One Day in Bryce Canyon National Park
After spending and driving a couple of hours south, the next national park on our southern Utah road trip was Bryce Canyon! I’ll be honest: When I was planning this trip, I was picturing that it would be fully spring, with warm temperatures and wildflowers blooming. That was what I thought southern Utah was like in mid-March—a place with nicer weather than Idaho or even northern Utah. That’s where Utahns go for spring break! But, Utah has had quite the winter (and now spring) this year, with near-constant snowstorms that even impacted southern Utah.
Bryce Canyon was one such place not immune to the winter weather. Its elevation is around 7,500 feet, and there was a ton of snow on the ground in mid-March as it turned out. It was not the warm spring paradise I had pictured in my mind, LOL. I was very glad to have packed my warmest puffer coat (a hand-me-down from my younger brother), beanies, gloves, thick wool socks, a new pair of hiking boots (I also have hiking sneakers), and traction devices.
On the evening we arrived, it was so foggy you couldn’t see anything. The next day, it was still cloudy (with wet drizzle), but we hiked down into the park and the view was amazing below the clouds. We made the most of our time at Bryce Canyon despite the weather! We spent one full day exploring the park and briefly stopped by the park both the day before and the next day prior to heading to our next destination. Lots of stops were closed due to the winter weather, but we still crammed a lot into our day! Bryce Canyon is absolutely stunning—especially with snow on the ground—and I definitely see why people love this park so much.
Below, I shared the hikes we did (plus a couple to consider for next time or in a different season), other things to do and see that don’t involve hiking, where to eat near Bryce Canyon, and where to stay (including the closest towns to Bryce Canyon). Let’s dive in!
READ NEXT: Best Hikes at Bryce Canyon
One Day in Bryce Canyon National Park
Quick Facts about Bryce Canyon
Best Time to Visit Bryce Canyon
In general, the best times to visit all of the Utah national parks, including Bryce Canyon, is in the shoulder seasons: spring and fall. That’s generally when the weather is good but the parks aren’t too busy yet. That said, I was surprised by how busy it was, even on the cold, snowy days we were there. When the sun came out the morning before we left, the parking lots were completely full! And it was still freezing cold out. There is a voluntary shuttle they recommend taking during the busier seasons.
All of the Utah parks are located in southern Utah and are generally more accessible year-round than areas in the northern part of the state. Summers are generally mild in Bryce Canyon due to the elevation, and winters are long, cold, and snowy (and extend into spring). Bryce Canyon’s elevation goes up to 9,000 feet, so keep that in mind and bring lots of water if you plan to hike. In mid-March, Bryce Canyon was covered in snow, so be prepared for that or plan to visit in late spring to avoid snow (and see wildflowers!).
Visiting Bryce Canyon in the Winter
We spent one full day and two nights in Bryce Canyon. On the evening we arrived, we drove into the park but it was too cloudy/foggy to really see anything. During our full day in the park, the clouds remained, and it was chilly and drizzly. We hiked down into the canyon and the view was spectacular from below even in the drizzle but foggy again when we got to the top. After a wicked snowstorm that second night, the storm cleared and we had beautiful blue skies, though the wind was whipping and did not make for a comfortable experience at the lookouts.
As I mentioned at the start, I was not expecting this weather in Bryce Canyon! I was thinking it would feel more like spring, and it was definitely like we were back in winter after spending time in Capitol Reef. If you do plan to visit Bryce Canyon in the winter (or late fall or early spring), keep an eye on the weather forecast. Pack layers, warm coats, gloves, hats, scarves, thick socks, boots, etc. I was so glad to have traction devices for our shoes; park rangers recommended everyone wear them while hiking. (They sell them at the visitor center if you forget them, but I found the sizes to be limited.) I was also glad to have my winter tires on my car, and I also bought chains just in case! Korri scraped the window of someone at our hotel that came unprepared so I would recommend keeping ice scrapers in your car, too, just in case.
Bryce Canyon Entrance Fee
Bryce Canyon has the traditional national park entrance gate. The entrance fee is $35 per private vehicle, $30 per motorcycle, or $20 per pedestrian/bicyclist. I highly recommend purchasing the America the Beautiful Interagency Annual Pass for $80 if you plan to visit other parks; you can purchase one at the entrance gate if you didn’t grab one elsewhere.
