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Are you planning a trip to Bryce Canyon National Park and want to make the most of it? Then this article is for you!
Bryce Canyon is one of the best national parks to visit in the United States and my favorite in Utah. Quite a statement, I know!
It’s one of the best places in the world to see hoodoos and honestly, the natural amphitheater is something like you’ve never seen before.
It’s a lot smaller than Zion and while it’s less visited, people tend to gather in the same areas. This means that a little bit of organization goes a long way!
In this article, I’ll share with you all my best tips for visiting Bryce Canyon National Park so you can enjoy your visit to the maximum.
🎧 1. Use the GuideAlong app
GuideAlong is an app I discovered when I first went to Banff and Yellowstone National Parks and since then, I’ve been using it on every single one of my national park trips.
If there is one thing I recommend every time, it’s that app because I genuinely love it and think it truly enhances any national park visit.
It’s an app you install on your phone, then you can buy the Bryce package (which also comes with Zion by the way).
Once that’s done, you can download the tour so it works offline.
It plays automatically as you drive and talks you through the scenery, history and geology along the way.
It also gives you tips and advice so it’s a bit like having a guide in the car.
The thing I love about it is that besides the fact that it’s very interesting, it also helps you plan your day and the guide is honest about what is worth it or not. That really helps to make decisions when you are a bit short on time.
⏰ 2. Get there early
If there’s one practical tip I’d give for Bryce, it’s to get there as early as you can.
As I mentioned, people tend to gather in the same spots, especially in the amphitheater.
So the earlier you arrive, the easier everything is.
You’ll be able to park near the viewpoints, catch the sunrise and enjoy the trails before the crowds build up.
If you get there at sunrise (or at least by 8AM), you won’t struggle with parking and will get to enjoy the place without the crowds.
By mid-morning, the main viewpoints and trailheads start to fill up fast.
🧥 3. Dress in layers
Bryce is much colder than you might expect, so always bring layers.
Because it sits so high up, the mornings can be freezing, and it’s often windy on the rim.
I went in October and was genuinely cold at sunrise, even though we were boiling in Zion just days before.
The good news is that you warm up quickly once you’re hiking or the sun is up, so layers you can peel off as you go are the way to go.
🏔️ 4. Be aware of the altitude
Bryce sits high up, between roughly 8,000 and 9,000 feet, with the far end of the scenic drive even higher.
That’s a lot higher than Zion, and you might find yourself a little more out of breath than usual, especially on the climbs back up out of the amphitheater.
Take it slowly, drink plenty of water and give yourself a bit of time to adjust. Nobody is in a rush here.
🚌 5. Use the free shuttle in peak season
Bryce has a free shuttle and while I know we all want to drive our own cars, it’s really worth using when it’s busy.
Unlike in Zion, the shuttle here is optional, so you can drive your own car if you’d rather.
But in peak season the amphitheater parking lots fill up and can even close to new cars, so hopping on the shuttle takes away a lot of the stress.
You can catch it from the visitor center or from Bryce Canyon City (including Ruby’s Inn), and it runs every 10 to 15 minutes.
🕑 6. Go to the amphitheater early morning or late afternoon
The amphitheater, which includes all the famous viewpoints and hikes like Sunrise Point, Sunset Point, Navajo Loop, Queen’s Garden, Inspiration Point and Bryce Point, is busiest in the middle of the day.
Between roughly 11am and 4pm, the parking can get so full that the rangers actually close it to new cars, blocking you before you even get there.
It happened to us, and we had to come back later.
To avoid the hassle, visit these viewpoints early in the morning or later in the afternoon, when it’s quieter and the light is lovely anyway.
🥾 7. Do the Navajo Loop & Queen’s Garden as a combo
If you only do one hike in Bryce, make it the Navajo Loop and Queen’s Garden combo.
It’s the most popular hike for good reason, as it takes you right down among the hoodoos rather than just looking at them from above.
It’s about 2.9 miles which means it’s very doable for most people and it’s well worth it.
The switchbacks in the Navajo Loop (Wall Street or Two Bridges) can be challenging going up but if you take it slow you’ll be fine.
It’s not steep since the trail was laid out as switchbacks but you are walking up for a while.
🌅 8. Catch the sunrise at the amphitheater
Sunrise at Bryce is unforgettable, so it’s worth setting an early alarm.
When the first light hits the hoodoos, they glow bright orange which is truly magical.
I actually love the twilight just before sunrise even more, as that’s when all the soft colors come out.
Sunrise Point is the classic spot, but honestly the whole amphitheater is beautiful at this hour. As a matter of fact, Sunset Point is not exactly a sunset point since it’s facing east and therefore is also a good spot for sunrise.
