Bryce Canyon

Another view from the Rim Trail between Inspiration Point and Sunset Point

Our Visit. We’ve visited Bryce Canyon National Park twice, about 20 years apart, and both trips were disappointingly brief. We visited the first time in June while driving back home from Zion National Park and didn’t have enough time to really explore. The second visit was in April, and much of the park and the trails into the hoodoos were closed or too difficult to access. Still, even the views from the rim was well worth the trip!

Our Weather. June was bright and warm with only high, wispy clouds. April was cooler, in the ’50s, with clear skies and snow on the ground.

A zoomed-in view of some snow-capped hoodoos beneath Inspiration Point

Overall Impression. The first glimpse into the valley full of red “hoodoos” is nothing short of breathtaking! There just isn’t anything like this anywhere else in the world. The strange landscape is something between prehistoric and science fiction and is difficult to describe in words. You simply have to see it to believe its unique beauty. While lacking in the diversity of wildlife and things to do that many other “headline” parks offer, Bryce’s sheer uniqueness and beauty make it a 5-star park.

Favorite Spot. Looking out from Rim Trail near Inspiration Point.

Minimum Time Required. About 90 minutes. There is one road into Bryce with several stops along the way to see the canyon. You’ll only have to hike the last 100 yards or so to peer over the rim. One hour will allow you sufficient time to see the canyon from a couple of vantage points. We chose Sunrise Point, Inspiration Point, and Bryce Point and were not disappointed. The thickest hoodoos are between Bryce Point and Sunset Point. If you’re pressed for time, it’s safe to skip the Visitors Center unless you’re desperate for that passport stamp as it’s pretty crowded and isn’t required to enjoy the park.

Looking back at Inspiration Point from Rim Trail

With a few hours, you can see more viewpoints and make a few short hikes. Each of the major viewpoints offers a connection to the Rim Trail. This trail is pretty level and offers views down into the canyon from a lot of angles. In April, most of the Rim Trail, along with portions of the trails to the overlooks, were covered in deep snow. It was packed enough to allow safe travel without special shoes, but straying from the trail almost inevitably resulted in sinking in up to your calves.

A Longer Visit. The best way to experience Bryce is to take a hike down into the hoodoos. There are trails from most of the viewpoints. Unfortunately, they are a bit steeper, so if they’re snow covered, they really require at least a set of good hiking boots and poles in the winter and spring… we didn’t have any, and we missed out. From our vantage point atop the rim, the trails out of Bryce Point, particularly Peekaboo Loop Connector, looked to have the most direct access to the thick part of the Hoodoos.

Sunrise Point offers great views of the hoodoos and distant ridges, especially beautiful with a little snow

When we went in April, the road was closed at the turn-off for Bryce Point, so we weren’t able to access the rest of the park. The road goes all the way to Rainbow Point, and while the wall of hoodoos gets smaller the further down the road you travel, so does the crowd. In a multi-day trip, consider taking a trail ride or exploring the trails from outside the park near Fairyland Point.

Suggestions. The parking lots at the viewpoints fill up quickly, and lines of cars form waiting to find a spot. If you don’t have much to haul, consider taking the shuttle bus which stops at all the major points. You’ll spend some time waiting, but you won’t have to worry about whether or not you’ll be able to reach the point you’re looking for. We drove and were able to find parking without too much delay at every point except Sunset Point. We started at the end and worked our way back toward the entrance which seemed to help a little with crowds.

A view looking out from Sunrise Point

Bryce looks different in winter, and the snow adds so much to the beauty. Don’t be afraid of a winter trip, but expect much of the park to be closed, and come prepared with the right equipment including really good snow hiking shoes or even metal grips that strap onto your shoes (we saw many people hiking just fine in these). Most people have a decent commute to get to Bryce, so if you can get up and into the park early, you’ll beat a good portion of the crowd.

If you do find the park too crowded or the trails impassable but still want to hike in the hoodoos, there are some easily accessible trails in the Red Canyon area of nearby Dixie National Forest along Utah highway 12. We hiked the aptly named Hoodoos Trail and felt some solace that at least we’d hiked among some hoodoos, even if not in the park.

Nearby Towns Bryce Canyon City, Tropic, Hillsdale, Panguich, Cedar City (Utah)

Other Nearby Attractions Zion National Park

Official NPS Website Bryce Canyon NP

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