), in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited. Bryce Canyon, Utah, is one of the so called Mighty 5, 5 National Parks of beauty so exceptional, they stand out among the already off the charts gorgeous US National Parks. Changes will take effect once you reload the page. We had a cabin with two queen beds and ensuite bathroom. Once you reach the main section of the park, you have the choice of driving yourself to each viewpoint or parking in the designated area near the visitor center and using the free park shuttle, which I recommend on busy days. Bryce Canyon is open 24 hours per day, which means that you do not have to wait for the entrance to open in order to get into the park. How to Get Around Bryce Canyon in One Day. Share some of your favorite hikes at Bryce in the comments below. After breakfast we go directly to Natural Bridge. The Queens Garden Trail descends down into the valley amidst a garden of hoodoos and rock formations. Click to enable/disable _gid - Google Analytics Cookie. Hi, can you elaborate on where you parked during your hikes? sun: queens garden and navajo trail loop hike. Red Canyon to the west on highway 12 is a mini version of the bottom of Bryce Canyon where you can camp, mountain bike, and hike on the many trails in the area. Arrived at Bryce Park at 6:30 am just in time for sunrise at Sunrise Point. Located across from Ruby’s Inn. Tomorrow, we make it to the final park of the week, the mighty Zion National Park! Yet most people only go to the well beaten path. There is too much beauty and awe to be stuck taking the same selfies as everyone else. If you skip breakfast these two points will be easy to add. If you’re visiting any one of these parks, it is very likely you will be mak… read more. Start the day off at Sunset Point. Before sunrise, there will not be a ranger at the fee booth. Cheers, Julie, hi! If you are planning on visiting several National Parks throughout the year, opt to buy the “America the Beautiful” National Parks pass, as it may be a good investment. I would also love your input… We are doing Zion 3 nights from So Cal in a 31 ft RV (next M, T, W) with 3 boys 10-16 years old… playing on doing more activity driven excursions for the boys (not so keen on too much hiking in the heat)… if we left Zion after a morning excursion by 11:30-12:00 and headed to Bryce could we hike Queens Garden Trail, go to Sunset Point and possibly go to Mossy Cave Waterfall and then head out to Escalante? The landscape is awash in a soft, warm, reflective light. It’s easier to deal with big crowds in the Narrows, since there is so much space, whereas Angels Landing gets bottlenecked (so, your idea of doing the Narrows on Friday works well so you can get an early start up Angels Landing Saturday morning). Since we already stopped at Bryce Point for sunrise, we’ll go directly to Inspiration Point. Kevin. We use cookies to let us know when you visit our websites, how you interact with us, to enrich your user experience, and to customize your relationship with our website. Driving from Bryce Canyon to Zion National Park, Utah (VIDEO) The drive from Bryce Canyon to Zion National Park is only 80 miles. Cheers, Julie. From sunset point, walk north on the Rim Trail, towards Sunrise Point. Spring and fall generally has pleasant weather and smaller crowds than the busy summer months. Get here as early as you can. I agree, Utah is filled with hidden gems. Bryce Canyon has red dirt that stains the HECK out of your clothes. i am planning a trip to zion/bryce in three weeks. Comment below! Unfortunately, one thing to note is that Observation Point is still closed in Zion. Love following your travel blog and seeing where your next adventure takes you! An easy trail under a mile that follows a stream to a mossy grotto that fills with icicles in winter, and dripping mosses in summer. One Day in Bryce Canyon | Written by Brian Callender | Photography by Julie Boyd. There are three viewing areas at Inspiration Point that progressively climb higher. Sunrise is the best time to be in Bryce Canyon for photography. i have ~5 days. By now, you have seen the the most popular sites in Bryce. Accommodation in Bryce Canyon . My husband took on the task of finding private campgrounds for us, and we were excited to stay at the KOA in Cannonville/Bryce Valley. The main part of Bryce is shaped like an amphitheater. also, this is my favorite travel blog! Uphill slopes will quickly make it known to you that oxygen is in shorter supply here. Whether you’re waking up in Bryce Canyon or you’re arriving early to secure your campsite, the best possible way to begin this one day in Bryce Canyon itinerary is early, early, EARLY. Here’s what we did. We would like to see Escalante, possibly Capitol Reef, on to Arches and then Possibly Canyonlands from there. There are also several campgrounds located inside of Bryce Canyon. www.rubysinn.com Kick up your heels to country music at Ebenezer’s Barn and Grill. Geologically, hoodoos are found all around the world, but they occur in the most abundance in Bryce Canyon. Happy travels! However, if you haven’t gotten your fill of hiking trails and hoodoos yet, there is still more to see. Because these