Just wrap up warm, as it’s cold before the sun is up.
🐴 9. Book your horseback ride in advance
Riding down into the amphitheater is a lovely way to see the hoodoos, but you need to book ahead.
Canyon Trail Rides is the only company that runs rides inside the park, so spaces go quickly.
They do a 1.5-hour ride through the Queen’s Garden and a longer 3-hour ride to Peekaboo Canyon, and the longer one in particular sells out fast.
You can book online up to a week in advance, and you’ll need to call them if you’re within seven days of your ride.
🚗 10. Don’t skip the scenic drive to Rainbow Point
A lot of people only see the amphitheater, but the scenic drive is well worth your time.
It runs 18 miles down to Rainbow Point and Yovimpa Point, passing loads of overlooks, with the lovely Bristlecone Loop Trail at the very end.
The GuideAlong app is especially good here, as there’s more driving time and therefore more commentary.
A handy tip: drive all the way to the end first, then stop at the overlooks on the way back, as they’re all on the left-hand side heading north.
💧 11. Bring water, snacks and sun protection
There’s not much shade on the trails, and the food options in the park are very limited, so come prepared.
I’d recommend packing a picnic, or at least plenty of snacks, plus lots of water.
Don’t underestimate the sun at this altitude either.
A hat, sunglasses and sunscreen are a must, even when it feels cool.
It’ll save you time and money, and means you can eat wherever you like.
✨ 12. Do some stargazing
Bryce Canyon is a certified dark sky park, which makes it one of the best places in the world to see the stars.
On a clear night you can see a huge number of stars and the Milky Way.
The park runs free astronomy ranger programs, but they sell out quickly, so check as soon as you arrive.
Alternatively, you can book a guided stargazing experience like I did. It was one of the most unexpected highlights of my whole trip.
They had huge telescopes and told us loads of stories about the constellations. We even got to see Saturn and its rings.
🌕 13. Join a ranger-led full moon hike
If your trip lines up with a full moon, don’t miss one of Bryce’s ranger-led full moon hikes.
These are guided walks of 1 to 2 miles out among the hoodoos by moonlight, where a ranger tells you about the moon and the park.
Seeing the hoodoos lit only by the moon is a completely different, absolutely magical experience.
You book tickets through Recreation.gov. They’re released in two batches for each month’s hike: 15 tickets 14 days before, and another 10 tickets 5 days before, at 8am Mountain Time, first come first served (up to 6 tickets per booking, with a small $1 fee).
A few rules to know: you must wear proper hiking boots or shoes with lug soles (they check at the visitor center), you can only use red-light torches, and children aged 7 and under aren’t allowed.
You also need to check in at the visitor center by 3pm on the day of the hike.
In deep winter, they sometimes run it as a free snowshoe hike instead.
🚧 14. Check for seasonal closures
Parts of Bryce close at certain times of year, so it’s worth checking before you go.
The Wall Street section of the Navajo Loop and some sections of the Rim Trail (including the lovely stretch from Bryce Point to Inspiration Point) close in winter, and snow can affect the trails and roads.
Always check the national park website for current conditions so you don’t turn up to find your planned hike shut.
🏞️ 15. Visit Red Canyon too
Just outside Bryce on Scenic Byway 12, you’ll find Red Canyon.
It’s not as famous as Bryce, but it’s beautiful in its own right, all bright red rock, and the road even passes through a couple of arches cut into the cliffs.
There’s a visitor center and some short trails, like the easy Pink Ledges trail.
It makes a lovely quick stop on your way in or out, so there’s really no reason to skip it.
📲 16. Download offline maps and playlists
Cellphone signal in and around Bryce is not great so it’s better to come prepared.
I would recommend downloading an offline map before you go even if the paper map they give you at the entrance is enough most of the time.
Also, you can get the free NPS app, which works offline if you download the Bryce Canyon package in advance.
If you’re using GuideAlong, remember to download that in advance too.
It’s also worth downloading any music, podcasts or audio tours before you set off, as you won’t always have signal on the longer drives.
🔗 You May Also Be Interested In:
- Bryce Canyon 2-Day Itinerary: How To Spend 48 Hours in Bryce Canyon National Park
- Zion National Park 2-Day Itinerary: How To Spend 48 Hours in Zion NP
- 16 Travel Tips For Visiting Zion National Park
- Valley of Fire 1-Day Itinerary From Las Vegas
- 1-Day Yellowstone Lower Loop Itinerary from the West Entrance
- 20 Best Winter Vacations in the USA
