, so you can easily throw your trash away. If they don’t have trash bins, you can throw your trash away at a nearby gas station or convenience store.
Bonus Tip
If the Bryce Canyon National Park is way too packed and you are up for some hiking, I recommend hiking the Under-the-Rim Trail. It is a 22-mile trail that is one of the best hikes in Bryce Canyon National Park because it brings you to every single viewpoint.
Closest Airport to Bryce Canyon National Park
Bryce Canyon National Park is located in the southwest corner of Utah near Zion National Park. The closest airports to Bryce Canyon are Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas and Salt Lake City International Airport in northern Utah. Both airports are about four hours from Bryce Canyon National Park.
I highly recommend renting a car to drive to Bryce Canyon National Park because there is not a direct bus route to the park from either Las Vegas or Salt Lake City.
Best Places to Stay in Bryce Canyon National Park
If you plan on spending a night near Bryce Canyon National Park, I recommend staying in Bryce! It is a small town outside the park entrance and has a few hotels. Bryce has a grocery store and restaurants, so you don’t need to travel far. However, Alex and I did not like the grocery store in Bryce… It was pretty big, but it did not have some of the things we needed, such as almond milk. We drove 10 minutes down the road to the town of Tropic to visit their grocery store which had more of a variety. Tropic also has a few restaurants!
If you have or can rent camping gear or a campervan, I highly recommend it because there are campgrounds close to Bryce Canyon National Park. If you are interested in renting a campervan, I highly recommend renting from Escape Campervans!
Best Bryce Canyon National park Hotels:
Best Bryce Canyon National park Campgrounds:
Bryce Canyon National Park Itinerary: 11 Best Things To Do in Bryce Canyon National Park
Bryce Point
Bryce Point is a spectacular viewpoint and one of the best things to do in Bryce Canyon National Park that provides incredible views of the Bryce Amphitheater. The views seem to go on for miles and will leave you in awe of the beauty Bryce Canyon National Park offers!
From the parking lot, it is an easy and small walk to the viewpoint. Bryce Point is one of the best locations to watch the sunrise because the golden light showers the hoodoos, creating an incredible sight!
Peek-A-Boo Trail
The Bryce Point parking lot is also home to the Peek-A-Book Trailhead. If you have a few hours to spare, I highly recommend hiking the Peek-A-Book Trail because it is one of the best things to do in Bryce Canyon National Park! The 5-mile trail provides an up-close and personal experience with the Bryce Amphitheater and will leave you feeling small in a good way!
Peek-A-Boo Trail begins by descending into the canyon quickly over a series of switchbacks for about a mile. At one point, you will be able to look up and see Bryce Point! After about a mile into the hike, you will come to the loop junction. You can go in either direction, but we recommend heading left around the loop.
The Peek-A-Boo Trail continues to descend in the canyon until it comes to another junction. You will want to stay right to continue on the Peek-A-Boo Trail to connect back to where you started. The loop passes by so many hoodoos and incredible rock formations, including the Wall of Windows and the Cathedral. Peek-A-Boo Trail is one of the best hikes in Bryce Canyon National Park and should be on everyone’s bucket list!
Inspiration Point
Inspiration Point is on the same road as Bryce Point and is less popular. Both are absolutely beautiful, however, Alex and I LOVED Inspiration Point and think it’s one of the best things to do in Bryce Canyon National Park.
Inspiration Point is only a small walk from the parking lot. If you want to hike, you could easily hike to Sunrise Point, Sunset Point, and Bryce Point from here. Those other viewpoints are more crowded than Inspiration Point, so if you are looking for a more peaceful spot, this is it!
This was our first hoodoo experience, and we were in awe! Inspiration Point gives you a beautiful view of the Bryce Amphitheater and the mountains in the east. The view goes on for miles and is really incredible! Watching the sunset from Inspiration Point is one of the best things to do in Bryce Canyon National Park. We walked along the Rim Trail for a bit to find a secluded spot to watch the sunset. It was amazing!
Sunrise Point and Sunset Point
Sunrise Point and Sunset Point are two popular viewpoints in Bryce Canyon National Park. Sunrise Point offers incredible views of Thor’s Hammer and Silent City. Sunset Point is not too far from Sunrise Point and offers beautiful views of Wall Street, and it is the starting point of the Navajo Loop. Both viewpoints offer similar but incredible views!
If you want to loop Sunrise Point and Sunset Point as a hike, you can follow the Rim Trail for 0.5 miles to each viewpoint. It is an easy hike and a great way to get to both instead of driving. Because Sunrise Point and Sunset Point are popular viewpoints in Bryce Canyon National Park, parking can be difficult, so hiking to each is a great alternative!
Natural Bridge
One of the most unique viewpoints in Bryce Canyon National Park is the Natural Bridge. The erosion of the rock created a beautiful 85-foot arch surrounded by hoodoos. Through the Natural Bridge, you can see the deep green forest below, which creates a beautiful contrast against the bright red canyon.
Hiking is not required to view the Natural Bridge, so this is a quick and easy stop to add to your bucket list! The Natural Bridge is one of the best things to do in Bryce Canyon National Park!
Navajo Loop
If you want to truly experience Bryce Canyon National Park’s hoodoos up close and personal, the Navajo Loop is for you! It is one of the most popular and best hikes in Bryce Canyon National Park, and for a good reason! The 1.4-mile loop begins at Sunset Point and hikes down to the floor of the hoodoos passing by some of the most well-known hoodoos, such as Thor’s Hammer, Wall Street, and Two Bridges.
