15 Best Things to Do in Bryce Canyon National Park
From the rugged hoodoos that look like something out of a fairytale to the snow that blankets the red rock and Ponderosa Pines throughout, Bryce Canyon National Park is, without a doubt, one of the most beautiful and unique landscapes in the world!
I say this because it really doesn’t matter what season you plan to visit, as Bryce Canyon National Park is one of the best year-round National Parks outside of Hawaiʻi!
I believe this because one of the simplest yet best things to do in the park is to drive up, park, walk a short distance, and catch sunrise at any number of beautiful overlooks scattered across the canyon rim!
That said, the hot summer heat and deep winter snow can and should influence your plans in Bryce Canyon, depending on the time of year you plan to visit. For this reason, I highly recommend reading about the park in all seasons in the section below so that you can make the most of your visit, regardless of the time of year.
What is the Best Time of Year to Visit Bryce Canyon National Park?
Located atop a high-desert mesa that climbs to an elevation above 9,100 ft. (2,774 m), Bryce Canyon National Park is known for having both hot summer temperatures that peak in the mid-80s ºF (27 ºC) and 90s ºF (32 ºC), depending on elevation, and cold, snowy winters, where snow typically sticks around until early May in some upper-elevation areas.
That said, the National Park Service maintains the majority of the roads throughout the winter season, which is why I like to think that deciding when to visit Bryce Canyon should come down to personal preference.
However, when the kids get out of school in the summer, all five national parks across southern Utah get much busier, making the shoulder seasons my favorite time of year to visit Bryce Canyon—specifically March – mid-May in the spring and September – October in the fall.
Now, this all goes without saying that hot summer temperatures in southern Utah typically limit visitors’ willingness to hike longer trails, like the Fairyland Loop Trail, which is exactly why I like to say I would never consider hiking the full Under-the-Rim Trail later than mid-May. Elevation below the rim really does make a difference!
On the contrary, winter hiking is typically limited by the snowpack in the park, but popular trails, like the Navajo Loop Trail, often see enough traffic to make the trail manageable throughout the year.
With that in mind, be sure to come to Bryce Canyon with micro-spikes if you are visiting during the winter season (November – April), as snow and icy conditions can make the steep trails that descend from the canyon rim much more challenging and dangerous than they would be otherwise.
Hiking Checklist - Bryce Canyon
Obviously, for camping, you will need general backpacking gear. For this reason, I wrote a separate post about what backpacking gear is worth the money, from my experience, and what the best alternatives are to save you money.
Read My Separate Post: Best Ultralight Backpacking Gear
In addition, here is a complete list of must-have things that you will want for any hike in Bryce Canyon National Park.
15 Best Things to Do in Bryce Canyon National Park
The following list is written in no particular order of best or worst.
More importantly, I talk about a number of obvious and not-so-obvious tips to know at the end, many of which are things that I wish I would have known before my first visit to Bryce Canyon National Park!
On a different note, you can save time when you arrive by purchasing your National Park pass, along with your other outdoor gear, at REI before traveling to the park!
1. Navajo Loop Trail
Distance: 1.5 miles / 2.4 km
Elevation Change: ~515 ft. / 157 m
The Navajo Loop Trail is arguably the most beautiful and iconic day hike in Bryce Canyon National Park, and it’s the one trail you probably picture when thinking of the park from social media photos!
That said, the Navajo Loop Trail is also the most popular trail in the park!
However, not considering the crowds, the Navajo Loop Trail is a must-see, and I like to say that it’s popular for good reason, as it really is one of the most beautiful day hikes in Bryce Canyon National Park!
Read My Separate Post: Navajo Loop Trail
2. Peek-a-Boo Loop Trail
Distance: 5.5 miles / 8.9 km
The Peek-a-Boo Loop Trail is a long, picturesque loop trail below the rim of Bryce Canyon, and it’s one that I’d go as far as to say is even more picturesque than the Navajo Loop Trail mentioned above!
That said, the Peek-a-Boo Loop is listed immediately after the Navajo Loop Trail because the two are both my top recommendations and personal favorite day hikes in Bryce Canyon National Park—not to mention, both trails can be combined into one longer adventure, which you can learn more about in my separate article linked below.
Read My Separate Post: Peek-a-Boo Loop Trail
3. Bryce Point (Sunset)
Based on the name, Sunset Point may seem like the best place in Bryce Canyon National Park to catch the sunset, but in my opinion, the more expansive, panoramic views at Bryce Point make it the much better choice!
In fact, if you talk to the right park ranger, they may even tell you that sunrise is not best at Sunrise Point and sunset is not best at Sunset Point.
