The Ultimate One Day Itinerary for Bryce Canyon National Park
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Here is the ultimate one day itinerary for Bryce Canyon National Park. This park is a geological wonderland that captivates visitors with its stunning hoodoos (the largest concentration found anywhere on Earth), towering spires, majestic rock formations, and opportunities to hike through it all! The incredible orange tones, especially at sunrise, are enough to pull you in. It quickly became our favorite Utah National Park! While exploring this natural masterpiece in just one day might seem like a challenge, with proper planning and an ideal itinerary, you can experience the essence of this breathtaking park.
A less dog-friendly park
Pets are welcome in the park, however, they must be leashed at all times and remain only on paved portions of the park. This means parking lots, paved viewpoints, on the rim trail between Sunset Point and Sunrise Point, and on the paved shared use path between the park entrance and Inspiration Point. They are not allowed on any other trails or inside of buildings. If you do not have an insulated van or camper with air conditioning, heat, and pet monitors, please consider boarding your pets outside of the park for the day as temperatures in Bryce Canyon can be extremely dangerous for pets left in vehicles, especially during the summer and winter months. Here is a link to the parks pet policies.
When to Visit
In our opinion, the best time to visit would be April-October. The summer months will be the busiest, just like many other National Parks, but we found even in October it was still quite busy so be prepared for crowds. You can expect temperatures in the 70s and 80s during the summer, but if youโre looking for milder temperatures, Spring and Fall would be the best time to visit with average temperatures in the 50s and 60s. We visited in October and it was quite cold in the morning, under 40ยบF!
Things to Consider
Consider purchasing the America the Beautiful Interagency Annual Pass for $80, this pass grants you access to all U.S. National Parks for a year. Since most National Parks charge a $30-40 entrance fee, purchase the America the Beautiful Pass could pay for itself when you visit just two to three parks!
You can purchase the America the Beautiful pass below from REI!
What to Pack
Keithโs Recommendations:
Hannahโs Recommendations
(in addition to what Keith has)
How to Get Here
The closest airports to Bryce Canyon is Salt Lake City International Airport (4 hours) or Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas (4 hours and 30 minutes). From there you could rent a car or consider turning it into a vanlife roadtrip! You can find rental vans on platforms like RVshare and Outdoorsy. Taking your own camper or renting one would be our top recommendation, especially if you plan on seeing all 5 Utah National Parks on your trip!
Planning a Utah National Parks Roadtrip? Check out our other posts!
Where to Stay
If youโre visiting April-October you can stay at the Bryce Canyon Lodge. You can also camp in the park at the North Campground or Sunset Campground. The North Campground requires reservations from May 19th-October 7th otherwise it is first come first served. Otherwise, there is a Best Western in town as well! You can find and book a hotel here.
The Perfect One Day Itinerary for Bryce Canyon National Parkย
Sunrise view
Catching the sunrise at Bryce Canyon is a MUST. Head to Sunrise Point or Inspiration Point for a breathtaking start to your day. We recommend starting this early because this is one of the places you will be absolutely blown away because of how the light hits the rock and showcases the most incredible shade of orange. The earlier you get here will not only allow you to get a great spot to watch the sunrise but will also allow you to secure a good parking spot as these lots fill up very quickly in the morning.
Hit the Trails
Queens Garden/Navajo Loop Trail: the best hike in the park / that we have ever done in our opinion
If you are going to do any hike in the park we would highly recommend these two hikes combined. Doing them together only adds just under a mile to the total distance and we promise itโs worth it. Combined this hike is a moderate 3.1 miles and is perfect to start right after you are done watching the sunrise at Sunrise Point. We would recommend doing this loop counterclockwise this way you won’t be hiking up the steep switchbacks instead it is more gradual coming back up. This was hands down what immediately made this park our favorite that we have been to so far because the views are just stunning and colorful as the sun was hitting the hoodoos and spires.
On the Navajo Loop portion of the trail, you can expect a descent through the switchbacks and youโll see the Wall of Windows and Thorโs Hammer. The top of the switchbacks is the most incredible view! At the time of visiting, the Wall Street side of the hike was closed be sure to check before you go. We ended up going down the Two Bridges side which we believe is very similar to Wall Street.
On the Queens Garden Trail youโll walk amongst the hoodoos and experience the Queen Victoria Rock Formation. We were in absolute awe on the entire hike!
Bristlecone Loop Trail
This is an easy 1 mile hike through the highest portion of the park at around 9,100 feet!
Mossy Cave Trail
Alternatively, this hike is at one of the lowest elevations in the park and is the only hike to begin with a climb and end with a descent! It is 0.8 miles to a waterfall and a cave, and should take an hour or less.
Peekaboo Loop Trail
For the adventurous people, the Peekaboo Loop Trail is a more strenuous hike at 5.2 miles round trip. Venture deeper into the hoodoos and experience the magic of the Bryce Amphitheater. Donโt forget to bring sufficient water and snacks.
Views from the trail
Midday Exploring
Once you are done taking in all the views and sights on one or more of these trails, we would highly recommend doing the scenic drive and stopping off at all the viewpoints along the way. This drive from Sunset Point is about 18 miles not including any stops or detours to some of the viewpoints.
Some points we stopped at that we really enjoyed were:
- Inspiration Point
- Bryce Point
- Farview Point
- Natural Bridge Overlook
- Rainbow Point
We actually prefer to drive all the way to the end and then hit all of the viewpoints on the way back. There are so many great stops and sights to see and they are all just a short walk from the parking lot on paved trails. This was the perfect way to spend the rest of the day because you can move through the stops as slowly or as quickly as you need depending on the time frame you have to spend in the park.ย
Ranger Programs and Visitor Center
As with most national parks, you can participate in ranger-led programs or visit the Bryce Canyon Visitor Center. Here, youโll gain insights into the park’s geology, history, and pick up trail maps or souvenirs.
Safety Reminders and Etiquette
While exploring Bryce Canyon, remember to carry sufficient water, wear sturdy hiking shoes, and adhere to the principles of Leave No Trace. Weather conditions can change rapidly, so be prepared for sudden changes in temperature.ย
Bryce Canyon National Park offers an unforgettable experience in just a day. We truly havenโt stopped raving about it since we left! Although one day is a brief visit, the park’s beauty will leave a mark on your memory. Remember, this itinerary is just a glimpse of what this incredible place has to offer and there is so much more to do if you have the time. Weโre certain that even if only for one day, Bryce Canyon will work its magic on you.
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