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Bryce Canyon National Park is one of Utah’s five spectacular national parks. It’s a unique place with incredible scenery that can easily spark the imagination.
Introduction to Bryce Canyon National Park
Bryce Canyon National Park protects a collection of natural amphitheaters with distinct geological features called hoodoos. It’s named after Ebenezer Bryce (1830-1913), who homesteaded in the area in the 19th century.
The area was originally inhabited by the Southern Paiute people, who developed a mythology around the hoodoos. The first people of European descent visited the canyon in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, including Mormon scouts in the 1850s. John Wesley Powell (1834-1902) led a scientific expedition in 1872, and a group of Mormons attempted to settle along the Paria River east of the canyon.
Ebenezer Bryce settled just below Bryce Amphitheater in 1874. He grazed cattle inside what’s now the park’s borders. Other settlers began to call the area Bryce’s Canyon, and the name stuck. A combination of droughts, flooding, and overgrazing caused the Paiutes and settlers to eventually leave the area, including Bryce, who moved to Arizona in 1880.
The public first learned about Bryce Canyon through a series of magazine articles published by Union Pacific and Santa Fe railroads in 1916. The first lodging and tourist services were set up by Ruby Syrett, Harold Bowman, and the Perry brothers.
Conservation of Bryce Canyon
Unfortunately, logging and unregulated visitation were taking their toll on Bryce Canyon. Stephen Mather (1867-1930), the Director of the National Park Service, proposed the area be made into State Park. The governor, however, was pushing for national protection. On June 8, 1923, President Warren G. Harding created Bryce Canyon National Monument.
That same year, the first road was built providing access to overlooks, and Bryce Canyon Lodge was built between 1924 and 1925. Over the next few years state and private land was transferred to the federal government, and the park was upgraded to Bryce Canyon National Park on February 25, 1928.
In 1931, President Herbert Hoover expanded the park boundaries by annexing an area to the south. The Civilian Conservation Corps built Rim Road in 1934, and an additional 635 acres was added to the park in 1942. The first superintendent started work in 1956. Before that, all administration was conducted from Zion National Park.
Planning Your Trip to Bryce Canyon 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. Check the official website for more info.
Before getting into some of the trails and highlights of the park, here’s some essential information to help you plan your trip:
Entrance Fees to Bryce Canyon National Park
The entrance fee to Bryce Canyon varies depending on your mode of transportation. Prices are current as of September 2025:
- For private vehicles, it’s US$35.
- For motorcycles, it’s US$30.
- For visitors entering on bicycle or on foot, it’s US$20 for adults and free for kids under 16.
- Holders of any interagency pass are covered for one vehicle or four per person fees.
Entrance fees are good for seven days. The park is open year-round.
Bryce Canyon National Park 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 24-minute film about the park, peruse the museum exhibits, or shop in the bookstore.
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 (1890-1961). There’s a restaurant at the lodge as well as separate cabins.
Camping at Bryce Canyon National Park
There are two developed campgrounds at Bryce Canyon. Prices are current as of September 2025:
- 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.
- 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.
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.
Activities at Bryce Canyon National Park
Hiking, stargazing, photography, horseback riding, and other outdoor activities are available. There are eight day hikes and two overnight trails. Check the official website for more information on these activities. Information about ranger guided programs can be found at the visitor center.
Shuttles at Bryce Canyon National Park
There are two free shuttles at the park:
- The Park Shuttle 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 north of the park in Bryce Canyon City and also stops at some hotels along the way. Keep in mind if you’re boarding the bus outside the park boundaries, you’ll need to show a fee receipt or interagency pass.
- The Rainbow Bus Tour takes visitors on a 3-hour guided tour of the Southern Scenic Drive. When in service, it runs twice daily, but reservations are a must. The bus stops at several scenic viewpoints and goes all the way to Rainbow Point. Check the official website to see if the tour is running, or for a list of authorized tour operators if you need transportation along the Southern Scenic Drive.
Parking at Bryce Canyon National Park
Parking is extremely limited at some areas of the park. In our experience, 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, get an early start.
Safety at Bryce Canyon National Park
My best advice is to watch your step 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.