In any case, Bryce Point is one of the most beautiful viewpoints in all of Bryce Canyon, and it’s also the starting point for a number of trails mentioned throughout this article, such as the Bryce Canyon Rim Trail, the Peek-a-Boo Loop, and the Under-the-Rim Trail!
Google Maps Directions: Bryce Point
My Print - Bryce Point (Sunset)
4. Bike the Multi-Use Path
The Multi-Use Path in Bryce Canyon National Park is a long 18-mile (29.0 km) path that extends from Red Canyon in the Dixie National Forest east of Bryce Canyon City to Inspiration Point in the heart of the Bryce Canyon Amphitheater.
That said, most visitors are typically only interested in the last 5.0 miles (8.0 km) that begins at the Bryce Canyon shuttle stop in Bryce Canyon City and ends at Inspiration Point inside the park.
If you’re coming from out of town, I encourage you to book the e-bike rentals out of Bryce Canyon City, and if you want to know more about why I love and trust Viator when booking reservations like this, read the section at the end of this list!
Google Maps Directions: Bryce Canyon Multi-Use Path
5. Rim Trail
Distance (One Way): 5.4 miles / 8.7 km
The Bryce Canyon Rim Trail is a long day hike along the rim of Bryce Canyon that connects Fairyland Point on the northern end to Bryce Point on the southern, passing all the most popular trailheads and viewpoints along the way!
This is what technically makes the Rim Trail the most trafficked trail in Bryce Canyon National Park, contrary to what I said about the Navajo Loop Trail above.
However, the Rim Trail isn’t popular for the same reasons as the Navajo Loop, as many visitors hike small parts of the Rim Trail without even knowing it, in order to connect different viewpoints or create loops with some of the trails below the rim.
In any case, hiking some or all of the Rim Trail can make for a great one-way adventure, as the free Bryce Canyon Shuttle is an easy way to get back to the trailhead where you began.
To learn more, I encourage you to read more about the full Rim Trail in my separate article linked below.
Read My Separate Post: Rim Trail
6. Under-the-Rim Trail
Distance (One Way): 22.9 miles / 36.9 km
The Under-the-Rim Trail is the backcountry in Bryce Canyon National Park, as the full trail stretches 22.9 miles (36.9 km) from Bryce Point on the northern end to Rainbow Point at the southern terminus, making it the longest one-way trail in the entire park!
That said, the Under-the-Rim Trail is often an adventure undertaken over the course of a few days, and that being the case, it is also the least-trafficked trail in Bryce Canyon.
However, on one nice spring day, I decided to check this one off my bucket list by hiking the entire Under-the-Rim Trail from north to south in a single day!
For experienced hikers, doing exactly as I did is not as difficult an adventure as it may sound, and it may even be easier to hike lighter but farther, opposed to heavier over the course of a few nights.
In any case, you can learn about the entire Under-the-Rim Trail—including the locations of each campsite and water source—in my long, detailed separate article linked below.
Read My Separate Post: Under-the-Rim Trail
7. Swamp Canyon Loop Trail
Distance: 4.5 miles / 7.2 km
The Swamp Canyon Loop is listed immediately after the Under-the-Rim Trail because it is the most practical option that most visitors have to explore a small 1.1-mile (1.8 km) portion of the Under-the-Rim Trail without committing to anything longer.
To learn more, I highly recommend checking out both of my separate articles, so that you can see how this small portion fits into the much longer thru-hike.
Read My Separate Post: Swamp Canyon Loop Trail
8. Sunrise Point
There is no shortage of east-facing viewpoints in Bryce Canyon National Park, meaning that sunrise can be enjoyed from any one of a number of beautiful locations.
That said, Sunrise Point is one of my favorites because of the angle that the Bryce Canyon Amphitheater toward Bryce Point makes, allowing first light to hit the hoodoos from this unique angle!
Furthermore, some may tell you that Sunrise Point isn’t the best vantage point to catch the sunrise, but all I will say is that it’s a Bryce Canyon favorite for good reason!
Google Maps Directions: Sunrise Point
9. Bristlecone Loop Trail
Distance: 1.0 miles / 1.6 km
The Bristlecone Loop Trail is arguably the easiest, kid-friendly day hike in all of Bryce Canyon National Park.
I say this because the vast majority of trails that begin off Bryce Canyon Road descend steeply down into the canyon, which inevitably makes for a steep climb back up to the top on the return hike. However, the Bristlecone Loop on the far southern end of the park traverses through a mostly flat Ponderosa forest out to a beautiful viewpoint above the Riggs Spring Loop Trail.
