Planning a visit to Bryce Canyon National Park? Here’s all you need to know.

The hikes and views at Bryce Canyon National Park are some of the most memorable of our lives. This relatively small park sits at approximately 8,000 feet and contains the highest concentration of hoodoos in the world. Rich orange spires stand amongst deep green pines in this eclectic and fantastical place. If you are considering a visit among Utah’s Mighty Five National Parks, Bryce Canyon would be first on my list.

What we loved:

  • Amazing views and rock structures everywhere you look
  • Accessibility – small and drivable. ~4 hours from Salt Lake City and Las Vegas
  • Lots of camping and lodging options

What to keep in mind:

  • Potential Crowds
  • Hot in summer and exposed hiking trails
  • High elevation – stays cold into May
  • Bring layers
  • Best time to visit: May through September

Hiking

Hiking in Bryce Canyon is as much or as little as you want it to be. If you are not interested in hiking, or are short on time, there are plenty of drive-up overlooks to soak in some incredible views (e.g. Sunset & Sunrise Points, Upper Inspiration Point). The hiking, however, is top-notch with some of the best mile-for-mile beauty I have ever seen. Here are some great hiking options to fit into your trip in addition to the scenic overlooks:

Wall Street and Queen’s Garden Loop Trail

Distance: 3.2 miles, Difficulty: Moderate, Time: 1.5 hours, Elevation Gain: 643 ft., Type: Loop

This trail takes you down the iconic Wall Street switchbacks and meanders through hoodoos and pine trees in Queens Garden. The majority of the elevation change occurs on the descent into the canyon and the ascent back up to the canyon rim. The rest of this trail is relatively smooth and easy. If you have the energy, it’s worth going part of the way back down into the canyon on the Navajo Loop Trail to see Thor’s Hammer up close. The Navajo Loop is a great alternative hike in this area that is about half the distance and still includes the Wall Street section.

Fairyland Loop Trail

Distance: 7.8 miles, Difficulty: Moderate, Time: 3.5 hours, Elevation Gain: 1,545 ft., Type: Loop

The Fairyland Loop Trail is one of my most memorable hiking experiences. Start early in the morning to bask in the cool morning air and see golden sunlight just starting to spill over into the canyon. It really feels like you are on a different planet! The distance is the primary difficulty on this hike – although, like most hikes in Bryce Canyon, there is a big ascent back to the canyon rim.

Upper Inspiration Point

Distance: 0.6 miles, Difficulty: Easy, Time: <30 minutes, Elevation Gain: 134 ft., Type: Out and Back

Upper Inspiration Point is one of the views in Bryce Canyon National Park you can’t miss. This trail takes you past Lower and Mid Inspiration Points on the way up a short, steep climb to Upper Inspiration Point overlook. From here, you will have an amazing view of Bryce Amphitheater – the largest concentration of hoodoos on Earth.

Bristlecone Loop Trail

Distance: 1 mile, Difficulty: Easy, Time: 0.5 hours, Elevation Gain: 88 ft., Type: Loop

If you’re looking for a quick trail to knock out that still has beautiful views, the Bristlecone Loop Trail is a great option. At just one mile long, the trail takes you to Yovimpa Point with incredible views as far as the eye can see. You will also pass by Bristlecone Pines that may be as much as 1,800 years old!

If you have the time and energy…

  • Peekaboo Loop Trail
    • Distance: 5.2 Miles, Difficulty: Moderate, Time: 3 hours, Elevation Gain: 1,453ft., Type: Loop
  • Bryce Canyon Rim Trail
    • Distance: 10.7 miles, Difficulty: Moderate, Time: 5 hours, Elevation Gain: 1,587ft., Type: Out and Back

Camping/Lodging

National Park

There are two campgrounds within the boundaries of Bryce Canyon National Park:

North Campground: This campground consists of approximately 100 campsites. About half of these sites are RV-only (no electrical hookups); the other half is tent-only. North Campground has seasonally available potable water and flush toilets. Reservations can be made up to six months in advance for the dates of May 27 – October 1. Due to the popularity of this park, sites will fill up fast – so try to claim your spot early. This campground is on a first-come-first-served basis for the dates of October 2 – May 26. Tent sites are $20 per night and RV sites are $30 per night.

Sunset Campground: Just west of Sunset Point, Sunset Campground is a short walk away from the canyon rim and several hiking trails. There are 100 campsites consisting of 50 RV-only and 50 tent-only sites. This campground has potable water stations and portable toilets. Tent sites are $20 per night and RV sites are $30 per night.