Bryce Amphitheater
Bryce Amphitheater is the main attraction at Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah. It was created over millions of years of erosion, exposing pinnacles called hoodoos that are up to 200 feet high. There are four popular viewpoints along the rim.
Bryce Amphitheater is the largest of a series of amphitheaters in the park. It’s named for Ebenezer Bryce (1830-1913), an early Mormon pioneer who settled at the bottom in 1874.
Sunrise Point
Sunrise Point, at an elevation of 8,100 feet (2,469 meters), is the northernmost of the four viewpoints. It was named to encourage people staying in the lodge to visit during sunrise. Despite its name, the views are incredible any time of day. At Sunrise Point, you can go down into Bryce Amphitheater on the Queens Garden Trail.
Sunset Point
Sunset Point is the next viewpoint to the south. It’s the best place along the rim to see the brilliant colors of Bryce Amphitheater. You’ll see shades of red, orange, yellow, purple, and pink. The Navajo Loop Trail starts at Sunset Point, but you can also connect to it while on the Queens Garden Trail and hike back up.
Sunset Point is the best place to view Thor’s Hammer, which is the most famous Hoodoo at Bryce Canyon National Park. It’s 150 feet tall.
Inspiration Point
Inspiration Point is the third viewpoint. You can reach it by car, shuttle, or hiking along the Rim Trail. There are no trails that go down into the amphitheater from Inspiration Point.
Inspiration Point features three levels of viewpoints. Each one gives a different perspective on Bryca Amphitheater. It’s also a very dangerous spot with sheer drops, slippery slopes, and crumbly rocks. It’s highly recommended to stay on trails and not cross over railings.
Bryce Point
Bryce Point is southernmost of the four viewpoints of Bryce Amphitheater. It’s arguably the best view as well as the most popular. You can reach it by car, shuttle, or hiking along the Rim Trail.
From Bryce Point, you can access the Peekaboo Loop Trail and Hat Shop Trail. The Peekaboo Loop is 5.5 miles (8.9 kilometers) long and it’s recommended to hike in a clockwise direction. The Hat Shop Trail is 4 miles (6.4 kilometers) round-trip. Both trails are strenuous.
Paria View
You can reach Paria View by taking another road that splits off from the road to Bryce Point. From there, you can look out over a small slot canyon with more hoodoos. The 500-foot (152 meter) deep amphitheater was formed by the Yellow Creek.
Trails at Bryce Amphitheater
There are five trails in the Bryce Amphitheater area. I did all or parts of three of them.
Rim Trail
The Rim Trail runs along the rim of Bryce Amphitheater from Bryce Point to Fairyland Point. It’s 5.5 miles (8.9 kilometers) one-way, and connects all the popular viewpoints.
The section between Sunrise Point and Sunset Point is the only paved section of the trail. It’s only about ½-mile (0.8 kilometers) one-way and the easiest hike in the park. It’s fairly level and provides phenomenal views throughout. This is the part of the Rim Trail we hiked.
Queen’s Garden Trail
The Queen’s Garden Trail is one of the most popular trails at Bryce Canyon National Park. It takes visitors down into the famed Bryce Amphitheater from Sunrise Point.
The trail is 1.8 miles (2.9 kilometers) round-trip and is the easiest descent into the amphitheater. You can either walk back up the way you came or continue on one of the sections of the Navajo Loop, ending at Sunset Point, like I did. In that case, the total distance will be 2.9 miles (4.6 kilometers).
I really enjoyed the Queen’s Garden Trail. It’s not difficult at all, and there’s some incredible scenery as the trail winds in and out of the hoodoos.
There’s a short spur trail to a hoodoo that supposedly looks like Queen Victoria on her throne. I didn’t see it, so I guess my imagination wasn’t working that day.
If you continue along the trail, you’ll eventually reach the bottom of Bryce Amphitheater. From there, you can walk along a dried-up creek and through a forest until reaching the junction with the Navajo Loop Trail.
Navajo Loop Trail
The Navajo Loop Trail is one of the spectacular routes into Bryce Amphitheater. It begins and ends at Sunset Point.