cookies are strictly necessary to deliver the website, refuseing them will have impact how our site functions. Kodachrome Basin State Park is one of Utah’s 44 state parks located near the town of Cannondale. That being said, after spending just one day in the park you will surely want to spend many more. Willis Creek is a great hike to do after Bryce on Sunday. Take your pick from 50 of the world's best travel adventures. Required fields are marked *. There is time to make stops at viewpoints on the way back to the main amphitheater. This is the longest hike on this list. You can check these in your browser security settings. The views into the amphitheater from the rim walk are stunning. In the winter months, the hoodoos get a dusting of snow, a magical time to be here. This was a very busy but awesome day in Utah. Horseback trail rides begin at the horse coral located between Sunset and Sunrise Points. We spent 5 to 6 hours in the park, doing everything that we have listed in this post. If we were to follow your lead exactly for the day, not counting the driving from vista to vista, how many miles of hiking would you estimate. There are restrooms with flushing toilets and a picnic area under the shade of the Ponderosa Pines and Douglas Firs. Our opinion about Bryce Point as the best place to see sunrise was validated in 2014 when we ran into an Imax crew filming sunrise for the the 2016 national park centennial movie. A couple of good ones are Farview and Swamp Canyon. Ironically, I would not recommend Sunrise Point because this spot does not offer those wide, expansive views of thousands of hoodoos like Inspiration Point. Timing it this way generally assures us that we’ll miss the larger lunch crowd at Bryce Canyon Lodge later on. Cheers, Julie. You can also save time by not visiting every single viewpoint in Bryce (it’s not a big deal to skip Rainbow and Yovimpa Points). Hello David. Click to enable/disable Google reCaptcha. To find out the fee free days visit the Fee Free Days website. Bryce is filled with short, incredibly scenic trails. And there you have it: Bryce Canyon in one day, even with rain! We hiked the Queens Garden and Navajo Loop Trails, and then visited Inspiration Point, Bryce Point, and Rainbow Point. It’s a bit strenuous but the views along the way are magnificent. Enchanting and otherworldly, Bryce truly is an American treasure. By continuing to browse this website you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Sunset Point is the busiest section of the park. if you have any thoughts or recs, would love to hear them! i used it for bosnia and montenegro! This place was great – clean, quiet, and comfortable. Due to security reasons we are not able to show or modify cookies from other domains. Assume 2 hours to get to Bryce, then 4 hours in Bryce Canyon to see the viewpoints and do the hike. One of the best ways to see Bryce Canyon is to drive the Bryce Canyon scenic drive. Utah’s Mighty 5: Travel Guide & Road Trip Itinerary. Viewpoints and the scenic drive are the second best thing to do in Bryce Canyon. You can also change some of your preferences. Bryce is a cool place, but gets extremely overcrowded. www.canyonrides.com If you prefer your horsepower under a hood, check out Bryce Canyon ATV Adventures located on Airport Road www.brycecanyonatvadventures.com, or Ruby’s Inn guided ATV tours that begin from the Sinclair station located across from Ruby’s Inn one mile from the main entrance to the park. Stop by the Bryce Canyon Visitor Center and grab anything you may need for the day. But remember: Because of its high elevation, the weather at Bryce Canyon in the fall, winter and spring can be quite variable. Also check the weather forecast before you go in case there’s a snowstorm that pops up! You can drive right in, tour Bryce, and pay your fee later in the day. Thanks and keep up the great work! At the end of the Queens Garden Trail, follow signs to the Navajo Loop Trail. sat: hike angel’s point or observation point. There was a rockfall that damaged the trail so you can’t hike Observation Point or Hidden Canyon. Thanks Again! This hike is labeled as strenuous because of its length and elevation changes. Did your half day itinerary take 4 hours? Like to hike? Are we trying to move too quickly? “Hoodoo” can also be defined as a tall, thin spire of rock that protrudes from the bottom of an arid drainage basin. We had an amazing time. We prefer Bryce Point over the other viewpoints, but they’re all good. This fee is valid for 7 days. Local travelers, on the other hand, generally visit the park on a 2-3 day getaway that often includes time for outdoor adventures. Note: This post contains affiliate links. You will descend 1 mile down into the valley, walk the 3 mile loop through the hoodoos, and then climb the last mile back to Bryce Point. We fully respect if you want to refuse cookies but to avoid asking you again and again kindly allow us to store a cookie for that. Click here for more information about hiking trails at Bryce Canyon. Sunset point offers restrooms, picnic tables, drinking water, and it is also the starting point for the Navajo Loop Trail. If getting off the pavement is more your style, check out Thunder Mountain Bike Trail, one of Utah’s premier single track trail covering miles and miles of pristine beauty and adventure. When you make a purchase using one of these affiliate links, we get paid a small commission at no extra cost to you. Bryce Canyon Lodge is located between Sunrise and Sunset Points, which is a great place to have lunch. Kind regards. 