Where to Hike in Bryce Canyon
Queen’s Garden | 1.7 miles one-way (moderate)
Queen’s Garden Trail to the Navajo Loop is THE most popular hike in Bryce Canyon, and I can see why! Queen’s Garden was my favorite—you hike by a bunch of gorgeous hoodoo formations on your way down into the canyon. The hike starts at the top of the rim at Sunrise Point (you can park at Sunrise Point or do what we did and park in the larger lot at Sunset Point and walk along the Rim Trail a half mile to Sunrise Point). The trail travels just under a mile to the Queen Victoria hoodoo, and then it’s another 0.8 miles to the Navajo Loop. Park rangers recommend starting by descending down Queen’s Garden (hike from north to south, or clockwise) because as you hike down, you’ll have a great view of the canyon, and it’s also less steep than coming up either side of Navajo Loop.
Navajo Loop | 1.3-mile loop (moderate); 0.6 miles on the Two Bridges side, 0.7 miles on the Wall Street side
Navajo Loop is another popular hike that passes near Thor’s Hammer, a popular hoodoo formation. You’ll also be hiking next to very tall rock walls; I don’t recommend stopping next to the rock walls for long because small rocks (and snow) were falling on people during our hike. (In the winter, due to the constant freezing and thawing of water in cracks, rocks can break loose. Don’t hike with headphones and always keep an ear out and listen for rocks cracking! We heard it a couple of times and it was creepy.)
In the winter, only the Two Bridges side of Navajo Loop is open, so that’s the route we took back to Sunset Point. It was a BRUTAL uphill hike with a good portion of switchbacks (one of the most photographed areas, I’d imagine), but I’m glad we went up that way even though I was sweating like crazy. I had to take my puffer coat off! If you decide to do Queen’s Garden to Navajo Loop in the summer (or when the Wall Street side is open), park rangers recommend going up the Wall Street side and then descending the Two Bridges side until you can see Thor’s Hammer (before the switchbacks).
NOTE: The Two Bridges side closed the day after we hiked it due to retaining walls on the trails collapsing. We aren’t surprised, because we saw some of the collapsed bricks on the switchbacks during our hike! There were also a few recent small avalanches we had to hike over as we passed by Thor’s Hammer. I don’t recommend stopping along that path if you’re hiking when there’s snow because if an avalanche hits you, you’re going a long way down the hill.
Rim Trail | 5.5 miles one-way (easy)
The Rim Trail connects Bryce Point to Fairyland Point (the northernmost overlook, which is closed to vehicles in the winter). It’s a relatively flat, easy walk with gorgeous views! I’d recommend hopping on the shuttle (when it’s operating) and getting off at Bryce Point to start your hike/walk to the north. We walked the 0.5-mile portion between Sunset Point and Sunrise Point before starting Queen’s Garden. It was covered in snow so I was glad to have my traction devices.
Mossy Cave | 0.8 miles round-trip (easy)
I really wanted to do this hike since it’s short and we drove by the trailhead so many times between Bryce Canyon City and Tropic (it’s outside of the entrance gate along S.R. 12), but we ran out of time. Even though it’s outside the main gate, a park ranger may ask for your parks pass or proof of admission (the entrance fee gives you access for 7 days). Mossy Cave is exactly what it sounds like: an area covered with mosses (in the summer; in the winter, it’s covered in icicles!). One side of the trail takes you to a waterfall in Water Canyon.
Peekaboo Loop | 5.5 miles round-trip (strenuous)
This trail is much longer (and more difficult) than the others we hiked, but it looks beautiful so it’s on my list for next time if I’m feeling ambitious. It starts at Bryce Point (and connects to Navajo Loop if you’re looking for a one-way trip) and winds through more beautiful hoodoo formations. Rangers recommend a clockwise direction, and in the warmer months, you may come across horseback riders! Doing it on horseback may be the way to go!
Other Things to Do and See in Bryce Canyon
Bryce Point
Bryce Point was the furthest point we could drive to due to the road being closed at mile 3. There is a decent walk to the viewpoint, though it is paved (but covered in snow in winter; I would recommend traction devices near the end). The viewpoint looks north over the Bryce Amphitheater, the most well-known portion of the park, but you can get a pretty good near-360 view from the end of the viewpoint. The Rim Trail connects Bryce Point to Inspiration Point but was closed on our visit. The parking lot was packed the last morning of our trip (the sun finally came out) so I recommend utilizing the shuttle when it’s running!
Inspiration Point
The next stop on our way back north was Inspiration Point. This viewpoint looks more towards the east than Bryce Point. This viewpoint was also paved but parts of it were covered in snow when we were there. It was plowed enough that you could get a good view if there aren’t any clouds!
