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Located in Utah, Bryce Canyon National Park is one of the Mighty 5 and one of the best places to visit in the Southwest.
It’s very different to Zion as it’s known for its hoodoos which are tall orange rock spires that were made over millions of years.
While you can find them in a few places around the world, they are particularly incredible in Bryce Canyon as they fill an entire natural amphitheater.
Now, Bryce Canyon may not be the biggest national park in the country but there sure is a lot to do.
In this article, you’ll find all the best things to do in Bryce Canyon National Park.
🥾 1. Hike the Navajo Loop & Queen’s Garden combo
As for any national park in Utah, hiking is a must do!
And if you only do one hike in Bryce, make it this one.
The Navajo Loop is a 1.3 mile loop trail that starts at Sunset Point. It takes you down the switchbacks of Wall Street and back up on the Two Bridges side. It’s a very famous hike and you get to see the switchbacks as well as wonderful views of the amphitheater including some famous hoodoos like Thor’s Hammer.
The Queen’s Garden hike starts at Sunrise Point. It’s 1.8 miles and goes all the way down in the ‘garden’ of hoodoos to the Queen Victoria hoodoo.
Both of them are fantastic and they can be combined as a bigger loop which is 2.9 miles and takes 2 to 3 hours.
It’s the most popular hike in the park for good reason.
🌅 2. Watch the sunrise at the amphitheater
If there is one thing to know about me, it’s that I absolutely love a good sunrise and Bryce Canyon is one of the best places in the world for that!
When the first light hits the hoodoos, the whole amphitheater glows bright orange, and it’s magical.
Sunrise Point is the classic spot (as the name suggests, though Sunset Point is not actually an ideal sunset point).
The rim of the amphitheater is facing east which means you get beautiful sunrises there so while Sunrise Point is the most famous point, you could also go to Sunset Point, Inspiration Point or Bryce Point and get beautiful views.
The twilight just before the sun comes up is lovely as well, with all its soft colors so I would recommend getting there a bit earlier.
💡 PRO TIP: Make sure you are wearing layers and a good jacket as it’s cold and often windy on the rim before the sun is up.
💫 3. Go to Inspiration Point
Inspiration Point is one of the best viewpoints in the whole park.
It’s located in the amphitheater, on the way to Bryce Point.
There is a parking lot where you can park your car and walk from there though my personal recommendation would actually be to park at Bryce Point and walk the rim trail to Inspiration Point.
This part of the rim trail is honestly one of the best in the park and you’ll want to stop every 2 minutes to take pictures.
It’s 1.5 miles each way, making it 3 miles altogether and takes about 1.5 hours to complete altogether (though you always have the option of walking from Bryce Point to Inspiration Point and taking the shuttle back).
Side note: That trail is closed in winter.
⛰️ 4. Enjoy the views from Bryce Point
Bryce Point gives you arguably the best view of the entire amphitheater.
Perched right at the far end of the amphitheater, it looks back over all the hoodoos.
Although you might think that you would be getting a similar view, there is something about the scale of it all and the location that makes it even more breathtaking.
There is a parking lot where you can park and from there it’s a quick 5 to 10 minute walk to the viewpoint.
Please bear in mind that the parking lot is not that big and fills up fast so it’s better to get there early or take the shuttle.
🚶 5. Walk the Rim Trail
The Rim Trail runs right along the top of the amphitheater, connecting all the main viewpoints. In total it’s about 5.5 miles (one way), from Fairyland Point at one end to Bryce Point at the other.
The great thing is you can walk as much or as little of it as you like.
As I mentioned, my favorite stretch is Bryce Point to Inspiration Point, but there are other lovely sections too.
If you want something short and easy, the paved part between Sunrise Point and Sunset Point is only about 0.5 miles. It’s flat and accessible, so it’s a nice gentle option with beautiful views.
It’s also a really handy way to link up the viewpoints without having to move your car and fight for parking each time.
Just bear in mind that some sections close in winter.
🐴 6. Go horseback riding into the amphitheater
Seeing the hoodoos from the saddle is a lovely and different way to explore the amphitheater.
There are a few horse riding companies in the area, but most of them are actually outside the park.
Canyon Trail Rides is the only one that runs rides inside Bryce itself, leaving from the corral near Sunrise Point.
They offer two options: a 1.5-hour ride through the Queen’s Garden (around $85) and a longer 3-hour ride to Peekaboo Canyon.
The mules and horses are sure-footed, though they do walk close to the edge, so it’s not ideal if you’re very scared of heights.
That being said, don’t worry if you don’t have any experience, it’s just a walk. There is no loping or anything that requires experience.
I would recommend booking ahead though as spaces go quickly, especially for the longer ride.
You can book online up to a week in advance, and you’ll need to call them if you’re within 7 days.
🚗 7. Drive the 18-mile Scenic Drive
Most people stick to the amphitheater, but the scenic drive is well worth your time and shows you a quieter side of the park.
It runs 18 miles down to the far southern end (about 35 minutes each way), passing loads of overlooks along the way.
This is where I’d really recommend the GuideAlong app, as there’s plenty of driving time and lots of commentary.
A handy tip: drive all the way to the end first, then stop at the viewpoints on the way back, as they’re all on the left-hand side heading north, which makes pulling in much easier.
🌲 8. Walk the Bristlecone Loop Trail
At the very end of the scenic drive, there is another trail called the Bristlecone Loop Trail.
It’s an easy 1-mile loop through ancient bristlecone pines and with beautiful views over the canyons that you can’t get anywhere else in the park.
