This 20-mile-long National Park Is Part of Utah’s ‘Mighty Five’—and It’s Home to the Greatest Collection of Hoodoos in the World

Bryce Canyon may be grouped into what’s known as Utah’s “Mighty Five,” but the 20-mile-long national park is impressive in its own right. Home to the greatest collection of hoodoos—spire-shaped sedimentary rock formations—anywhere in the world, the park is made up of natural amphitheaters (or bowls) carved into the Paunsaugunt Plateau. It’s also a hiker’s paradise and an International Dark Sky Park; visitors come from around the world to witness the pristine night skies.

“Bryce is the smallest of the five national parks in Utah, but because of that, people do not allow enough time to really experience the whole park,” says April LeFevre, owner and guide at Canyon Fever Guides. She warns against underestimating how much time you need to explore, suggesting travelers plan for at least a day and a half or two days, as that amount of time will be enough to “enjoy the sunrise, possibly hike into the canyon, and more.”

While the expansive Bryce Amphitheater, the largest of the bowls, tends to be one of the main draws to the park, there’s a lot more to do and see across the nearly 36,000 acres—and we tapped a few local experts to share their best advice for planning a trip to Bryce Canyon National Park.

• April LeFevre is a local private tour guide; she’s the owner and sole guide at Canyon Fever Guides.

• Richard Herron is the general manager at The Lodge at Bryce Canyon, the only hotel within the park.

• Rick Green is a guide and owner of Excursions of Escalante.

Related: 24 Best Places to Visit in Utah — Including National Parks, Turquoise Lakes, and Giant Salt Flats

How to Get There

Bryce Canyon National Park is located in southern Utah—about 84 miles from neighboring Zion National Park. Cedar City Regional Airport (CDC), which offers connections to Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC), is the closest airport to the park, but it’s still a 90-minute drive away. Some travelers, especially those coming from international destinations, choose to fly into either SLC or Las Vegas’ Harry Reid International Airport (LAS); from there, you’ll either need to rent a car to make the four-plus-hour journey or opt for a group tour with provided transportation.

Know Before You Go

As LeFevre mentioned, you’ll want to give yourself at least a couple of days to immerse yourself in the park—but Rick Green, guide and owner of Excursions of Escalante, also adds you’ll need to be prepared with a “good plan and the proper gear” if you want to expand the amount of hiking you can do within the park. Start by downloading the NPS App and the AllTrails app, and create a packing list with all of the essentials (hiking shoes, sun protection, a backpack, water, etc).

When hiking or driving through the park, keep an eye out for all of the amazing wildlife that live in this high-elevation, arid ecosystem—just don’t feed them. Richard Herron, the general manager at The Lodge at Bryce Canyon, says it’s not uncommon to see mule deer, Utah prairie dogs, ravens, chickadees, and Steller’s jay. Green also notes you may see foxes, squirrels, chipmunks, marmots, and, rarely, the California condor.

If you time it right, you might also get a glimpse of elk. “It’s a special treat in the fall and in the spring to see the Rocky Mountain elk because they use the plateau as a crossing at that time of year. You see them mostly on your scenic drive down by Rainbow Point in the southern end of the park,” says LeFevre.

Before your trip, you may also want to read up on the flora that grow within the park. “The bronze evening primrose is really fun to watch for in the spring. It's a big white flower about the size of the palm of your hand, and it only blossoms for 12 to 24 hours before wilting to a bronze color until the next season. So when a visitor sees it, it's usually a one-time wonder,” says LeFevre. Although the hoodoos tend to take the glory, the trees within the park refuse to be outshone. Along with the Great Basin bristlecone pine and quaking aspen, Green says, “Cottonwoods grow along the streams and ponds. Single-leaf alder, scrub oak, long-leaf sage, and rabbit brush fill in the gaps.”

Best Time to Visit

The consensus among the experts we spoke with is that the fall is the best time to visit Bryce Canyon National Park— but that’s not a secret to visitors. “September through mid-October is our busiest time of year, so parking becomes a real issue, making the shuttle system the most effective way to get through,” says LeFevre. “But as far as temperatures, having all of the amenities open, and trails in good shape, that is the best time to come.” Plus, adds Herron, you’ll get “sunny days, cool nights, and typically low rainfall.”

Another reason to plan an autumn trip? The foliage. “The elevation of Bryce, 8,000 to 9,000 feet, cools temperatures off quickly and gets folks into the height of fall colors,” says Green. “If you are lucky enough to catch a fall snowstorm, the scenery is also magical.”

Don’t be afraid to visit Bryce Canyon in the summer, though—specifically in July and August. LeFevre says they’re seeing fewer visitors this time of year, so there’s decent parking and more availability. “We do get afternoon thundershowers sometimes during those months, but if you come in the morning, it’s amazing,” she says. Just check the forecast and have rain gear on hand.

Best Things to Do

Go stargazing.

“The ranger-led programs are a must,” says Herron. “The night sky telescope tour is particularly great as guests can use telescopes to see constellations up close while getting an education on the science and history of Bryce Canyon’s astronomy.” You can also choose to stargaze on your own. “The clear air and remote location make it easy for visitors to gaze into the night skies and see thousands of stars. Stargazers are known to see the Andromeda Galaxy, the Milky Way Galaxy, and many constellations most nights,” he adds.

Watch the sunrise—or the sunset.

There is no more magical time in Bryce Canyon than the beginning and end of the day. “Within the park, because it is all one-sided and all the viewpoints face east, the sunrises and the sunsets are amazing,” says LeFevre. Green recommends bringing your morning coffee to Sunrise Point, where you can “enjoy the quiet and view before the bustle of the day.” Another good place to watch the sun come up is the Rim Trail. “From Bryce Point to Sunrise Point is three miles, and you watch the sun wake up step by step,” LeFevre notes.