To learn more about why I think the Bristlecone Loop makes for one of the best easy trails that you can choose, I encourage you to read all the details in my separate article.
Read My Separate Post: Bristlecone Loop Trail
10. Stay at the Bryce Canyon Lodge
The Bryce Canyon Lodge is the best place to stay in Bryce Canyon National Park!
Imagine waking up in a cool, upper-elevation Ponderosa forest atop the Bryce Canyon Rim and walking out to a beautiful sunrise with a cup of coffee on the Rim Trail.
Nevertheless, this all goes without saying that the Bryce Canyon Lodge typically sells out early, so if you know your dates, booking a reservation in advance is the best way to guarantee your stay.
Bryce Canyon Lodge
11. Queen’s Garden Trail
Distance (Roundtrip): 1.8 miles / 2.9 km
Meandering its way through the beautiful hoodoos of the Bryce Canyon Amphitheater, the Queen’s Garden Trail is one of the most beautiful day hikes in Bryce Canyon National Park!
That said, many visitors who hike the Queen’s Garden Trail connect the trail with the Navajo Loop and Rim Trail to create a one-way loop. However, I strongly recommend against connecting the Queen’s Garden Trail and Navajo Loop for reasons that I go into longer detail about in my separate article.
Read My Separate Post: Queen’s Garden Trail
12. Mossy Cave Trail
Distance: 0.9 miles / 1.4 km
The Mossy Cave Trail is a park favorite in Bryce Canyon because it is the only trail in the park where visitors can go for a swim in the stream and enjoy the park’s only named waterfall on a hot summer day!
Furthermore, the Mossy Cave Trail is one of only a few hikes in Bryce Canyon that visitors can enjoy without the need to pay the National Park entrance fee, which you can learn more about in my article about the trail linked below.
Read My Separate Post: Mossy Cave Trail
13. Inspiration Point
Inspiration Point is one of the most beautiful viewpoints along the rim of the Bryce Canyon Amphitheater, and it typically makes for a less-crowded place to catch the sunrise or sunset compared to Sunrise Point and Bryce Point.
Before visiting, know that there are three different viewpoints at Inspiration Point, but the upper viewpoint is the best of the three!
Google Maps Directions: Inspiration Point
14. Fairyland Loop Trail
Distance: 8.0 miles / 12.9 km
The Fairyland Loop Trail is one of my top Bryce Canyon National Park recommendations if you want to see the best of what the park has to offer, but don’t have time to commit to anything else.
By this, I mean that the Fairyland Loop, along with the Rim Trail and Mossy Cave Trail, are the three best adventures to see the best of Bryce Canyon without having to pay the National Park entrance fee!
To learn more, I highly encourage you to read about what I mean when I say this in my separate article.
Read My Separate Post: Fairyland Loop Trail
15. Bryce Canyon Private Tour Guide
Among a vast network of interconnected trails and viewpoints, Bryce Canyon National Park can seem overwhelming if you’re visiting the park for the first time.
However, there are a number of guided tour options to consider if you’d prefer to learn about the park from one of a number of locally-based tour guides.
Why am I Recommending these Viator Tours?
One of my favorite things about booking through Viator is the reserve-now-and-pay-later option. As long as you’re booking more than three days in advance, you have the option to book ahead and cancel in the future if you change your mind.
Additionally, I’ve included these tours because doing this, like the biking the Multi-Use Path, might impractical if you’re not from the area. Therefore, the tour options I’ve listed are a safe and amazing way to experience Bryce Canyon and the greater area, and they offer the opportunity to discover nearby adventures that you may not have heard of otherwise!
15 Best Things to Do Near Bryce Canyon National Park
Since Bryce Canyon is located in southwestern Utah, recommending the best things to do in the area entirely depends on what direction you’re driving to or from.
Therefore, the list below is fairly broad, but I wanted to include a list of adventures within a few hours in any direction of Bryce Canyon, which is why these recommendations come from both Utah and Arizona!
1. Coyote Gulch
Escalante, Utah, and everything that the Grand Staircase has to offer is truly at the backdoor of Bryce Canyon National Park.
I could truly create a separate list of all the things to see and do within the National Monument, but none stand out to me as much as Coyote Gulch, which you can learn all about in my separate article.
Read My Separate Post: Coyote Gulch via Water Tanks
2. Ice Cream at Old Bryce Town
On a hot summer day, there’s nothing quite like stopping in for ice cream at the Old Bryce Town in Bryce Canyon City.
Personally, I love visiting to get out of the sun for a little while, which not only makes for the perfect place to get some ice cream but also to walk around in a number of different shops in the area.
