Bryce Canyon
High-elevation amphitheaters packed with orange hoodoos and very dark night skies
- Hours
- Open 24 hours, all year
- Entry
- $35 per car
- Reservations
- Not required
- Size
- 35,835 acres
Bryce Canyon Weather Now
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Bryce Canyon is not really a canyon but a series of natural amphitheaters carved into the edge of the Paunsaugunt Plateau. Frost wedging, with water freezing and thawing on more than 150 nights a year, breaks apart the soft limestone and leaves behind tall spires called hoodoos. The park holds one of the largest concentrations of hoodoos on Earth. It became a national monument in 1923 and a national park in 1928.
Most visitors see the park from rim viewpoints along an 18-mile scenic drive, but the real fun is hiking down among the hoodoos. The rim sits between about 8,000 and 9,100 feet, so it is far cooler than nearby Zion. Bryce is a certified International Dark Sky Park, and on moonless nights you can see thousands of stars and the Milky Way. Snow on red hoodoos makes winter a surprisingly beautiful time to visit.
The park and surrounding area
- Other parks
- Major highway
- Road
- Rivers and lakes
- Town
The park boundary isn't included in this map's data source, so the park is shown by its icon.
Plan your trip
- Best time to go
- May, June, September and early October bring mild days and open facilities, while winter offers snow-dusted hoodoos and few crowds.
- How long to stay
- One full day covers the highlights; two days lets you add a longer hike and stargazing.
- Getting there
- Cedar City (CDC) is about 1.5 hours away and St. George (SGU) about 2.5 hours; the large hubs, Las Vegas (LAS) and Salt Lake City (SLC), are each about 4 hours by car.
- Wildlife
- Look for mule deer, Utah prairie dogs, pronghorn, Steller's jays, ravens and the occasional California condor.
Plan and book
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Where to stay
Tours and activities
- Guided tours on Viator (opens in a new tab)Day trips, wildlife, photography
- Tours on GetYourGuide (opens in a new tab)Compare options and reviews
- Campsites on Recreation.gov (opens in a new tab)Official federal booking site
What to pack for Bryce Canyon
- Warm insulated jacketMornings on the rim can be near freezing even in early summer.
- Hiking boots with good gripTrails into the hoodoos are steep, sandy and slick in spots.
- MicrospikesRim and canyon trails are often icy from late fall through spring.
- HeadlampHandy for sunrise walks to the rim and for night sky viewing.
- Sun hat and sunscreenUV is strong at 8,000 to 9,000 feet with little shade on the trails.
A first day, start to finish
- Sunrise at Sunrise Point
- Navajo Loop and Queen's Garden hike
- Inspiration Point
- Scenic drive to Rainbow Point
- Sunset at Sunset Point, then stargazing
Don't miss
- Sunrise and Sunset PointsPaved rim viewpoints a short walk apart that look straight down into the Bryce Amphitheater and its thousands of hoodoos.
- Navajo Loop and Queen's GardenA 2.9-mile combined loop that drops about 600 feet from the rim, past Thor's Hammer and through the narrow Wall Street switchbacks.
- Inspiration PointA three-level overlook with one of the widest views of the amphitheater, about a mile south of Sunset Point.
- Rainbow PointThe end of the 18-mile scenic drive at about 9,100 feet, with views stretching more than 100 miles on clear days.
- Fairyland LoopAn 8-mile loop in the quieter north end that winds through hoodoos, past Tower Bridge, and back along the rim.
Know before you go
Do
- Bring layers, since the rim sits above 8,000 feet and nights are cold even in summer.
- Use the free shuttle in season to skip the crowded viewpoint parking lots.
- Pay by card, because the park does not accept cash.
Don't
- Underestimate the climb back up from the canyon floor at this altitude.
- Step past railings or onto the crumbling rim edges for photos.
- Feed the Utah prairie dogs, which are a threatened species.
The park is open 24 hours a day, year-round, and the visitor center is open daily with seasonal hours. The 18-mile scenic drive can close temporarily during and after winter storms for plowing. The free park shuttle runs from April through October 20.
Watch sunrise from Sunrise or Inspiration Point, then hike Navajo Loop right after, before the trail gets busy.Trekker's tip