Bryce Canyon: our complete guide

Hello, I’m back with another article about the United States. This time, I’m handing the keyboard over to our guest Laura, who is sharing her trip through the United States and, more specifically, her visit to Bryce Canyon National Park. I haven’t had the chance to visit myself, but I know it is a destination that many travelers love.

My trip through the American West, including Bryce Canyon National Park took place some time ago. Even so, I still have wonderful memories of it. It is the kind of American national park that is well worth visiting at least once and others like the Grand Canyon and Monument Valley!

At Bryce Canyon, you can discover natural arches rising from the desert landscape, take in the vast amphitheater, and admire the striking red rock formations. Whether you’re an experienced hiker or prefer scenic drives, Bryce Canyon offers a range of experiences, from backcountry exploration to well-equipped campgrounds.

I absolutely loved the three days I spent in Bryce Canyon, Its desert landscapes and numerous viewpoints make it a highlight of any road trip through the western United States. The best part is that there are so many overlooks, offering a different perspective on Bryce’s colorful rock formations at every turn. The sunsets and sunrises are particularly spectacular. The rocks’ warm colors are especially beautiful at these times of day.

The aim of this article is to give you a complete guide to visiting this iconic national park during your road trip in the United States. I can assure you that it is well worth the visit. I should also add that I consider Bryce Canyon the most beautiful canyon I’ve visited during my travels through the American West.

The hoodoos (natural rock pillars) are what make this canyon so special. Some are so distinctive that they have even been given names (The Hunter, The Rabbit, Natural Bridge, Tower Bridge, Thor’s Hammer etc). In fact, the National Park Service named Bryce Canyon the most beautiful national park in the entire United States.

Bryce Canyon was once covered by an ocean. This body of water was connected to the Gulf of Mexico. Over time, sand, clay and limestone accumulated on the seafloor. The combination of these materials and the effects of erosion gradually created the magnificent hoodoos, also known as fairy chimneys. This geological process shaped Bryce Canyon into the landscape we see today. The result is a unique and colorful setting. At the heart of the red canyon lies the vast collection of rock formations known as the Bryce Canyon Amphitheater.

Bryce Canyon is in Utah, between Nevada and Colorado, about 248.5 miles from Las Vegas. If you’re staying in the city, I’d definitely recommend setting aside one to three days of your trip to explore Bryce Canyon.

Here are some of the most beautiful viewpoints in Bryce Canyon National Park and everything you need to know about them!

The national park has 15 well-developed viewpoints. They’re all unique, but I can tell you that some are particularly worth seeing. If you want to see them all in one day, I recommend the Scenic Drive. You can access all the viewpoints of Bryce Canyon by car on this 18-mile scenic drive. This route is especially convenient if you are short on time, the weather is uncertain, or you simply do not feel like hiking. Along the route, you can also see Natural Bridge (the highest natural arch) and Bryce’s two most famous hoodoos: The Hunter and The Rabbit.

This viewpoint is the farthest from the Bryce Canyon amphitheater. You may reach this viewpoint early in your visit, and and the view immediately makes you want to head down into Bryce and explore every colorful, deserted corner up close. This was where I truly realized the scale of the National Park! It offers one of the widest panoramic views of the magnificent area.

Sunrise Point is one of my favorites of all the must-see viewpoints in Bryce Canyon. As you’ve probably guessed by now, the view is beautiful throughout the day, but it is especially rewarding at sunrise. I strongly recommend arriving early in the morning, as it offers a magnificent view of the amphitheater and the warm tones of the hoodoos at sunrise are simply sublime. I can assure you that it is well worth getting up a little earlier to see this viewpoint.

I would say the name of this viewpoint is slightly misleading. In my opinion it’s not the best place to watch the sunset. The area gets shaded very quickly and many of the hoodoos fall into shadow. It’s still a very nice spot during the day and this is where you’ll find the famous Thor’s Hammer.

At an elevation of 1.7 miles, Rainbow Point is Bryce’s highest viewpoint. This is where you’ll get the most spectacular views of the amphitheater, hoodoos and pine forests. One practical tip: save this spot for the end of your visit, the panorama may feel even more impressive at the end of your visit! In my opinion, the four viewpoints I’ve just mentioned are the must-sees in Bryce Canyon. They all offer views of the wonderful amphitheater.

If you have enough time, I would recommend adding this one to your itinerary. Some visitors consider it less striking than the others because the scenery is so different. It doesn’t overlook the incredible amphitheater of Bryce Canyon. But the landscape is sublime, with a more mountainous setting and extensive pine forests.