Yelp: Old Bryce Town
3. Pink Ledges Trail
Distance: 2.2 miles / 3.5 km
The Pink Ledges-Birdseye-Photo Loop Trail is the best day hike near Bryce Canyon National Park.
I say this because, even though I speak so highly of the adventures out Escalante to the east, they are not nearly as accessible as those in Red Canyon to the west.
Therefore, this short 2.2-mile (3.5 km) loop trail can make for a great, short, and easy adventure for people of all ages!
Read My Separate Post: Red Canyon Loop Trail
4. Showdowns Restaurant
If you read my tips below, you’ll understand why I don’t recommend any of the dining options in Bryce Canyon City.
However, just down the road in Tropic, there are a number of great options to choose from, and none are as good as Showdowns on the south side of town!
With live music, great food, and great drinks, Showdowns Restaurant is my top dining recommendation near Bryce Canyon National Park!
Yelp: Showdowns Restaurant
5. Moqui Sand Caves
Distance: 1.2 miles / 1.9 km
The Moqui Sand Caves Trail is an easy, roadside day hike just outside of Kanab, about a 30-minute drive from the East Entrance on Zion–Mount Carmel Highway.
That said, I personally like the Moqui Sand Caves as a great short day hike to escape the summer heat or when looking for something a little less crowded than all the adventures up in the park.
Either way, the Moqui Sand Caves are a fun, quick, easy adventure that can easily be combined with a trip to The Wave in the North Coyote Buttes area of the Paria Canyon–Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness.
Read My Separate Post: Moqui Sand Caves Trail
6. Shop Local National Park Gear
About as local as you can get, a few of my good friends out of St. George, Utah, design their own National Park gear from parks around the country.
My camera strap, made by my friends at WildTree, has been my longest-standing camera strap that I’ve owned, and I encourage you to check them out over any of the overpriced souvenirs in Bryce Canyon City.
Shop: WildTree
7. Antelope Canyon Tour
Antelope Canyon is a renowned slot canyon in the small town of Page in northern Arizona that is beloved by travelers from across the world!
That said, Antelope Canyon, and everything that Page, Arizona has to offer, is only a 2-hour, 45-minute drive away from Bryce Canyon City!
If it’s your first time visiting, you may be asking one of the biggest questions regarding both Upper and Lower Antelope Canyon, which is: What tour is better?
Answering this question is exactly why I wrote a separate article, where I share my honest side-by-side comparison of both canyons, as I have been fortunate to visit Page and Antelope Canyon many times!
Read My Separate Post: Upper vs. Lower Antelope Canyon
Lower Antelope Canyon
My Print - Upper Antelope Canyon
Upper Antelope Canyon
8. Horseshoe Bend
Distance (Roundtrip): 1.5 miles / 2.4 km
It’s certainly not fair to talk about Page without mentioning the iconic Horseshoe Bend and the short trail just up the road!
Horseshoe Bend is one of the best things to do in Page, Arizona, and it’s truly a must-see if you’re already making the trip to the area to see Antelope Canyon.
That said, I personally love hiking the Horseshoe Bend Trail for sunset, as the west-facing viewpoint above the Colorado River is, without a doubt, one of the best year-round sunset hikes in northern Arizona!
Read My Separate Post: Horseshoe Bend Trail
9. Rustler’s Restaurant
With very few dining options for both lunch and dinner, there are even fewer when it comes to breakfast near Bryce Canyon National Park.
However, Rustler’s Restaurant in Tropic is my number one pick if you’re looking for a nice small-town diner to sit down and enjoy breakfast near the park.
Yelp: Rustler’s Restaurant
10. Peek-a-Boo & Spooky Slot Canyons
Distance: 6.0 miles / 9.7 km
The Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument is, without a doubt, one of the most beautiful places to explore in southern Utah. However, don’t underestimate how much of an adventure Hole-in-the-Rock Road within the monument is on its own!
What I mean when I say this is that most adventures out of Escalante, like Peek-a-Boo and Spooky Slot Canyons, begin down the long, remote Hole-in-the-Rock Road.
This drive is incredibly tedious and slow, both in a two-wheel and a four-wheel-drive vehicle, which may be necessary depending on the time of year, such as during the summer monsoonal season, when rain can flood and wash out sections of the road.
For this reason, it’s important to come prepared for the current conditions, which is why I recommend calling the Escalante Interagency Visitor Center prior to heading out.
In any case, both Peek-a-Boo and Spooky Gulch are some of the best day hikes outside of Escalante, but if you’d like more of a guarantee on this fun but remote adventure, I recommend booking with one of the local guides out of Kanab. This is the best and safest way to get out in the National Monument without having to worry about your personal vehicle.
