Bryce National Park is only 2 hours away from Zion National Park, which makes it a great stop if you are around the area and you have an extra day to spare. It is famous for its gigantic colorful hoodoos. They are spires of rocks that were formed by combination of weathering and erosion. We visited Bryce around July 2020 as a day trip from Zion. Yes, you can do most of the main attractions in just one day!
HERE ARE SOME TIPS:
Like other national parks, start really early to avoid crowds.
Be sure to bring a light jacket as it gets chilly during early morning, but also bring a hat and sunscreen because it gets super hot around noon time.
As I mentioned earlier, one day will be enough to explore this park.
You are able to drive through Bryce and park your vehicle at viewpoints/trailheads.
Parking is available at the Visitor Center and each viewpoint/trailhead.
Bryce offers free shuttles too!
Bring food and water into the park. There is a limited amount of restaurants and amenities in this area.
There are multiple trails and viewpoints in this park. Please see below the list of spots that we visited.
POINTS OF INTEREST
1. Sunrise Point (viewpoint)
-the viewpoint is only few feet away from parking
-we got here around 6am and watched the sunrise
-walk along the cliff or walk up a small hill for a higher viewpoint
2. Queen's Garden Trail
-this trail can be accessed from Sunrise point
-descend 300 feet down and be surrounded by these beautiful hoodoos
-1.8 miles out and back up
2. Sunset point (viewpoint)
-1 mile walk from Sunrise Point
-you can also drive and park here
3. Navajo Loop Trail
-can be accessed from Sunset point
-1.5 mile loop trail
-go down Wall Street, a series of switchbacks, slot canyon and loop around Twin Bridges
4. Queen's Garden/Navajo Loop Combo Trail (most popular)
-Why not combine the two trails and see them all?!
-3 miles total
-Start at Sunrise point > head down the Queen’s Garden trail > hop onto Navajo Loop > take wall street to reach Sunset Point > walk 1 mile back to Sunrise point
- you can also take opposite way (counterclockwise)
5. Inspiration point (viewpoint)
-0.6 mile hike out and back from the parking lot
-walk up a hill with 134ft elevation to reach viewpoint
6. Bryce Point
-0.2 mile walk out and back with only 26ft elevation gain
7. Rainbow Point
-18 miles away from the entrance of the park
-After visiting the Bryce Amphitheater area (#1 to #6), I recommend to drive all the way to the end of the park which is the Rainbow point and drive back to stop at the rest of the viewpoints
-The rest of the viewpoints will then be on the right side of the road, which will make it easier for you to stop and park
8. Natural Bridge (viewpoint)
-Mile 12 marker
-view the natural bridge right in front of the parking lot
9. Swamp Canyon (viewpoint)
-Mile 6 marker
-View of hoodoos with pine trees
10. Mossy Cave Trail
-this trail is located outside the gate park
-0.8mile trail
-hike next to a stream that will take you to a small waterfalls and mossy cave
Visit the official Bryce National Park website for updates on openings/closures.
Last updated August 2020
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