If I had to describe Fairyland Point in one word, it would be vertiginous. From here, you can fully appreciate the height of the hoodoos and how small everything else appears beside them. It’s also the start of the Fairlyloop walk, well worth doing!

You can also get great views of the natural rock formations from Farview Point, Para View, Upper Inspiration Point, Swamp Canyon, Ponderosa Canyon, Black Birch Canyon, Agua Canyon and Bryce Point. I’d recommend going there if you want to see the hoodoos of Bryce Canyon from every possible perspective.

Now that I have covered the main viewpoints of the national park, I hope I’ve inspired you to head into the canyon and explore the park’s fairy chimneys and red cliffs up close. Several trails allow you to experience the landscape up close.

• Time: approximately 2 hours
• Distance: 1.8 miles

In my opinion, the Queens Garden Trail is one of the most beautiful trails in Bryce Canyon. It starts at Sunrise Point. The farther you descend, the more deeply you enter the hoodoo-filled landscape. The warm-colored rocks and cliffs create a truly magical setting. I really loved this walk and it’s considered easy!

Bonus: if you walk another 0.8 mile, you’ll come to the next walk, the Navajo Loop, which is just as beautiful and is also well worth doing. As you might expect, the only downside to this walk is that it’s very busy.

• Time: 1.5–2 hours
• Distance: 1.2 miles

The Navajo Loop is one of the most famous hikes in Bryce Canyon. Its trails include Thor’s Hammer (a very impressive hammer-shaped fairy chimney), Two Bridges (two natural rock bridges) and, best of all, Wall Street (a spectacular trail with high, narrow walls). I really enjoyed this trail. Every new turn and descent revealed something different.

I recommend combining both trails: Queens Garden Trail and Navajo Loop, for a varied route through some of Bryce Canyon’s most distinctive scenery.

• Time: 1 to 2 hours
• Distance: 0.9 miles

The Rim Trail is easy to hike, and similar in difficulty to the previous two. It is an enjoyable trail. It takes you to several viewpoints, including Inspiration Point and Bryce Point. If you want to begin with an easier option, you can take this trail, which allows you to admire the beauty of the canyon without getting too tired.

• Time: 3 hours
• Distance: 5.6 miles

This trail is more difficult than the previous three. The advantage is that it is less crowded. You’ll be able to enjoy the breathtaking scenery with fewer people around.
Along this hike, you will see two of Bryce Canyon’s most famous landmarks: the Wall of Windows (a cliff face with many windows) and the Cathedral (a group of spectacular hoodoos).

If you have the time (and energy ahah), these first four trails are really the ones I recommend. Each one is well worth doing and offers views of all the wonders of Bryce Canyon Park! If you want to do all four hikes, the combination is called the Big Loop.

Don’t forget that there are also lesser-known hikes that also offer beautiful views of the cliffs and arches.

• Time: 4 hours
• Distance: 8 miles

The Fairyland Loop lives up to its name—it feels almost magical! It’s a challenging trail with steep elevation changes. The best thing about it is that it’s not busy. So you can take your time and enjoy every section of the landscape! As I said, if you choose this walk, start from either Fairlyland Point or Sunrise Point.

I was lucky enough to complete all of these trails. In my opinion, they are among the most memorable in the park. I also invite you to check out the other trails in Bryce Canyon, which are also great!

• Time: 1 hour
• Distance: 0.9 miles

Start at Rainbow Point, which, as mentioned earlier, is the highest point in the canyon. This is an easy loop that allows you to explore a variety of landscapes, passing through a magnificent pine forest.

• Time: 2 hours
• Distance: 4 miles

This hike takes you down into the canyon, leading to an area filled with massive hoodoos found in this part of the park.

• Distance: 22.3 miles
• Time: approximately 11.5 hours

This is easily the longest and steepest walk in the park. You can, of course, complete it over several days. There are well-equipped campgrounds along the way. These sites provide places to rest and take in all Bryce has to offer.

Of course, there are other routes you can do, including the Riggs Spring Loop Trail, the Tropic Trail, the Bryce Transverse with the park’s shuttle, and the Swamp Canyon Loop.

To get to Bryce Canyon from France, you can search for flights from Paris to Las Vegas using Skyscanner, which we recommend and use frequently. You can find flights from Paris to Las Vegas from as little as €600 if you’re flexible and depending on the season.

If you’re coming from Quebec, you can also fly from Montreal to Las Vegas. Return flights generally cost between €350 and €600 per person.

To get to Bryce Canyon National Park from Las Vegas, you can rent a car. I recommend that you check out the car rental comparison site Discover Cars.

