Nestled in the heart of Utah’s red rock country, Bryce Canyon National Park is an awe-inspiring masterpiece of nature’s grand design. With its breathtaking landscapes of orange and pink hoodoos, towering spires, and vast amphitheaters, Bryce Canyon is a true marvel that seems to have sprung from the pages of a fairytale.
What sets Bryce Canyon apart is its unique blend of geological formations, shaped by the forces of nature over millions of years. The stunning hoodoos, formed through a delicate dance of erosion and weathering, stand tall like silent sentinels guarding the vast amphitheaters below. As you hike along the rim or venture into the canyon, you’ll find yourself immersed in a dreamscape of natural wonders that truly feels like stepping into another world.
Bryce Canyon National Park is often overlooked by its much more popular sister, Zion National Park. The two of them are right next to each other and share Utah as their home state along with the rest of the Utah Mighty Five, but while Zion is the fourth most-visited national park in the entire United States, Bryce Canyon is floundering somewhere…lower on the list.
I’ve been to both Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon National Park, and I’m always shocked by how much more popular Zion is. I can see why Zion is beloved and it truly is a beautiful park. However, it’s crowded, stressful to navigate, dependent on permits, with almost no parking to speak of—none of which apply to the lovely Bryce Canyon National Park next door. In fact, I rated Bryce Canyon higher than Zion on my ranking of U.S. National Parks.
Best time of year to visit Bryce Canyon National Park
Bryce Canyon is located in an arid portion of Utah that has a high elevation. The days can be hot and sunny due to the desert climate and lack of shade, but the nights will be cold even in the summer.
For the most moderate climates, I recommend coming between March – May or September – October. The days will be mild and warm and while nighttime will be chilly, the temperatures won’t be unbearable.
Summer in Bryce Canyon is extremely bright and hot, so come prepared if you plan to tackle the hikes in the summer heat. In the winter, temperatures can drop well below freezing at night, but the daytime temperature will be within reason. Many people also love seeing the hoodoos covered in a magical dusting of white snow.
How to get to Bryce Canyon National Park
Unfortunately, Bryce Canyon is not the most accessible of the U.S. National Parks. While it is located in Utah along with several other popular southwestern parks, all the closest major cities require a decent amount of driving.
The closest city is St. George, Utah, approximately 2 hours away. However, this is not a major hub. The more popular starting points include Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) in Salt Lake City, Utah (4 hours) and McCarran International Airport (LAS) in Las Vegas, Nevada (4 hours). The closest airport to Bryce Canyon geographically is Cedar City Airport (CDC), but it is not a popular or major hub for flights.
Where to stay in Bryce Canyon National Park
There is no official lodging inside Bryce Canyon National Park. If you are interested in camping, there are only two official campsites that you can book via the NPS Bryce Canyon website.
However, there are lots of hotels in the area. Some hotels even put you within driving distance of both Bryce Canyon National Park and Zion National Park if you are hitting both of these parks within one trip (highly recommended as they are basically neighbors!) Just know that the cities with the largest number of and most affordable lodging will be located around 1 hour outside of the park borders.
Affordable Hotels
Bryce Canyon City (0.5 hours from Bryce Canyon National Park): Bryce Canyon Resort offers budget-friendly accommodations just a short distance from the park’s entrance. With comfortable rooms and convenient amenities, it provides a convenient and affordable base for exploring Bryce Canyon.
Panguitch (30 minutes from Bryce Canyon National Park): Purple Sage Motel is another affordable option offering cozy rooms and a warm atmosphere. Located in the charming town of Panguitch, it allows easy access to Bryce Canyon and nearby attractions without breaking the bank.
Luxury Hotels
Springdale (1 hour from Bryce Canyon National Park): Cliffrose Springdale, Curio Collection by Hilton is a refined and upscale hotel nestled along the Virgin River. Offering luxurious rooms with breathtaking views of the surrounding red cliffs, it provides a tranquil and upscale retreat after a day of exploring Bryce Canyon and Zion National Park.
Duck Creek Village (1 hour from Bryce Canyon National Park): The Lodge at Duck Creek is a charming and elegant mountain lodge located in the picturesque village of Duck Creek. Surrounded by the beauty of Dixie National Forest, it offers luxury cabins and suites with modern amenities, making it an ideal upscale getaway for nature enthusiasts visiting Bryce Canyon.
What to See in Bryce Canyon National Park
The Bryce Amphitheater is the main feature of Bryce Canyon National Park. It’s essentially a gigantic bowl-shaped valley filled with these unusual orange rock spires called “hoodoos.” Hoodoos are formed by wind and the expanding ice that cracks and weathers the entire canyon in the winter, resulting in this mysterious and distinctive rock formation that you can’t find in the other national parks. There are only a couple of noteworthy trails in Bryce Canyon, but they are more than stunning.
The most popular trail, for good reason, is the combination of the Navajo Loop and the Queen’s Garden Trail. The trails intersect at a certain point and are very easy to follow. This trail starts at the rim of the amphitheater, before descending down through rocky orange clouds and into hoodoo wonderland.
After reaching the Navajo Loop section, the trail becomes more woody and green before winding through a shaded orange valley reminiscent of a slot canyon and following a dramatic set of intense switchbacks that lead back up to the upper canyon level.
If you prefer taking on some of Bryce Canyon National Park’s even more challenging trails, the Fairyland Loop Trail is 8 miles, and the Peekaboo Loop is a classic trail that is often taken on horseback.
There are also several viewpoints in the park, but I didn’t think any of them were more impressive than simply viewing the amphitheater itself. However, if you’re interested, Sunrise Point and Sunset Point (one for each time of day, I guess!) are very close to each other and situated on the canyon rim.
If you’re tired of seeing hoodoos, Rainbow Point, Inspiration Point, Natural Bridge, and Bryce Point are all viewpoints that open up to more greenish and colorful vistas.
Bryce Canyon is also situated right next to Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, which is filled to the brim with slot canyons, basins, waterfalls, and the beautiful striated rocks that you came here for.
Unfortunately, while right next door geographically, it does take an hour and a half to drive between Bryce Canyon and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, so make sure to allocate a whole day if you’re interested in hiking through the national monument. Everyone knows about Antelope Canyon in Arizona, but Grand Staircase is just as full of gorgeous slot canyons — and I’d wager they’re a lot less crowded as well!
To sum it up, don’t overlook Bryce Canyon National Park—it’s a hidden gem among the wondrous U.S. National Parks. While places like Zion and the Grand Canyon get a lot of love, Bryce Canyon has its own special magic. The mesmerizing hoodoos, towering spires, and vast amphitheaters create a surreal and unforgettable landscape.
If you’re planning on hitting any of the other Utah Mighty Five or Grand Canyon National Park, makes sure to schedule an extra day or two into your itinerary for Bryce Canyon. This sorely underestimated park is full of unique charms and is sure to leave you in awe of nature’s power and artistry.
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