The loop also links the two viewpoints at the far end of the drive, Rainbow Point and Yovimpa Point, so you get to tick off both while you’re there.
🌉 9. Stop at Natural Bridge
Natural Bridge is the highlight of the scenic drive in my opinion.
It’s a huge arch of red rock which is quite unique in Bryce.
The viewpoint is located on the scenic drive. It’s an easy stop and it only takes 5 to 10 minutes as there is no walking involved.
🏛️ 10. Go to the Visitor Center
The visitor center is well worth a quick visit too.
It’s located near the park entrance and opens at 8AM (though I would recommend double checking the times as it can vary throughout the year).
Inside, you’ll find the park store where you can buy merch and get your passport stamps.
There is also an information desk where you can talk to the rangers. This is very helpful as they really give recommendations tailored to your wishes.
Also, there is a little exhibition so that’s a good place to learn more about the park, its geology and history.
Finally, you’ll find a sign with the schedule for the ranger-led programs of the day.
📷 11. Stop at Ponderosa Point
This is another lovely stop on the scenic drive.
From here you look down into a deep canyon with hoodoos, with tall ponderosa pines rising from the floor far below.
Again, there is no hiking involved here as it’s only a few steps from the parking lot.
🧗 12. Hike the Peekaboo Loop
For a longer, more adventurous hike, you should consider the Peekaboo Loop.
It’s around 5.5 miles from Bryce Point and considered strenuous as it drops deep into the amphitheater and weaves right through the hoodoos before climbing back out.
It’s more or less the same trail the horse rides use, and you can combine it with the Navajo Loop and Queen’s Garden for the famous “Figure 8” hike.
💧 13. Walk to the Mossy Cave waterfall
Located just off Scenic Byway 12, the Mossy Cave Trail is a bit of a change of scenery.
It’s only 0.8 miles and takes about an hour.
The trail follows a stream to a little grotto and a small waterfall (which was actually man-made by Mormon settlers).
It’s about 20 minutes from Bryce Canyon City but please note that the parking lot is very small. This means you might have to wait for a bit.
I really like this trail because it’s so different to the others but I wouldn’t sacrifice the hikes in the amphitheater for it.
✨ 14. Go 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 the entire Milky Way and it’s truly breathtaking.
The park runs free astronomy ranger programs, but they sell out quickly, so that’s something you should look up in advance.
Another thing you can do though is book a guided stargazing experience. That’s what I did and I absolutely loved it!
It’s in Bryce Canyon City (near the roundabout). You will be with 2 very passionate guides who will tell you loads of stories about the stars and constellations.
They have huge telescopes so they can point them at the constellations or stars of interest. It was a very cool experience. We even got to see Saturn and honestly I wasn’t expecting to see the rings that well!
🍽️ 15. Go for a meal at Ruby’s Inn or Ebenezer’s Barn & Grill
Ruby’s Inn is an institution in Bryce Canyon City and whether you’re staying there or not, it’s definitely worth stopping there.
There is the main hotel but also a big shop and a buffet-style restaurant.
You can’t book in advance, you just have to show up and they will tell you how long you’ll have to wait.
It was quite busy when we went but we only waited for 10 minutes.
I’m not usually a fan of buffets but I actually thought the food was great here and it was good value for money considering there are barely any other options.
Alternatively, if you are into country music, you should book the dinner show at Ebenezer’s Barn & Grill.
This is more than just a meal, it’s an entire country music show!! It’s fun and unique.
🌕 16. Join a ranger program or a full moon hike
The ranger programs in Bryce are a great way to learn more about various aspects of the park. They are free (well, included in your entrance fee) so you should take full advantage of them!
Depending on the season, you might find guided walks, geology talks or evening astronomy programs.
If your trip lines up with a full moon, don’t miss the ranger-led full moon hikes, which take you out among the hoodoos by moonlight.
You need to book these in advance on Recreation.gov, and you’ll need proper hiking boots with lug soles to join.
You can find the schedule on the NPS app as well as at the visitor center.
🏞️ 17. Visit Red Canyon nearby
This one is not technically in Bryce Canyon National Park but it’s so close that it has to be mentioned!
Just before getting to Bryce Canyon City, on Scenic Byway 12, you’ll find an area called Red Canyon.
It’s not as famous as Bryce, but it’s beautiful in its own right.
There are lovely hiking trails and the road even passes through a couple of arches cut into the cliffs.
There’s a visitor center where you can ask for more information.
If you don’t have too much time, I would recommend the easy 0.6-mile Pink Ledges trail.
🗺️ Map of the best things to do in Bryce Canyon
💡 Good to know
- You will need to pay the entrance fee or use an America the Beautiful pass to enter. If you are visiting more than 2 parks it’s definitely worth getting the pass.
- Bryce has a free shuttle, but unlike Zion it’s optional, so you can drive your own car. It’s handy in peak season when the amphitheater parking fills up.
- Bryce is high up, between roughly 8,000 and 9,000 feet, so it’s much colder than Zion, especially in the mornings. Wear layers, and take the climbs slowly as the altitude can leave you breathless.
🔗 You May Also Be Interested In:
- Bryce Canyon 2-Day Itinerary: How To Spend 48 Hours in Bryce Canyon National Park
- 16 Travel Tips For Visiting Bryce Canyon National Park
- Zion National Park 2-Day Itinerary: How To Spend 48 Hours in Zion NP
- 15 Things To Do in Zion National Park
- Valley of Fire 1-Day Itinerary From Las Vegas
- 1-Day Yellowstone Lower Loop Itinerary from the West Entrance