The national park operates shuttle buses from late May to early October to reduce vehicle traffic. Free shuttles serve the most popular viewpoints. They run every 10 to 20 minutes.

At the time of writing, the US national park entrance fee is $35 per vehicle, $30 per motorcycle and $20 per pedestrian.

This national park is open year-round. The best time to visit depends on the experience you’re looking for.

In spring, Bryce’s temperatures are pleasant: between 5°C and 20°C. This allows you to enjoy the views and hikes of Bryce Canyon without dealing with excessive heat. However, you should also be prepared for a lot of rain during this time of year.

I visited Bryce Canyon in summer. Bryce Canyon. The park attracts large crowds during the summer months. Temperatures are high (around 30°C and more). The heat is all the more noticeable in the middle of the arid desert landscape. I would advise you to go out in the morning or late afternoon if you want to go walking or hiking.

Autumn is a good time to visit Bryce, as the fall colors bring out the orange tones in the rocks and cliffs. I have heard the scenery can be even more striking! What’s more, the trails are much less crowded and the temperatures remain reasonable (between 5°C and 12°C).

In winter, of course, Bryce is covered in snow, creating a magical atmosphere and breathtaking scenery. The only downside is that snow and freezing temperatures close some trails.

You can stay overnight inside the park. For an experience in the heart of the colorful rock formations, you have a choice of two campgrounds, Sunset Campground and North Campground. I spent a night at the Sunset Campground, where the sites were well equipped.

The main drawbacks: there are no showers on site and reservations are not available. First come, first served!

One practical tip: bring a warm sleeping bag and dress warmly in your tent, as temperatures fall sharply at night and can be much cooler than during the day.

For the record, I brought a lightweight summer sleeping bag and I can tell you that I quickly regretted that decision. Aside from that mistake, the camping experience was a lot of fun, especially when you step out of your tent and find yourself in the middle of a Wild West set.

If you prefer not to camp, you can stay in Bryce City or Cannonville. Both are close to the park.

For a comfortable experience in the mountains of Cannonville, the Bryce Glamp and Camp Hotel offers Luxury Domes. These are original domes that sleep four people, with a panoramic view of the mountains and all the comforts of a hotel.

If you want to stay in Bryce City and be closer to the park, the Best Western PLUS Ruby’s Inn is a comfortable, well-appointed hotel located just 0.9 miles from Bryce Canyon Park. I stayed there for two nights. I liked the location and the indoor pool, which was very welcome after a day of hiking in the dry climate.
Please note that the rooms fill up quickly, so make sure that you book well in advance!

Visit this page to learn more about activities in and around the park.

Mossy Cave Trail

• • • • Time: 1 hour
      • Distance: 0.8 mile

This short, easy hike follows the Tropic Ditch River just before the entrance to Bryce Canyon Park. At the end of the trail, you will find a beautiful waterfall and cave.

Bryce Canyon Country Rodeo

If you’re looking for an all-American activity, rodeos are held from Wednesday to Saturday evenings in summer. Don’t worry, the cowboys and horse trainers are the ones putting on the show!

Fly over Bryce Canyon by plane or helicopter

After exploring the viewpoints and trails mentioned above, you can also choose to see Bryce Canyon from a completely different perspective: an aerial view of the entire park. Prices for this activity range from $120 to $200 per person.

Horseback riding in Bryce

Explore Bryce Canyon on horseback, a magical and quintessentially American experience! For about $80 per person, agencies usually offer two-hour rides. Ranger-led tours are available on request.

Zion Park

The mythical Zion Park is located 49.7 miles from Bryce Canyon. This park is a remarkable slot canyon. I haven’t had the chance to visit it, but I have heard nothing but positive feedback. For the record, Zion Park was the first national park created in Utah. It has towering cliffs, natural pools and waterfalls to explore, accompanied by wildlife (bison, deer, etc).

In conclusion, as you have probably gathered by now, I simply loved my 3 days at Bryce Canyon. I can only encourage you to visit. You may also encounter wildlife along the way. I saw chipmunks and deer.

With this article, this American national park should now feel much easier to explore. During your road trip in the United States, you will have the information you need to plan your visit. If you’re planning to visit other states of the USA and other American national parks, I invite you to read the articles dedicated to the Yellowstone National Park and the Grand Teton National Park. They are just as memorable, according to Sylvain & Mélanie!

Feel free to share your experience if you have already visited the western United States and Bryce Canyon!

Written by Laura CALLES

I had the chance to visit the USA twice. I simply adored the country, especially the American west! I have lots of lovely memories and wonderful discoveries!

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