Bryce Canyon National Park is a great place to visit even if you don’t have a lot of time. If you are doing this as a day stop, as we did, here are some things to keep in mind. Our one day adventure started the night before as we arrived an hour before sunset and we were gone by the next day at lunch.
Where is Bryce Canyon National Park
Bryce Canyon National Park is located in Southern Utah. It’s 4 hours, 259 miles, from Las Vegas NV and 4 hours, 268 miles, from Salt Lake City UT. This was our 3rd stop on our road trip and was such a stunning place for sunrise and sunset.
What is Bryce Canyon all about
As we were driving into the Bryce Canyon National Park, I thought to myself, this is nothing that I remember seeing on the internet. We were sandwiched between lush forest and there were no hoodoos in sight. As we turned onto Sunset Point I could see there was a canyon and as we made our way to the observation it was there, the famous hoodoos. What are hoodoos? They are irregular columns of rocks, they are a pinnacle, spire or odd-shaped rock left standing by the forces of erosion. They have been known to be called fairy chimneys and goblins and the word hoodoo means bewitch. To me they looked amazing and since this is a PG blog, I’m going to let you use your imagination to think what they look like, some say mushrooms lol ok.
Hoodoos are found all over the world, including one of my favorite places in Canada, Alberta. So what makes Bryce Canyon National Park so amazing, is the amount of Hoodoos here. It is the highest concentration of hoodoos in the world.
When is the best time to visit
There is really no specific time to visit, Bryce Canyon National Park is stunning anytime of the year. I will say this, if you plan to visit in the summer, do your hikes in the morning or late afternoon. The summer is hot and the sun is burning.
What to bring
If you are starting your day at sunrise in Bryce Canyon National Park you may find your morning chilly. In June the day time was about 70 degrees with 50 degree mornings. Once you get into the summer months it because monsoon season, so prepare for flash flooding. In the winter (starting October) night time lows drop below freezing. Always check the weather before you go here is a link to the 7 day forecast.
Water and snacks. Water is a must, no matter how short your hike is. You are at high elevations and the air is very dry. Be sure to bring a couple bottles of water or a hydration pack. Snacks are a great item as well. You will be burning those calories so bring some pepperoni sticks and some energy bars. Planning a longer hike, bring a lunch.
Warm clothing and light clothing. The temperatures range throughout the day. It will start quite cool and end warm to hot. Be sure to bring layers with you not to freeze or overheat.
Trail maps are always a good thing to bring. All trails has a great app to use while in the park. Most of the trails are marked well but you do want to get lost.
Sunscreen, hat, flashlight and first aid kit. If you are planning to catch the sunrise a flashlight is a great tool. Safety is and should always be a priority so be sure to bring a small first aid kit with you. And do not forget about your skin, a hat and sunscreen should be packed.
Your One day adventure
Sunrise at Inspiration point is a must. There is sunrise point but trust me when I say it gets crowded and the sunrise on the point is really stunning. There are 3 areas to see the sunrise here. The first spot is about 100 feet from the parking lot, the second is about another 100 feet higher from there and the third is a little further up. We stopped at the second one as there were only a couple people here and we got a great stop. Once you leave here you will be going to Sunset Point to start your trail and to get another look at the canyon sunrise.
Navajo Trail is now fully open and an easier hike to do. It is straight down and straight back up and is considered a moderately challenging trail. This 1.5 mile trail starts at Sunset Point to which you have 2 options to take you can go to the left at Thors Hammer and finish at Wall Street or go right and start at Wall Street. Either is a great choice and we decided to head left. The views as the sun was rising were amazing and we had some great shots of the valley. You will be walking among the giant Hoodoos and you can’t help but stop and look up a hundred times.
There are over 38 hiking trails in Bryce Canyon National Park. If you only have this a day stop then Navajo Loop is a great one to pick. If you have more time here are some other trails to do.
Wall Street
Wall street at Bryce Canyon National Park is probably the most popular spot and the most hiked area. This area was closed, due to a massive rock fall, but is now open as of June 2022. Wall Street got its name from the closeness of the hoodoos in this area, almost like a slot canyon. If you only have time for one trail make sure Wall Street is part of it, you won’t be disappointed.
Check out The Narrows in Zion National Park
More trails within Bryce Canyon National Park
Fairyland Loop – this almost 8 mile, 4 hour, hike will take you through some stunning terrain. I have been reading that counter clockwise is the best way to explore this one. This is considered a strenuous trail so be sure you are in shape.
Peekaboo Trail – In the heart of the park is this beauty trail. Also strenuous with amazing views of the wall of windows, this trail is 5.5 miles and will take you 3-4 hours
Queens Garden Trail – this is one a lot of people will combine with Navajo Loop it is 1.8 miles and a great short moderate trail.
Sunset at Sunset Point
Sunset at Sunset Point in Bryce Canyon National Park is a stunning view. We got here the night before and were able to make it for the stunning sunset. Arrive at least an hour before sunset to get the whole show and parking! You can walk along the rim trail and get a great view of the whole amphitheater. Be sure to stay away from the edge and if you have small kids to watch them at all times and share the dangers of getting too close.
Drive the park
It will take you just over 3 hours to visit all the viewpoints in the park on the 38 mile (roundtrip) route. So if you are not interested in any hiking this would be a great way to spend the day. If it is too hot or too cold your car will be your best friend to get you to all the amazing lookouts.
A final note
If you are planning to visit Utah, this is a must stop. You don’t have to spend days here to see the beauty Bryce Canyon National Park has to offer. It is not far from Zion National Park and we were able to hike the Narrows in Zion National Park and see the sunset here in one day.
The goal for us on this amazing road trip was too see as many different rock formations and terrain as we could, Bryce Canyon National park did not disappoint.
As always happy trails and be safe.