Other campgrounds nearby:

Ruby’s Inn RV Park & Campground: This campground is a short drive up the road from the Bryce Canyon National Park entrance and features RV sites, Tenting sites, cabins, and tipis.

King’s Creek Campground: If you are too late to reserve a campsite at one of the above campgrounds, King’s Creek Campground has 37 first-come-first-served campsites in addition to two reservable group sites. This campground has flush toilets and potable water. It is a 25 minute drive to the Bryce Canyon National Park Entrance. Individual campsites are $19 per night.

Public Land / Dispersed Camping: If you don’t mind going with a more bare-bones option, there are plenty of dispersed camping options near Bryce Canyon National Park on public land – which means primitive sites with no toilets or running water. Find a flat spot and set up your tent!

Hotels

There are a few hotels in Bryce, just up the road from the national park entrance. These can be great options for those who aren’t interested in camp life, or when overnight temperatures are too cold for your 3-season camping gear.

Best Western Plus Ruby’s Inn: We stayed here for our first national park adventure as new parents. The rooms were comfortable and we had access to a complimentary breakfast buffet and an indoor pool and gym (outdoor pool is open seasonally). The main lodge also includes a buffet (not complimentary for lunch and dinner) and a convenience store to pick up any essentials or souvenirs. The Bryce Canyon National Park entrance is a mere 3 minutes down the road. Rooms start at $130 per night (subject to change). Pets are allowed here for a fee of $30 per day.

Best Western Plus Bryce Canyon Grand: If you are wanting a higher-end hotel experience, you can stay at the Best Western Grand for $310/night (subject to change). Amenities include a heated outdoor pool, complimentary full breakfast, laundromat and gym.

Bryce View Lodge: This lodge is 4 minutes away from the Bryce Canyon National Park entrance and includes indoor and outdoor pools, continental breakfast, and laundry facilities. Rates typically start at $130 per night. Pets are allowed here for a fee of $30 per day.

The Lodge at Bryce Canyon: This lodge is located right in the thick of Bryce Canyon National Park and is a short walk away from several of the main trailheads. The lodge includes dining, coffee, and a general store. Horseback ride tours through Bryce Canyon are also available for purchase. As you might imagine, lodging within the national park will have high demand and premium prices. Book several months (or more!) in advance. Rooms are available for around $230 per night and cabins for $240 per night. Pets are not allowed here (not including service dogs).

Bryce Canyon Resort: Located 5 minutes away from the Bryce Canyon National Park entrance, Bryce Canyon Resort has rooms and cabins available with rates ranging from $80 – $150. Pet-friendly rooms are available here upon further inquiry. Dining includes a non-complimentary breakfast buffet and the Cowboy Ranch House restaurant.

About Bryce Canyon City

Bryce Canyon City (also know as just “Bryce” on some maps) is the nearest city to the park entrance. Sitting just north of the park, Bryce consists of a main street on highway 63 with hotels, a few local restaurants, gas station, laundromat and a few spots to pick up a souvenir. In addition to the lodging options listed previously, this city offers:

Restaurants

Shopping and Other Things to Do

Services

  • Bryce Canyon National Park Shuttle: This bus shuttle has a handful of stops in Bryce Canyon City and takes you by a number of stops within Bryce Canyon National Park so you do not have to worry about parking. Buses typically arrive at each station every 15 minutes. Click the link to learn more.
  • Laundromat
  • Sinclair Gas Station & Mini-Mart: Approximately 1 mile from the Bryce Canyon National Park entrance.

Itinerary for a 2-Day Trip:

Day 1:

  • Morning: Scenic overlooks (Sunrise Point & Sunset Point)
  • Hike: Wall Street and Queen’s Garden Loop
  • Lunch: Ruby’s Inn
  • Afternoon: Upper Inspiration Point, Scenic Drive and Bristlecone Loop Trail
  • Dinner: Canyon Diner
  • Poke around Old Bryce City

Day 2:

  • Morning: Fairyland Loop Trail
  • Lunch: Canyon Diner or sack lunch
  • Afternoon: Navajo Loop to see Thor’s Hammer up close
  • Dinner: Ruby’s Inn
  • Get a souvenir at the General Store

If you’re planning a longer visit, you should also try to fit these in:

  • Peekaboo Loop Trail
  • Canyon Rim Trail
  • Ebenezer’s Barn and Grill Dinner Show

Summing Up

Bryce Canyon National Park is chock-full of incredible views. From the otherworldly dreamsicle rock spires to dark green pines, this park should be on the top of your list when visiting Utah’s Mighty Five.