What to do in Bryce Canyon National Park
To be honest, we went into Bryce Canyon with lower expectations than the other national parks in Utah and we were completely blown away! Bryce has some of the most unique landscapes we have ever experienced. The towering hoodoos fill the entire Bryce Canyon creating an iconic amphitheater. The gravity defying hoodoos were formed thousands of years ago when the canyon was underwater.
Bryce Canyon is very accessible and doesn’t require as much preparation planning as Zion, however, it does get crowded! We highly recommend arriving early, as Bryce Canyon National Park has limited parking at the most popular locations in the park. Read below to learn about our top recommendations for visiting Bryce Canyon!
Planning a road trip through Utah? Read our complete guide for the Best Things to do in Utah!
Map Of The Best Things To Do In Bryce Canyon
The Best Things To Do In Bryce Canyon National Park
We highly recommend arriving early to watch the sunrise at Bryce! The morning light in the Bryce Canyon amphitheater is stunning as the hoodoos glow a bright orange color. With how the amphitheater is positioned, the light in the late afternoon and sunset casts shadows which makes photographing this beautiful place much more difficult.
1. Watch Sunrise at Inspiration Point Lookout
This section of trail along the rim of Bryce Canyon is very accessible, just a few steps away from the parking lot. We recommend hiking a quarter mile up the trail to the Inspiration Point Lookout platform to watch the most spectacular sunrise ever. As the sun peaks over the horizon, walk down from the lookout and make your way towards Sunset Point.
2. Walk the Rim Trail To Sunset Point
The Rim Trail wraps around the Bryce Canyon amphitheater to Sunset Point and is a fairly flat section of trail giving way to incredible views of the canyon. Each turn provides a different perspective of the hoodoos far below and provides breathtaking views as the sun rises. There are many photography opportunities along this short hike.
3. Navajo Loop Trail
There is a reason this is the most popular hike in Bryce Canyon - it’s absolutely stunning! The Navajo Loop Trail is a 1.5 mile round-trip loop that starts at Sunset Point and takes you down into the hoodoos through a series of unique switchback trails.
We highly recommend doing this loop clockwise for the best light and least amount of people for the most scenic parts! This loop also offers up close views of Thor’s Hammer - one of the largest and most popular hoodoos in Bryce Canyon.
There are many unique photography opportunities along this trail at the base of the hoodoos and along the switchbacks. It’s best to do this hike earlier in the morning as the tight switchbacks can become quite crowded with inexperienced hikers taking their time on the climbs
4. Natural Bridge
This 85 ft massive natural arch in Bryce Canyon was formed over millions of years. We suggest driving to the Natural Bridge only if you have extra time to spend and the park isn’t too crowded. We were on a tight schedule and skipped the Natural Bridge in order to spend more time exploring some of the less crowded places near Escalante, Utah.
When to Visit Bryce Canyon National Park
We found it difficult to decide on the best time of year to visit the five national parks of Utah! We highly recommend visiting during the shoulder seasons of March - May & October - November.
During the shoulder seasons, the weather will be more mild (we can’t imagine visiting Bryce Canyon during the heat of the summer months!) and there will be less crowds. We would love to go back to Bryce Canyon in the winter to see the white snow contrast against the red hoodoos!
Visiting Bryce Canyon National Park
Bryce Canyon National Park is a must stop for anyone visiting Utah! It’s incredibly accessible, absolutely beautiful, and most of the park highlights can be seen in half a day, but you could easily spend countless days exploring this unique part of Utah. You won’t find hoodoos like this anywhere else in the world! We spent two weeks exploring everything that Utah has to offer. Make sure to read our complete guide for the Best Things To Do In Utah.