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There’s nothing like Bryce Canyon National Park to spark the imagination. It’s located in southern Utah and not too far from Zion National Park.
I spent one full day at Bryce Canyon. It was the perfect amount of time to see everything in the park as well as get in a couple of hikes. In fact, if you’re ok without hiking, you can cover a lot in just a half day.
Visitor Center
There’s one visitor center at the park. It’s located just past the entrance gate and is open year-round. You can watch a 20 minute film about the park or shop in the bookstore.
Entrance Fees
The entrance fee to Bryce Canyon is US$35 per vehicle (as of September 2024) and is good for seven days. It’s also covered by all of the interagency passes. The park is open year-round.
Camping
There are two developed campgrounds at Bryce Canyon. North Campground has 50 RV only sites and 46 tent only sites. Reservations are required from mid-May through mid-October, and they’re on a first-come, first-served basis the rest of the year. It costs US$30 for both RV and tent sites (as of September 2024).
Sunset Campground has 46 RV only sites and 52 tent only sites. They’re reservable during peak season from mid-May to mid-October and available on a first-come, first-served basis at other times the campground is open. Sunset Campground is closed from November to mid-April. It costs US$30 for both RV and tent sites (as of September 2024).
Because we were scheduled to arrive in the evening, we didn’t want to risk not getting a campsite. We camped in the nearby town of Tropic for two nights.
The Lodge at Bryce Canyon
The Lodge at Bryce Canyon is the only lodge at the park. It was built between 1924 and 1925 by architect Gilbert Stanley Underwood. There’s a restaurant at the lodge as well as separate cabins.
Activities
Hiking, stargazing, photography, horseback riding, and other outdoor activities are available. Check the official website for more information on these activities. Information about ranger guided programs can be found at the visitor center.
Safety
My best advice is to be careful on the trails and wear proper footwear. Also drink plenty of water and seek shelter if there’s lightning. Lightning strikes are a threat at Bryce Canyon.
Parking
Parking is extremely limited at some areas of the park. For us, finding a spot at Sunset Point, Inspiration Point, Bryce Point, and Rainbow Point was a nightmare. We had to circle for about 20 minutes before something opened up. Everywhere else, it wasn’t nearly as bad. To avoid this problem, go as early as possible (something we unfortunately didn’t do).
Shuttles
A free shuttle bus makes stops at the four viewpoints around Bryce Amphitheater (Sunset Point, Sunrise Point, Inspiration Point, and Bryce Point) from mid-April to mid-October. If you only plan on seeing the amphitheater, this is the way to go. The shuttle runs on a loop, leaving from a shuttle station and parking lot outside of the park boundaries to the north in Bryce town. There are also stops at some hotels in town as well.
Another shuttle takes visitors on the scenic drive south of Bryce Amphitheater to Rainbow Point twice daily. Reservations are a must for this guided tour, but it’s free of charge. It makes stops at several scenic viewpoints.