20 talking about this. Getting here early has its advantages. It’s worth the walk and this may be the best view in park. This one is good, but walk uphill for about 5 minutes to upper Inspiration Point. Very thorough, concise, and helpful. Terrific article. We expect to arrive to Bryce Canyon next Wednesday around 11:30 am , do you think we will find parking at Sunset Point at that time on Wednesday? The most popular trail is the Queens Garden Trail, but there are several other great trails to explore as well. This trail tends to be less crowded than Queens Garden or the Navajo Loop Trails. Since Bryce sits at such a high elevation (8,000 feet), this park stays cool, even during the summer months. Have a great trip! Go hiking! You could choose to do either the Narrows or Angels Landing this morning. The area is full of amazing places. Great article Julie, we are going to use your itinerary as reference in our upcoming visit to Bryce for 2 days, so thanks a lot for that (we are also planning to hike Willis Creek!). This is a flat, easy to walk trail with an awesome view over Bryce. At 4 pm, we hiked Willis Creek slot canyon and had a fabulous experience!! Bryce canyon has drastic changes in weather between day time and nighttime, so you will want to make sure you are prepared. Hoodoos form where soft rock, like sandstone, is covered in a thin layer of harder rock. We lay out our itinerary later in this post. What to see in Bryce Canyon in one day, best hikes, how to get around and Bryce Canyon must see sites from a family friendly angle. This three mile loop trail is our top recommendation for those who only have time for one hike. Depending on when you arrive and time of year, there could be a wait of 20-30 minutes. If you want more details on each day of our road trip itinerary, check out the other posts below. Tim and I visited Bryce Canyon in early May as part of a road trip through Utah and Arizona. Even though the parks are only about an hour and a half away from each other, I don’t think you’d be doing justice to either park by rushing through them, you just won’t get the best experience. If you arrive in Bryce Canyon after 8 am, make this your first stop. After taking in the view from Sunrise Point, it’s time to go hiking. Hello Jeff. And there you have it, a quick guide to seeing one of the most popular tourist attractions in Utah. Several well-know sites are located in this area, the Navajo Loop hiking trail, a 1.3 miles hike that takes you to the bottom of the amphitheater via a series of switchbacks from Sunset Point through towering hoodoos known as Wall Street on one side and past the impermeable rock expanses called Two Bridges on the other. Bryce Canyon makes a great destination all year long. It offers wonderful views top to bottom and is a bit less strenuous compared to the other trail options to the bottom. Republishing this article and/or any of its contents (text, photography, etc. The Peekaboo Loop Trail is a 4.8 mile trail through a valley filled with pink and orange hoodoos. Finding a place to park can be challenging on busy days but people are leaving frequently so patience is a virtue here. On Tuesday, you could visit the Valley of Fire on your way back to Vegas. Earth Trekkers is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn advertising fees by advertising & linking to Amazon.com. Canyon Trail Rides is located in the Bryce Canyon Lodge lobby. hiking the Queens Garden and Navajo Loop Trails. Thank you your detail is sooo helpful! The afternoon is spent going off-the-beaten-path in Bryce Canyon, or you can do what we did…leave Bryce and visit a nearby destination. 11:30 am will be right at the busiest time of the day, but maybe now that it is September crowds won’t be so big. It will be a great reference for one of our stops! Check to enable permanent hiding of message bar and refuse all cookies if you do not opt in. Budget 2 to 3 hours for Willis Creek, not including driving time. If you can, spend 1 day in Arches and 1 to 2 days in Canyonlands. As far as where to stay in Escalante, I don’t have any info to give you, since we stayed in hotels. Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. Cheers, Julie. Gold Butte National Monument February 2018. If you refuse cookies we will remove all set cookies in our domain. If you take the shuttle, parking headaches are completely removed! Answer 1 of 23: Hi, we are planning to do Zion and Bryce Canyon in one day in early December 2018. Also for the Escalante Pee-aBoo and Spooky Gulches could we bike ride to the entrance and lock our bikes together there? Contrary to its name, Bryce isn’t a single canyon, but rather a series of natural amphitheaters carved into the eastern side of the Paunsaugunt Plateau. About 30 mins from Bryce is an equally amazing place ( same landscapes) with about 80% less people. My husband and I found your blog when we traveled in Argentina and Chile earlier this year and were pleasantly surprised to find your reviews of the SW National Parks to help us plan our current trip through Arches, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, Bryce Canyon, Zion, and Grand Staircase – Escalante. Just wanted to say hi to you and your family! Depending on sunset time, you might run out of time before it gets dark, if you choose to do Willis Creek. We did not do this hike, since we left the park early, but it looks like a lot of fun. The first part of the day will include Bryce’s must-see spots. The Highlights of a Visit . We are staying 3 nights in Zion. We may request cookies to be set on your device. Otherwise you will be prompted again when opening a new browser window or new a tab. Located as far south as you can drive in Bryce, this viewpoint is good, but not nearly as great as Inspiration Point or the views from the Rim Trail. You can walk the Rim Trail to these viewpoints, or drive or take a shuttle to each of them, depending on your preference. We spent only half a day here, leaving the afternoon free to explore nearby places (Kodachrome Basin State Park and Willis Creek slot canyon). Thank you for your kind words. I highly recommend the homemade pies! To get here, it takes about 20 minutes of driving from Bryce Point. Thank you. 2. Things to do If you’re considering a longer stay at Bryce Canyon, here are a few suggestions of things to do. If you are short on time you can visit Bryce Canyon in one day and still hit all the major spots. 4. This site uses cookies. We provide you with a list of stored cookies on your computer in our domain so you can check what we stored. Since these providers may collect personal data like your IP address we allow you to block them here. It’s important to note that Bryce Canyon is between 8,000 – 9,000 ft., what goes down must come back up! Would you recommend doing something different? If you want to get away from the crowds, this is the hike for you. In my opinion comparable only to US 1. Mossy Cave, technically still in Bryce Canyon but outside the fee area on highway 12 heading to Tropic, the little town east of the park at the foot of the canyon. For full details on how to do this hike, as well as many more photos, read our post about, Read all of our articles about Utah in our. Within a short distance from Bryce Canyon are a number of interesting places to explore. Do you have any suggested RV camping spots in Escalante? Plan on 2-3 hours. Check the Bryce Canyon national park website for updated conditions. Finally, drove over to Inspiration Point for the photo opp! Cheers, Julie. Closing out a busy 2017, Julie and I were excited to visit our tenth and final National Park of the year. Most visitors coming to Bryce Canyon on a multi-day national park road trip, or with an organized tour generally stay for one or two nights with only a day in the park. You can’t ride bikes to Spooky and PeekaBoo because it is hiking trail to get to the entrance of the slot canyon and it is steep in some spots. It’s a crazy year, so no concrete travel plans in the works yet, but we are hoping to visit more of the national parks in the upcoming months. ?drive back to las vegas then fly out at night (10 pm). The good news is that the water levels in the Virgin River is decreasing to normal amounts, so if the trend continues, you should be able to hike the Narrows in 3 weeks. You can explore a good portion of Bryce Canyon in one day, but it’s amazing the difference an extra day can make. From here you have the option of either driving to Sunset Point or walking the 3/4 mile rim trail, or taking the shuttle. fri : drive to zion– hike up the narrows (if open) Some have only a few hours to see the sights if they aren’t spending the night. On these days, entrance fees will not be charged, however, camping and other use fees will still be collected. Happening the first weekend in May in Tropic, Utah. If you can spend two full days in Bryce Canyon, you will have time to see some of the most magical parts of the park that many people never see. Have fun exploring! Bryce Canyon and Zion National Park in One Day While it can be tempting to visit both Bryce Canyon and Zion National Park in one day, I recommend against it. I would give it a try. Bryce Canyon in Two Days. Before this time, the park is very quiet and therefore, a very nice experience for those who are here early. Your email address will not be published. Dipping into the single digits most days. Visiting Capitol Reef on the way to Moab is a great idea. It’s an 8 mile hike, starting and ending at Fairyland Point in the northern part of Bryce. You can do a short hike at Kodachrome with less time, but Willis Creek is more fun and memorable in my opinion. Not the viewpoint but the literal sunrise. If you are here early, you can avoid a lot of tourist traffic on the trails and at the viewpoints. Thanks for this great info. That whole area through Utah is one of our favorite spots in the world. Here is a suggestion for seeing the highlights of Bryce Canyon if you only have a day or less. On the way here, you can also stop at Natural Bridge for