Park Overview

 

Located in south-central Utah along the eastern edge of the Paunsaugunt Plateau, Bryce Canyon National Park protects one of the most unusual landscapes in the American Southwest and the largest concentration of hoodoos found anywhere in the world. The park takes its name from Ebenezer Bryce, a Mormon pioneer who settled with his family near the canyon in the 1870s and helped build roads and irrigation systems in the area. Local residents began referring to the landscape near his homestead as “Bryce’s Canyon,” a name that eventually became Bryce Canyon. While visitors today marvel at the maze of towering hoodoos, Bryce reportedly viewed the rugged terrain a little more practically, famously describing it as “a hell of a place to lose a cow.” The area was first protected on June 8, 1923, when President Warren G. Harding established Bryce Canyon National Monument to preserve its “unusual scenic beauty, scientific interest, and importance,” before it was officially established as Bryce Canyon National Park on September 15, 1928. Despite its name, Bryce Canyon is not actually a single canyon, but a series of enormous natural amphitheaters carved into the edge of the plateau, where millions of years of erosion, frost wedging, and weathering have sculpted colorful limestone into thousands of towering hoodoos, fins, windows, and spires. The centerpiece of the park is Bryce Amphitheater, where visitors can take in sweeping views from Sunrise Point, Sunset Point, Inspiration Point, and Bryce Point before descending among the hoodoos on trails like the Navajo Loop, Queen’s Garden, and Peekaboo Loop. Other highlights include the towering Thor’s Hammer, the narrow switchbacks of Wall Street, the expansive views from Rainbow Point, miles of scenic hiking trails, brilliant fall foliage, snow-covered hoodoos in winter, and exceptionally dark skies that make Bryce Canyon one of southern Utah’s most memorable destinations after sunset as well.

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Closest Airports

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Cedar City Regional - 90 miles (1.5 hrs)

St George Regional - 145 miles (2.5 hrs)

Las Vegas Harry Reid Int'l - 260 miles (4 hrs)

Salt Lake City Int'l - 270 miles (4 hrs)

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Lodging

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Visitors looking to stay as close to Bryce Canyon National Park as possible have several convenient options, beginning with The Lodge at Bryce Canyon, the only traditional lodging located within the park and an excellent choice for travelers who want easy access to Bryce Amphitheater, Sunrise Point, Sunset Point, and nearby hiking trails. Just outside the park entrance in Bryce Canyon City, visitors will find additional accommodations, including the Best Western Plus Bryce Canyon Grand Hotel and Best Western Plus Ruby’s Inn, both of which provide quick access to the park without requiring a lengthy drive each morning. Vacation rental properties can also be found around Bryce Canyon City and the surrounding area, offering additional space, kitchens, and other amenities that can be especially useful for families and larger groups. Because accommodations closest to Bryce Canyon can fill quickly during the busy spring through fall travel season, the nearby town of Tropic, about 10 miles east of the park, is an excellent fallback option. Tropic offers a larger selection of independently operated hotels, motels, cabins, cottages, and vacation rentals while remaining only about a 15- to 20-minute drive from the park entrance, making it one of the most convenient alternatives when lodging inside or immediately outside Bryce Canyon is unavailable.

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Camping​

 

Bryce Canyon National Park has two developed campgrounds within the park, North Campground and Sunset Campground, both located near Bryce Amphitheater and the park’s major overlooks and trailheads. North Campground is open year-round, while Sunset Campground generally operates from spring through fall. Neither campground offers electrical, water, or sewer hookups, although seasonal potable water and an RV dump station are available. Campers who cannot secure a site inside the park can also find developed campgrounds around Bryce Canyon City, Red Canyon, and the surrounding area. For those looking to camp for free, dispersed camping is available on some surrounding U.S. Forest Service and BLM lands, including areas of Dixie National Forest outside the park. The best option is along Tom Best Spring Rd/FR117, 6 miles outside of the park near Tropic. These primitive sites have no toilets, water, trash service, or other amenities, and campers are responsible for following current Forest Service or BLM regulations and camping only where dispersed camping is permitted. 

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When to Visit

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The best time to visit Bryce Canyon National Park is generally from late spring through early fall, with May, June, September, and early October offering some of the best combinations of comfortable hiking temperatures and favorable weather. Summer is the park’s busiest season, particularly from June through September, but Bryce Canyon’s high elevation keeps daytime temperatures considerably cooler than many other destinations in southern Utah. The park averages roughly 8,000 feet above sea level, with some areas exceeding 9,000 feet, so visitors should be prepared for significant temperature swings throughout the day. Even when afternoons are warm and sunny, temperatures can drop dramatically after sunset, making jackets, warm layers, and appropriate sleeping gear important even during summer visits. July and August also bring the possibility of afternoon thunderstorms and lightning, while spring and fall offer cooler temperatures, fewer crowds, and occasional snowstorms. Winter transforms the park entirely, with snow covering the red and orange hoodoos and creating spectacular scenery, although freezing temperatures, snow-covered trails, and temporary road closures can make visiting more challenging. For most hikers, late May through June and September through early October provide the best overall conditions for exploring Bryce Canyon on foot. 

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Best Hikes

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• Fairyland Loop - 8 miles, 1,500' elevation gain (spectacular sunrise views early on)

• Navajo & Queens Garden Loop - 3 miles, 650' elevation gain (spectacular sunrise views early on)

• Wall Street & Queens Garden Loop - 3.5 miles, 650' elevation gain (spectacular sunrise views early on)

• Peekaboo Loop - 5.5 miles, 1,500' elevation gain (even better when combined with the Navajo Loop)

• Bristlecone Loop - 1 mile, 100' elevation gain (begins at the southernmost trailhead in the park, far fewer crowds)​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​