The Happiness Function

What should you do if you only have one day in Bryce Canyon?

We have toured the park a handful of times over the years, both in late spring, when there is still snow, and in early summer, when it is beginning to get hot.

The park can be visited as a short pit stop along a multi-national park road trip coming from Zion and the North Rim, or you can spend hours exploring, depending on your trip expectations.

I have written this guide so you can avoid crowds, get the most out of your time, and see as many viewpoints and sights as possible.

The Best Things To See and Do

When you have one day in the park, the best things to see and do are:

• Photograph and admire the hoodoos
• Take the Bryce Canyon Scenic Drive
• See the main viewpoints: Sunrise Point, Sunset Point, Inspiration Point, and Bryce Point
• Take a Hike
• Check out the visitor center

Planning to spend an entire day at Bryce will allow you to go on the scenic drive, visit the main viewpoints, take lots of photos, go on a day hike or two, and explore the visitor center.

See the Iconic Hoodoos

Did you know the word “hoodoo” means “to bewitch?”

Once you see a hoodoo in real life for the first time, you will be in awe. Hoodoos are tall, irregular geologic formations found in the arid West, most notably in Bryce Canyon National Park and Utah.

Cruise Along the Bryce Canyon Scenic Drive

If you don’t plan to hike, start your visit by doing the scenic drive.

The scenic drive is 38 miles, with 13 viewpoints to pull off at and take photos.

If you plan to hike, we recommend hiking first and then going on the scenic drive later in the day.

Bryce Canyon Shuttle

Riding the shuttle is not mandatory. You can still drive your vehicle along the scenic route. If you’d like to be toured around, check out the shuttle schedule.

Get more info about the shuttle here (link to Bryce Canyon National Park website).

Admire the Viewpoints

The most famous viewpoints for capturing photos are Sunrise Point, Sunset Point, Inspiration Point, and Bryce Point.

All of the viewpoints are breathtaking, so don’t sweat it if you aren’t an early riser or can’t stay for sunset.

Popular Hikes in the Park

There are many beautiful trails to explore. You can hike most of the year and snowshoe in the winter.

If hiking in the summer, be sure to hike first to enjoy the cooler mornings.

Easy Hikes:

• Sunset to Sunrise Trail paved section along the Rim Trail – 1.0 mile (1 hour hike)

• Rim Trail – 1.0 mile to 11.0 miles (choose how far you want to hike 1 hour to 7 hours)

Moderately Difficult Hikes:

• Queen’s Garden – 1.8 miles (about a 1-2 hour hike)

• Navajo Loop – 1.3 miles (about a 1-2 hour hike)

• Queen’s Garden/Navajo Loop Combination – 2.9 miles (about 2-3 hours to hike)

For the more strenuous hikes, such as Peekaboo Loop, find more information to plan from Bryce Canyon National Park (link to the park’s website).

Explore the Visitor Center

Before you leave, check out the visitor center. They have a museum, short film, bookstore, and restrooms.

Arriving in Bryce Canyon

Bryce Canyon National Park is in the middle of nowhere.

To give you an idea of how far you’ll be driving, below are estimated distances to plan a road trip from a few of the surrounding cities:

• Distance from Salt Lake City – 270 miles
• Distance from Las Vegas – 260 miles
• Distance from Phoenix – 430 miles
• Distance from Flagstaff – 285 miles
• Distance from Panguitch (nearest town) – 27 miles
• Distance from Moab – 248 miles

I recommend planning your road trip to arrive in daylight so you can see the beauty of the surrounding area and navigate the winding roads.

Entrance Fee

There is an entrance fee to enter the park.

The costs are:

• $35 per vehicle (valid for 7 consecutive days);
• $30 per motorcycle; or,
• Annual America the Beautiful Pass accepted (which is $80 annually)

Purchasing the annual pass is worth it if you’ll be touring multiple national parks in Utah.

Other National Parks Near Bryce Canyon

A few other national parks are relatively close and easy to pair during a Southwest road trip.

As I said initially, hitting Zion National Park and the North Rim of the Grand Canyon on the same trip pair nicely.

• Zion National Park to Bryce Canyon – 80 miles and roughly 1.5 hours away
• Bryce Canyon to North Rim – 150 miles and roughly 3 hours away

Best Time of Year To Visit

From our experience, the best times of year to visit are early spring (April-May) and late fall (October).

After Labor Day, you can catch fewer crowds, and the weather is excellent for hiking.

When visiting in the spring, the area may still have snow, limiting hiking opportunities, but it can also help you avoid the crowds.

Late spring through early fall (late May-September) is a busy time of the year.

The majority of the photos in this article were taken in April. It was snowy and cold, but we had the entire park to ourselves.

Weather in Bryce Canyon

Bryce Canyon does get snow, and the park is located at an elevation between 8,000 and 9,100 feet. They plow and sand the roads after snowstorms.

The park is open year-round (unlike the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, which is closed seasonally if you didn’t know – just in case you were planning to visit in the off-season).

Pet Information

Dogs can enter the park if you are road-tripping with your best friend.

Dogs are allowed on the Rim Trail’s paved section.

The National Park Service is strict about pets in the park. Please consider the following when traveling with your furry bestie:

• Pets must be on a leash
• You cannot leave your pet unattended at any time
• Owners must pick up pet waste
• Pets cannot be on unpaved trails
• Pets cannot be on unpaved viewpoints

What If You Only Have Half a Day To See the Park?

No worries. If you only have a half-day in Bryce Canyon, we recommend doing the scenic drive and stopping at all the viewpoints to take photos and enjoy the vistas and hoodoos.

For a half-day itinerary, plan to spend a minimum of 3 to 4 hours driving the park.

Tips for Adventuring in the Desert

Our mission is to inspire happiness through travel and outdoor recreation in the U.S. while recreating responsibly and being good stewards of the environment.

Check out our article on how to recreate responsibly in the desert. We discuss the importance of Leaving No Trace and protecting precious biological soil crust.

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