The Navajo Loop Trail is a moderately difficult 1.3-mile (2.1 kilometer) loop. You can do just the Navajo Loop or combine it with the Queen’s Garden Trail like I did. In that case, it’ll be 2.9 miles (4.6 kilometers) long. It’s recommended to start walking down on the Queen’s Garden Trail at Sunrise Point.
The end of the Queen’s Garden Trail intersects with Navajo Loop at the bottom of Bryce Amphitheater. From there, you can continue up one of the legs of Navajo Loop – Wall Street or Two Bridges. During the winter, however, Wall Street is closed, so you’ll have to take the Two Bridges section.
The most amazing part of the trail is the series of switchbacks that takes you all the way up Wall Street. You can tell from the pictures why it has that name.
Once at the top there are some amazing views of the entire amphitheater, much like the ones from Sunset Point.
Southern Scenic Drive at Bryce Canyon National Park
When you’re done admiring Bryce Amphitheater, you can enjoy some more spectacular scenery by taking the Southern Scenic Drive. There are 9 scenic overlooks along the 15-mile (24 kilometer) road that ends at Rainbow Point. It’s recommended to drive all the way to the end and visit the overlooks on your way back to Bryce Amphitheater. That way, all of the stops will be on your righthand side. There’s no hiking required at any of the stops.
If you don’t have your own car, the Rainbow Bus Tour takes visitors on guided tours twice daily. It’s free of charge and reservations are a must. It makes stops at many of the scenic viewpoints. Check the official website to see if the tour is running.
Rainbow Point
Rainbow Point is at the very end of the Southern Scenic Drive. At 9,115 feet (2,778 meters), it’s one of the highest viewpoints in the park. From there, you can see the entire park to the north as well as take in some great views of the landscape.
Bristlecone Loop Trail
Access to the Bristlecone Loop Trail can be found near the parking lot. It’s an easy 1-mile (1.6 kilometer) loop through a forest. It’s also located at the highest point of the park at over 9,115 feet (2,778 meters).
In addition to the phenomenal views, you’ll walk past 1,800 year old bristlecone pines, blue spruces, Douglas firs, and white firs. Bristlecone pines are highly resistant to harsh weather conditions and bad soil.
Yovimpa Point
You can walk to Yovimpa Point from the Rainbow Point parking lot. There are spectacular views of another natural amphitheater to the south. It’s possible to see different layers of the Grand Staircase as well.
Black Birch Canyon
Heading back down the Southern Scenic Drive, the next stop is Black Birch Canyon. Since black birch trees only grow out east, the canyon is misnamed. As expected, there are more great views of the landscape.
Ponderosa Canyon
Ponderosa Canyon is named for the ponderosa pines on the canyon floor. They can grow up to 150 feet tall and over 5 feet in diameter, but their size is dwarfed by the canyon.
Agua Canyon
Next is Agua Canyon, where two of the park’s famous hoodoos can be found. The Hunter is on the left, and the Rabbit (also known as the Backpacker) is on the right.
In the early days of the park, an effort was made to name some of the more prominent hoodoos. That stopped after many of them naturally fell apart and stopped resembling what they were named after.
Pink Cliffs
Shortly after Agua Canyon, an unmarked viewpoint allows visitors to look out over the Pink Cliffs.
Natural Bridge
Continuing along the Southern Scenic Drive is Natural Bridge, which is actually an arch. The scenery is stunning and it’s probably my favorite viewpoint along the drive.
Farview Point
Further along is Farview Point, which lives up to its name. From this viewpoint, on a clear day, you can see all the way into Arizona.
Piracy Point
A short 0.15-mile (240 meter) trail at Farview Point takes you to Piracy Point, where there are incredible views overlooking Swamp Canyon to the north. Some claim Piracy Point is named for the two large buttes in the distance that apparently look like two warships preparing for battle.
Swamp Canyon
Swamp Canyon is the final stop along the Southern Scenic Drive before reaching Bryce Amphitheater. This narrow canyon has two small creeks flowing through it. The lush vegetation, hence the name, makes it a stark contrast to Bryce Amphitheater.
