Bryce Canyon Trail & Visitor Guide
Bryce Canyon · United States · About 35,835 acres (56 square miles) in southwestern Utah, almost entirely in Garfield County.
Why Visit Bryce Canyon
Bryce Canyon is not actually a canyon but a series of natural amphitheaters along the eastern edge of the Paunsaugunt Plateau. Thousands of hoodoos — tall, thin rock spires formed by frost wedging and erosion — create a landscape unlike anywhere else on Earth. At elevations between 8,000 and 9,100 feet, the park's clear, dry air also makes it one of the best places in North America for stargazing.
Free Bryce Canyon Audio Guide with Roamee Pro
Roamee Pro offers a free, self-guided Bryce Canyon audio guide. It narrates trails, viewpoints, geology, and wildlife as you explore — Queens Garden and Navajo Loop, Sunrise and Sunset Points, Rim Trail, plus quieter spots like Fairyland Loop and Night sky programs. No guide, no schedule, works offline.
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Signature Trails
- Navajo Loop Trail1.3 miles · Moderate
Drops from Sunset Point through Wall Street's switchbacks past Thor's Hammer; about 550 feet of elevation change. Wall Street side typically closed in winter.
- Queen's Garden Trail1.8 miles round trip · Easy to moderate
Gentlest descent into the amphitheater from Sunrise Point, passing the Queen Victoria hoodoo formation; about 320 feet of descent.
- Navajo/Queen's Garden Combination Loop2.9 miles · Moderate
Common way to walk among the hoodoos; descend Queen's Garden, return via Navajo to avoid the steepest climb. Allow 2-3 hours.
- Peekaboo Loop5.5 miles from Bryce Point · Strenuous
Deepest amphitheater trail with about 1,500 feet of cumulative elevation change; shared with horses, so expect uneven, sometimes muddy tread.
- Fairyland Loop8 miles · Strenuous
Full-day loop past Tower Bridge and the China Wall; about 1,700 feet of elevation change. Trailhead is off the main road at Fairyland Point.
Must-See in Bryce Canyon
- •Queens Garden and Navajo Loop — a 2.9-mile combination trail winding among the densest hoodoo formations
- •Sunrise and Sunset Points — rim viewpoints overlooking the main amphitheater of hoodoos
- •Rim Trail — a 5.5-mile trail connecting viewpoints along the amphitheater edge
- •Natural Bridge — a 85-foot natural arch framing a forested canyon below
Best Viewpoints
- •Bryce Point
- •Inspiration Point
- •Sunset Point
- •Sunrise Point
- •Rainbow Point (highest, 9,115 ft, at the end of the scenic drive)
Quieter Corners of Bryce Canyon
- •Fairyland Loop — an 8-mile trail through less-visited hoodoo formations with far fewer hikers
- •Night sky programs — Bryce Canyon has some of the darkest skies in the US with over 7,500 stars visible on clear nights
Wildlife You May See
Entrance Fee
$35 per private vehicle, valid for 7 days. $30 per motorcycle, $20 per person on foot or bicycle. An annual Bryce Canyon pass is $70. The $80 America the Beautiful interagency pass is accepted.
Getting There
The park entrance is on Highway 63, off Highway 12, near the town of Bryce Canyon City. Nearest airports are Cedar City (CDC, about 80 miles) and St. George (SGU, about 125 miles); Las Vegas (LAS) is about 270 miles and Salt Lake City (SLC) about 270 miles. From April through October a free park shuttle runs from Bryce Canyon City to the main viewpoints; private vehicles are still allowed. No public transit reaches the park, so a car is effectively required.
Where to Stay
Inside the park: The Lodge at Bryce Canyon (open roughly April-October, reserve months ahead) plus North Campground (year-round) and Sunset Campground (seasonal), about $30/night. Just outside in Bryce Canyon City: Ruby's Inn and several chain-style motels. Lower-cost lodging clusters in Tropic (about 11 miles east) and Panguitch (about 24 miles northwest). Backcountry camping requires a permit for the Under-the-Rim and Riggs Spring loop trails.
Best Time
May through September offers the most reliable trail access and the full shuttle service; June-August is busiest and hottest at midday. Late September to October brings cooler weather and fewer crowds. Winter is quiet and snow-dusted hoodoos are a draw, but expect single-digit overnight lows and partial trail closures. Dawn at Sunrise or Bryce Point and dusk at Sunset Point give the strongest light on the hoodoos.
Safety
Elevation is the top hazard: viewpoints sit at 8,000-9,100 feet, so descents into the amphitheater mean climbing back up in thin air. Pace yourself, carry at least 2 liters of water, and watch for altitude sickness and heat exhaustion in summer. Rim temperatures can be 20-30 degrees colder than nearby low-desert towns; snow and ice close trail sections like Wall Street in winter, when traction devices are advised. Afternoon summer thunderstorms bring lightning to exposed rims and points; descend before storms build. Stay back from unfenced rim edges where sandstone is loose and crumbly.
Scenic Drives
- •Bryce Canyon Scenic Drive (Highway 63): an 18-mile dead-end road to Rainbow Point with about 13 overlooks; drive to the end first, then stop at viewpoints on the return so all turnoffs are on the right.
- •Highway 12 Scenic Byway: connects the park area east toward Escalante and Capitol Reef, passing Red Canyon's road tunnels.
- •Trailers over 20 feet are restricted past Sunset Point; drop them at designated lots.
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