a photo-op. We often arrive with our groups late afternoon and spend the evening outside the park. We parked at Sunset Point in the morning, walked along the rim, and did the Queens Garden/Navajo Trail from here. One Day in Bryce Canyon: The Itinerary. This video will show you how to spend a day in each park. The two recommended trails are Navajo Loop / Queen’s Garden or Mossy Cave. For full details on how to do this hike, as well as many more photos, read our post about hiking the Queens Garden and Navajo Loop Trails. Updated 2021. Pick up a free map of the park, discuss your plans with the park rangers, and shop for souvenirs, if you wish. Contrary to its name, Sunset Point is a great place to view sunrise, since the hoodoos face east. We come back at least once a year and keep finding new places to explore. It is recommended to start your hike early … Bryce Canyon is not a single canyon, but a series of natural amphitheaters or bowls, carved into the edge of a high plateau. Keep in mind places like the Visitor’s Center and general store shut down in the evenings. There... Viewpoints. This will also give you the opportunity of going to the visitors center where you can watch an orientation movie about the park and visit the gift shop and museum. Have you been to Bryce Canyon? Great article. This Bryce Canyon 1 day itinerary is recommended for spring, summer, and fall and not particularly for winter as the hikes may not be recommended then due to weather. https://roadtrippinwithbobandmark.com/bryce-canyon-in-a-day All rights reserved © Earth Trekkers. We spent 2 full days in Bryce Canyon doing all the hikes, before headin… read more. We stayed at the Bryce Canyon Inn, located in Tropic. Thank you You’re welcome! would love your input.. If your trip will be during the summer, you can do Bryce Canyon and Sunset Point in the afternoon. But we recommend hiking further. Cheers, Julie. Other in-park options are the general store near Sunrise Point or bringing lunch with you, all other food options are located outside the park. There are four viewpoints in the main Bryce Canyon amphitheater; Bryce Point, Inspiration, Sunset, and Sunrise. Zion to Bryce Canyon: The Best of Utah in 3 Epic Days See the best of Utah's most popular national parks, including epic hikes and scenic drives, on this 3-day road trip from Zion to Bryce Canyon. By the time we decided to take this road trip, camping in the National Parks wasn’t an option (it books up months in advance!). One day is all you need to explore this park. North and Sunset Campground. The Navajo Loop Trail ascends back up to the rim. Obviously, one of the best things to do in Bryce is actually exploring it on your own two feet! Being a relatively small park, it’s possible to get a good feel for Bryce Canyon in just one day. “Hoodoo” can be defined as witchcraft, a combination of voodoo and folk magic, usually used in the deep south of the United States. Bryce Canyon Airlines and Helicopters at Ruby’s Inn can make that happen. Plus, you would have to stay out of the way of the other hikers. It’s a gorgeous, relatively easy walk, perfect for all ages and ability levels. Thank you! From Tropic, it took 15 minutes to drive to the park. One day in Bryce Canyon is doable for sure but again, it’s that question of what you are willing to sacrifice and what you are okay not seeing. We need 2 cookies to store this setting. The hike starts at Bryce Point. It’s our family friendly choice. However long your visit, advance planning will have the greatest benefit in making the most of your time. If you do not want that we track your visit to our site you can disable tracking in your browser here: We also use different external services like Google Webfonts, Google Maps, and external Video providers. Your email address will not be published. If you want to just go on this will buy you an extra couple of hours in the park. We entered Bryce Canyon at sunrise. Read all of our articles about Utah in our Utah Destination Guide. Several days throughout the year have been designated as fee free days at your national parks including Bryce Canyon National Park. On Saturday morning, I recommend getting in line early for the shuttle bus so that you can be one of the first on the trails. But this will always prompt you to accept/refuse cookies when revisiting our site. Did you park only in one place, or drive and make several stops along the way? Click to enable/disable essential site cookies. Anytime between 8 am and 4 pm, expect big crowds on all of the open trails in Zion. mon: escalante peek-a-boo gulch hike; drive back to bryce and spend the night We were thinking of Bryce then maybe one short side excursion before heading back to Zion since we leave Monday morning, dont want to get back to our hotel too late. The best way to get the full Bryce Canyon experience is to mix short hikes with the scenic viewpoints. As I read through your blog I’m even more inspired for our future travels this year (New York City in June and Australia in November) and whatever we plan for the future. Wonder no more! With one day, you can hike through a garden of hoodoos, take in the view from multiple viewpoints, and thoroughly explore the park.