Exploring Bryce Canyon National Park
- Written by
- On Thursday, March 16, 2023
Park: Bryce Canyon National Park
State: Utah
Year Established: 1928
Acres: 35,835
Annual Visitors: Over 1.5 million
Entrance Fee: $20-$35
Located in southwestern Utah, Bryce Canyon National Park has the largest collection of hoodoos in the world. These distinctive, irregular rock formations draw visitors from around the globe as well as scenic vistas, sandstone fins, natural horseshoe-shaped amphitheaters, multicolored rock, and phenomenal hiking.
Divided into three distinct zones, Bryce Canyon consists of a spruce forest, Ponderosa Pine forest, and juniper forest. You can explore Bryce Canyon National Park and experience the beauty in just a day, but we suggest taking 2-3 days to really do the park justice. Most people also visit Zion National Park and Moab when exploring national parks in Utah.
Things to do in Bryce Canyon National Park
The most iconic location to visit within the park is the Bryce Amphitheater, housing the greatest concentration of hoodoos or rock spires. You can overlook the amphitheater along the first three miles of the main road and drink in all the natural wonder.
You can also take the Southern Scenic Drive as you continue along the main road past the amphitheater. The main road is 18 miles from the park's entrance and along this stretch you will find nine different scenic overlooks to capture all of the red rock beauty.
Hiking in Bryce Canyon National Park
For beginner hikers, Mossy Cave Trail is an easy stroll that pays off in the iconic views surrounding the trail. Walk through a beautiful collection of red, pink, and white pinnacles in Bryce Canyon and you’ll end at a mossy cave with a trickling waterfall if you visit in the springtime.
Two of the best moderate hikes include Navajo Loop Trail and Queens Garden Trail. Navajo Loop shows off unforgettable sites and photo ops like Wall Street, Twin Bridges, and Thor’s Hammer. The Queens Garden trail loops through Gulliver’s Castle and The Queen’s Castle.
If you’re up for a challenge, we suggest taking on Fairyland Loop. This eight mile loop is a bit strenuous and long but it loops through the Fairyland amphitheater just north of Bryce Canyon showcasing tons of interesting rock formations along the way. A full day hike, it’s worth the trek if you want to see more of the park!
Camping in Bryce Canyon National Park
Bryce Canyon National Park has two different campgrounds, North Campground and Sunset Campground. North Campground is reservation-only during the busy season (May - October) and switches to first-come, first-served the rest of the year. Sunset Campground on the other hand is exclusively first-come, first-served and only open from April through October.
If you can’t secure camping within the park itself, there are plenty of campgrounds just outside of Bryce Canyon including Ruby’s Inn RV Park, Bryce Canyon Pines Campground, and King Creek Campground in Dixie National Forest. You can even opt for a glamping experience with Under Canvas in their Bryce Canyon location, located on 150 acres outside the park.
When to visit Bryce Canyon National Park
Spring-Fall
End of spring through fall is the best time to visit Bryce Canyon National Park, roughly May through September. This is the busiest time in the park, but provides the opportunity to experience the widest range of activities. Temperatures in the spring hover in the mid-60s, rise up to the 80s in the summer, and mellow to the 70s in the fall. However, prepare yourself for the rainy season in July and August. You can expect afternoon thunderstorms, heavy rainfall, and possibly lightning in mid to late summer.
Winter
Snow can come as early as October to Bryce Canyon, but the most snowfall happens between December and March. While not all activities - and campsites - will be open this time of year, you can go for ranger-led snowshoe hikes, cross-country ski, and capture amazing photos of the snow capped red rocks.
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