Sunset Point
Sunset Point is a popular overlook because there is a lot of parking (and restrooms!) and it’s where you start the Navajo Loop Trail (or finish the Queen’s Garden/Navajo Loop combo trail). The views of Bryce Amphitheater are stunning, and if you look closely, you can also see Thor’s Hammer (but I recommend hiking the Two Bridges side of Navajo Loop to get a better look). I was surprised that when we stopped by the park in the morning before heading out, the parking lot was close to full!
Geology Talk
We attempted to attend the 30-minute Geology Talk at Bryce Canyon like we did in Capitol Reef but never found the meeting spot! We found it after we finished hiking, well after the talk had ended. It’s held at Sunset Point along the right side of the rim as you drive into the parking area; there’s a sign on the fence. It occurs daily at 11 am, weather permitting. We found the one at Capitol Reef to be super interesting and was excited to learn more about Bryce! I recommend it if you have time.
Sunrise Point
Sunrise Point faces the same general direction as Sunset Point over the amphitheater, but of course the view is slightly different enough that it’s worth taking lots of photos still, haha. From here you overlook the Queen’s Garden Trail (this is where the trail starts). The parking area is much smaller here than at Sunset Point.
Drive the Main Road to Other Lookouts/Hikes
The main road through the park was closed at mile 3 of 18 during our visit; they hadn’t even started plowing the road south of mile 3. (As I write this post, it’s open to mile 10 of 18.) If it is open all the way to mile 18, you should drive the entire length, stopping at all of the lookouts on the way! It takes about three hours. There are also a few hikes to consider in the southern end of the park that are probably not as popular as those that wind through the amphitheater.
Horseback Riding and/or Rodeo
We walked by a horse trail when hiking Queen’s Garden and it made me want to horseback ride in Bryce in the future! It would be so much fun. Definitely look into it if you visit in the warmer months. Our hotel was right next to rodeo grounds (outside of the park), which is another fun option when it’s not winter.
Ranger Programs
There are a plethora of ranger programs that sound like so much fun if you happen to be visiting Bryce when they happen! There is an annual astronomy festival in June and a geology festival in July. During the full moon every month, they also offer guided full moon hikes! Wouldn’t that be amazing?! Tickets are distributed via lottery. They also sometimes offer a full moon snowshoe hike when the snow is deep enough in the winter.
Where to Eat Near Bryce Canyon
i.d.k. barbecue (Tropic)
We relied heavily on Google reviews when deciding where to eat, and the best/most highly-rated dining establishments were located in Tropic on the east side of the park. We stayed in Bryce Canyon City on the west side, so it was a bit of a drive to eat but it was worth it for the food! i.d.k. barbecue was one of the few places open late, and it was packed. The downside of coming in late was that they were selling out of their meats quickly, but I like ribs best and luckily they were still available! Korri copied my meal (1 meat plate with ribs, and I subbed the cole slaw and corn bread for mac n cheese and potato salad), and it was delicious. I would definitely go back! They were closed on Wednesdays at the time so I’m glad we stopped on Tuesday evening. Be sure to check their hours before you head out!
Pizza Place (Tropic)
On Wednesday evening, we stopped by Pizza Place, another place that had great reviews. The hours on Google say that it closes at 7:30 (with takeout ending at 8:30), and we walked in after 7, but they kept seating people until at least 8:30, so I’m not totally sure that the hours were accurate. We ordered a side of waffle fries (so good) and a pizza with Korri’s favorites: Hawaiian (Canadian bacon and pineapple) with bacon and jalapeño. It was super yummy, and it’s another spot I wholeheartedly recommend and would absolutely eat at again.
Where to Stay Near Bryce Canyon
Bryce Canyon City
Bryce Canyon City is the town closest to Bryce Canyon National Park; it’s located just outside the entrance and is very much a touristy destination. The historic Ruby’s Inn (now Best Western Ruby’s Inn) is one of the most popular places to stay in Bryce Canyon City, but there are a few other chain and local hotel options in the area, too. We ended up staying at Best Western Plus Bryce Canyon Grand Hotel. It was a little more expensive than Ruby’s Inn, but it ended up being worth it for the breakfast buffet that was included in the price. Plus, there is a lot more parking at the hotel we stayed at and I read that it could be an issue at Ruby’s Inn. Our room had a mini fridge, an essential for us on road trips!
Tropic
Tropic is the next closest town to Bryce Canyon, about 10 miles east of Bryce Canyon City. There are a bunch of locally-owned motels, B&Bs, and even cabins. I found the prices to be higher in Tropic than Bryce Canyon City which is why I opted to stay at the latter, and we just drove into Tropic both evenings for dinner.