Bryce Canyon National Park

May-June and September-October. Summer is pleasant due to altitude. Winter is magical — hoodoos in snow — but trails get icy.

One to two days. It pairs naturally with Zion (90 minutes away).

• Sunrise at Sunrise Point, then walk the rim to Sunset Point
• Navajo Loop and Queens Garden combined — descend into the hoodoos
• Bryce Point overview
• Drive to Rainbow Point at the south end, 18 miles of viewpoints
• Stargazing — Bryce is one of the darkest places in the lower 48

Staying on the rim. The whole point of Bryce is to walk down inside the amphitheater — the hoodoos tower over you and the perspective flips. The Navajo/Queens combo is 3 miles and not technical.

Hoodoos (irregular columns of rock) exist on every continent, but here is the largest concentration found anywhere on Earth. Situated along a high plateau at the top of the Grand Staircase, the park's high elevations include numerous life communities, fantastic dark skies, and geological wonders that defy description.

• Astronomy
• Stargazing
• Biking
• Road Biking
• Camping
• Backcountry Camping
• Car or Front Country Camping
• Group Camping
• RV Camping
• Food
• Dining
• Picnicking
• Guided Tours
• Self-Guided Tours - Auto
• Hands-On
• Citizen Science
• Hiking
• Backcountry Hiking
• Front-Country Hiking
• Horse Trekking
• Junior Ranger Program
• Skiing
• Cross-Country Skiing
• Snowshoeing

Due of its high elevation climate, weather at Bryce Canyon through autumn, winter, and spring can be highly variable. From October to May temperatures fall below freezing nearly every night. The park typically experiences its coldest and snowiest periods from December through February. Spring storms in March and April can still produce heavy snowfall that may impact travel in the region. Summer highs are typically in the 70s-80s F and afternoon thunderstorms are common in July and August.

• Entrance - Private Vehicle

  Admits one private, non-commercial vehicle (15 passenger capacity or less) and all occupants.

  $35.00

• Entrance - Motorcycle

  Valid for 7 days. Admits up to 2 private, non-commercial motorcycles with up to 4 total passengers.

  $30.00

• Entrance - Per Person

  Admits one individual with no car to the park - typically used for bicyclists and walk-ins. Youth 15 and under are admitted free.

  $20.00

• Nonresident

  Each non-US resident aged 16 and older visiting Bryce Canyon National Park must pay a $100 nonresident fee (in addition to the standard entrance fee), unless admitted with an Annual or America the Beautiful Pass. This includes nonresidents entering as part of a commercial tour group, commercial use authorization (CUA) group, or concessioner tour group.

  $100.00

• Sunset Campground

  Reserve ↗NPS info ↗

• North Campground

  Reserve ↗NPS info ↗

Do I need a timed reservation?

No timed-entry system. The park uses a free shuttle in summer that you should use to avoid the parking circus.

How does it compare to Zion?

Different planet. Zion is a deep narrow canyon you walk through. Bryce is an open amphitheater you walk into. Do both.

Is the altitude a problem?

Mild for most people, but the climb back out of the amphitheater gains 500 feet at 8,000 feet of elevation. Take it slow.