From Sunset Point, the Navajo Loop immediately descends into the canyon. It is a relatively steep decline, but there are switchbacks that help. After the switchbacks end, the trail has a gradual decline to the canyon floor. This is where you get to really experience the beauty of the hoodoos!
Once you pass by Wall Street, Two Bridges, and Thor’s Hammer, the ascent begins back to the rim. Luckily, the switchbacks make the elevation gain easier on the legs. Hiking Navajo Loop is one of the best things to do in Bryce Canyon National Park.
Unfortunately, Alex and I were not able to hike the Navajo Loop. There was trail damage from the winter, so the loop was closed. Next time we travel to Bryce Canyon National Park, this will be the first thing we do!
Fairyland Loop
Similar to the Navajo Loop, the Fairyland Loop is one of the best hikes in Bryce Canyon National Park if you want to be up close and personal with Bryce Canyon National Park’s hoodoos. However, this trail is much longer than the Navajo Loop.
The Fairyland Loop is a difficult 8.3-mile trail that gains over 1,500 feet of elevation. Because of its mileage, it is not as crowded as other trails in Bryce Canyon National Park which is a nice change of pace.
If you are one of the hiking souls who wish to complete the Fairyland Loop, all you need is 3-4 hours. The hike starts at Fairyland Point which is before the park entrance. The trail follows the rim before beginning to snake down into the canyon.
Once you hike onto the canyon floor, there will eventually be a junction to Tower Bridge. I recommend taking a few minutes to hike to Tower Bridge since it’s only 200 yards off the trail. Once you are back on the trail, it follows the floor before beginning to climb back to the rim of the canyon. The hike overall isn’t super difficult, but because of the mileage and elevation gain, it is more difficult than other trails in Bryce Canyon National Park.
Something to note is that you can also start this hike at Sunrise Point. If you are planning to take the Bryce Canyon shuttle, I suggest starting this hike at Sunrise Point instead of Fairyland Point. The shuttle does not stop at Fairyland Point since it is before the park entrance.
Either way, the views on the hike are amazing and well worth the few hours to hike it if you have the time! Fairyland Loop is one of the best things to do in Bryce Canyon National Park!
Yovimpa Point and Rainbow Point
Yovimpa Point and Rainbow Point are two adjacent overlooks at the end of Bryce Canyon National Park and offer incredible views. Each point is over 9,000 feet high, so this is where the temps will drop. Because the viewpoints are the highest points in the park, they offer drool-worthy views and are some of the best things to do in Bryce Canyon National Park.
This is also a great place to see Bryce Canyon National Park’s “Grand Staircase” rock layers! Make sure to read the information points at each viewpoint to appreciate how beautiful and awesome our Earth is!
If you are looking for a short but sweet hike, the Bristlecone Loop is for you! The short 1-mile loop stays above the rim and connects Yovimpa Point and Rainbow Point. If you are looking for a more strenuous hike, the Riggs Spring Loop Trail is for you! The 8.8-mile loop also connects both points but offers a more scenic trail.
Mossy Cave
Mossy Cave is technically in Bryce Canyon National Park, however, it is located in Tropic, UT. It is only a 10-minute drive from the park entrance, so I recommend allocating time to hike this trail because it is one of the best things to do in Bryce Canyon National Park.
Mossy Cave Trail is an easy 1-mile roundtrip hike and one of the best hikes in Bryce Canyon National Park that allows you to get up close and personal to hoodoos without much difficulty. The trail starts off following a stream through a canyon.
It soon comes to a fork where you can decide if you want to continue left to Mossy Cave or right to a waterfall. I recommend hiking to both since it is a short hike! Mossy Cave is a short distance from the junction up a short hill. It’s a pretty cool site, but nothing to drool over.
The waterfall, however, is very beautiful. Once you head back to the junction, continue straight to head uphill to a viewpoint overlooking the waterfall. Even though it’s on the smaller side, the blue waters against the tan rock are beautiful!
What to Pack for a Bryce Canyon National Park Itinerary
Hiking Boots: If you want comfort and support on your trip, hiking boots are the go to.
Hiking Socks: Having moisture-wicking and comfortable hiking socks are just as important for exploring.
Hiking Backpack: You need something to carry all your food, clothes, and anything else you need while adventuring, so having a supportive hiking backpack is crucial.
Hydration Reservoir/Water Bottles: While hiking or just exploring, it is important to have enough water! I always pack a hydration reservoir.
Jackets: The weather is unpredictable, so I always pack a rain jacket and insulated jacket.
Ten Essentials: The Ten Essentials are crucial for hiking!
Microspikes: If you plan on winter hiking, you will need to bring microspikes.
Snowshoes: Also if you hike in the winter, you may need snowshoes.
Bryce Canyon National Park will be one of the most unique places you visit! This guide includes everything you need to know to plan an incredible trip, including travel tips, where to stay, the best hikes in Bryce Canyon National Park, and the best things to do in Bryce Canyon National Park.
I highly recommend visiting Zion National Park with Bryce Canyon since they are only a few hours away from each other, and you can spend 3 days in Bryce Canyon and Zion!
Hey, I’m Nichole!
I am the creator behind Nichole the Nomad, the home of my explorations around the world, mountain hikes, and beautiful pictures taken along the way. I have a deep passion for capturing the world in a beautiful light and sharing my experiences.
I created this blog to share my travels, show how beautiful the world is, provide tips and tricks for traveling, and encourage you to explore. Whether you want to travel across the world or explore what’s in your backyard, I hope this blog inspires you to get outside and find your adventure!
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