Bike through the park.

“Bryce Canyon National Park has some really great scenic cycling routes,” says Herron. For a long ride, he recommends the 18-mile shared-use path connecting the hoodoos of Red Canyon to Inspiration Point. “Visitors can rent e-bikes for about $100 per day or pedal bicycles for about $45 per day at the Historic Service Station,” which, he explains, was built in 1948 and is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Hike among the hoodoos.

“Bryce Canyon is known for its hoodoos, so the ranger-guided geology talks are a great way for visitors to learn more about these famous geologic wonders and ancient rock formations from over 144 million years ago,” says Herron. By hiking through the hoodoos, you’ll get a closer look at the gorgeous red colors and interesting rock layers. Most first-time visitors will typically stick to the trails within the main amphitheater area along the first three miles of the park road.

Best Hikes

Navajo Loop Trail

“The Navajo Loop is popular for good reason. This is a moderate, 1.3-mile, round-trip hike that begins at Sunset Point and goes down into Bryce Amphitheater through a slot canyon,” says Herron. Highlights include seeing Thor’s Hammer, the most famous hoodoo in the park, and the Douglas fir trees that play contrast to the reddish rock.

Queen's Garden and Navajo Combination

“You'll find it all over in documents and online that the Queen's Garden and the Navajo Loop combination trail is the best, and it really is true,” says LeFevre. “It is a three-mile hike, and with the combination, it has about a 550-foot elevation change. And in those 3 miles, you are down among the hoodoos, walking through a forest to connect with your trails, and then you have an amazing slot canyon to come up the switchbacks.” She also recommends doing the trail clockwise: “When you’re coming up, you’re in the shade, and that is really important when you're hiking in Bryce. Our temperatures are not like Zion or Arches, but coming up in that shade always proves to be the best option.”

Fairyland Loop

“Fairyland to Wall Street is the longest hike within the park, but you see it all in one day,” says Green. The eight-mile Fairyland Loop takes you along the plateau rim and into the canyon, granting you views of Bryce Amphitheater’s hoodoos.

Mossy Cave Trail

If you want a relatively short hike (just under one mile), head to the Mossy Cave Trail. “The Mossy Cave Trail is a stream-side walk up to a mossy overhang with a small waterfall that usually flows from May to October. This is the northernmost hike in the park at one of the lowest elevations,” says Herron.

Bryce Amphitheater Traverse

“Another favorite hike of mine is the Peekaboo, which many people do as a loop. But I prefer doing the Peekaboo traverse—it’s called the Bryce Amphitheater Traverse, and it’s just about 4.5 miles,” says LeFevre. “It does have more elevation change than the Peekaboo and the Navajo, so it's listed on the difficult, strenuous end. But by doing it as a traverse—starting at Bryce Point, staying left at the junction, and looking at the Wall of Windows and all the other amazing formations—you have a choice of how to get up out of the canyon.” Hikers can either go up the Wall Street side of the Navajo, the Two Bridges side of the Navajo, or the Queen's Garden, making the trail closer to a more moderate level.

Places to Stay

The Lodge at Bryce Canyon

“I would say my number one favorite is the historic Bryce Canyon Lodge inside the park,” says LeFevre. “If you can get into one of the original Western cabins, these are especially amazing. They are rustic, but they're well done.” The location is unbeatable, too. “You don't have to worry about any other transportation. You can actually walk to Sunset and Sunrise Point and access those trails,” she adds.

Under Canvas Bryce Canyon

If you’ve always wanted to try glamping, there’s nowhere better than Under Canvas Bryce Canyon, which comes recommended by Green. While the International Dark Sky-certified resort isn’t located within the park itself, it’s just a short 15-minute drive away. Plus, the tents are outfitted with West Elm furnishings, organic bath products, private bathrooms, and wood-burning stoves, so you’ll get the perfect mix of luxury and the thrill of (almost) sleeping outdoors.

Related: This Luxury Glamping Retreat Near Utah's Bryce Canyon National Park Has Horseback Riding, Canyoneering, and Stargazing

Campgrounds

There are two campgrounds in Bryce Canyon National Park. North Campground is open year-round, while Sunset Campground is closed in the winter. Both are relatively close to the main hub of the park—where you'll find Bryce Amphitheater, Bryce Canyon Lodge, and the Visitor Center—and campsite reservations can be made online.

Places to Eat

Bryce Canyon Coffee Co.

Both Green and LeFevre suggest starting your day at Bryce Canyon Coffee Co. in Tropic, a small community in the Bryce Valley area. Housed in a log cabin, the cafe serves up a variety of beverages as well as bagels, breakfast burritos, and breakfast sandwiches.

Stone Hearth Grille

“My favorite one, and the one that I hear the best feedback about, is Stone Hearth Grille in Tropic,” says LeFevre. “It’s perfect for a higher-end dinner.” It’s about a 15- to 20-minute drive from the park, and reservations are recommended—so book ahead if you can.

The Lodge at Bryce Canyon Restaurant

“The historic dining room at the Lodge does a great job as well—they serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and it’s all good. They also have the perfect location, of course,” says LeFevre. At lunchtime, expect classics like elk chili, burgers, and quesadillas.

Valhalla Pizzeria and Coffee Shop

“Valhalla Pizzeria and Coffee Shop is a stone’s throw from The Lodge at Bryce Canyon and serves Starbucks coffee, pizzas, salads, and homemade baked goods,” says Herron. Like a number of restaurants and shops in the area, it’s open seasonally, from mid-May through mid-September.

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