AllTrails: Peek-a-Boo & Spooky Slot Canyons
11. Arriba Mexican Grill
Aside from Showdowns, located in Tropic east of the park, Arriba Mexican Grill is my top dining recommendation for a place closer to Bryce Canyon City.
Their large menu, great drinks, and big dinner plates are sure to help everyone in your group find something that they’ll enjoy!
Yelp: Arriba Mexican Grill
12. Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park
Just to the south of Zion, near Kanab and the Moqui Sand Caves, is a little lesser-known state park known as the Coral Pink Sand Dunes.
In short, the Coral Pink Sand Dunes are a stunningly beautiful 5.3-square-mile (13.6-square-km) dune field that makes for a fun place to run around and explore—especially at sunset, when the golden light brings out the best of the colors on the dunes and the surrounding landscape!
Google Maps Directions: Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park
13. Kanarra Falls
Distance: 3.7 miles / 6.0 km
The Kanarra Falls Trail is a short, easy out-and-back hike near the Kolob Canyons entrance of Zion National Park that has become a favorite among hikers for a number small waterfalls that come cascading down a very beautiful, narrow canyon!
Before visiting, keep in mind that Kanarra Falls has certainly received its fair share of attention on social media over the years, which is why I recommend hiking early, if possible, to beat the crowds and the heat during the busiest summer travel months.
Google Maps Directions: Kanarra Falls
14. Arches & Canyonlands National Park
In this part of the country, everything can feel spaced out from one another, but Bryce Canyon National Park, and the parks in Moab are two places that make for a great roadtrip when put together!
This is why, if you enjoyed reading everything I’ve written about Bryce Canyon, I recommend checking out my separate articles about both Arches and Canyonlands National Park, where I share the same inside information about everything there is to see and do on all sides of each park.
Read My Separate Posts: Arches National Park / Canyonlands National Park
My Print - Canyonlands National Park
15. Zion National Park
Going along with the last recommendation, it’s impossible to talk about Bryce Canyon National Park without mentioning Zion, as both are commonly visited on the same trip when driving across Northern Arizona and southern Utah.
On that note, I have been visiting and revisiting Zion for many years, just as I have with Bryce Canyon, which is why I believe the list I’ve created about the park truly offers the best tips and recommendations you will find—especially when it comes to hiking the Angels Landing Trail.
Read My Separate Post: Zion National Park
5 Tips for Visiting Bryce Canyon National Park
1. The best dining options are all outside of Bryce Canyon City.
If you spend more than a day in the Bryce Canyon area, it quickly becomes apparent how few places there are to get good food. I mean, there are places to get food, but I mean good food!
In fact, the only restaurant in Bryce Canyon City that is worth dining in is Arriba Mexican Grill, mentioned above. Outside of this, I highly recommend going down to Tropic for a much better selection than the few options near the park.
2. Wear sunglasses and a hooded sun shirt.
Ponderosa Pine forests do what they can in terms of providing shade, but it’s no secret that the sun exposure can be dangerous in southern Utah, especially during the hot summer months!
Therefore, I highly recommend hiking with a good pair of sunglasses and a hooded sun shirt because, after a while, sunscreen just isn’t enough—which is even more true if you plan on visiting more than one of Utah’s parks on the same trip.
3. Spend more than one day in Bryce Canyon.
Compared to Zion and the parks in Moab, Bryce Canyon and Capitol Reef are typically given the least amount of time.
Often, visitors will only spend a day or even half a day in Bryce Canyon when visiting all five of Utah’s parks, but as you can see from the list above, one day is simply not enough time!
In fact, I personally recommend at least two and a half days to try and enjoy the best of what there is to do in and near the park.
4. Hike with a good water bladder.
One of the most difficult things regarding the trails in Bryce Canyon is the elevation change and hot summer heat.
Typically speaking, hikes that begin from the Bryce Canyon Rim always start off light and fast as you descend down into the canyon, but this inevitably comes with a steep and typically exposed hike back up to the top.
All I can say is that a single-use water bottle simply isn’t sufficient for the steep trails in Bryce Canyon National Park, especially during the summer months, as I continually stress!
5. Summer monsoonal thunderstorms are exceptionally dangerous in Bryce Canyon!
Upper-elevation areas like Bryce Canyon National Park, and countless others across the West, can be particularly dangerous in the summer when thunderstorms are more common during the monsoonal season.
With that in mind, always remain indoors or in your car during a storm, and if you ever get caught in a storm unsuspectingly, follow the steps linked below to reduce the risk of getting struck.
U.S. Forest Service: Lightning Safety Tips
