With its dramatic crimson-colored amphitheater and its collection of fanciful rock pillars ranging from sherbet orange to cotton candy pink, Bryce Canyon feels like a Dr. Seuss wonderland. It’s filled with a variety of accessible trails to allow all visitors to appreciate and interact with this extreme beauty. Here’s the essential Bryce Canyon guide — everything you need to know before you go, so you can make the most of your visit to this spectacular park.
1) Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah holds the world’s largest collection of hoodoos. Created by centuries of erosion, the unique hoodoos here were not a result of flowing rivers and streams. Instead, the wide daily swings in temperature are the main sculptors. As snow and ice melt, the water seeps into small fissures in the rocks. When this water re-freezes each evening, it expands and cracks the rock around it. This process is called frost-wedging and Bryce Canyon is the epicenter for this natural phenomena.
At the right angle and with a little imagination, you can make out Thor’s Hammer, Tower Bridge and the likeness of Queen Victoria among the spires.
(Thor’s Hammer)
(Tower Bridge)
(Queen Victoria)
2) While the canyon colors invoke visions of cotton candy and creamsicles, it is the scent of Bryce Canyon that sticks in your memory. Bryce Canyon is filled with Ponderosa Pine Trees with their distinct butterscotch smell wafting in the breeze.
3) Elevation can reach 9,100 feet which means there is only 70% of the oxygen that you might be used to at sea level. Keep that in mind before embarking on a strenuous hike as you might need a little extra time along the trail to catch your breath.
(Navajo Loop Trail switchback)
4) Bryce Canyon is known for having one of the darkest nights skies within the U.S. National Park System. On a clear moonless night, you can see over 7,500 stars above the canyon. That is three times the number normally visible in most areas of rural North America. This makes Bryce an exceptional spot for stargazing and capturing that epic long exposure shot of the Milky Way. It also means that many of the National Park Rangers are experts in astronomy. If you time your visit right, you might be lucky enough to experience a night sky tour or a full moon hike lead by a knowledgeable ranger. It is magical to see the moonlight casting mysterious shadows among the towering hoodoos. Hikes are by lottery, March through November. Check the National Park website for the schedule and details
5) If you have limited mobility or limited time, you can still enjoy some of the highlights of the park a few steps from your car. There are a number of spectacular viewpoints along that main road that allow you to experience the breathtaking vistas of the park and canyon. Upon entering the Park all turns for viewpoints and will be on the left-hand side of the main road.
6) During peak season the park can become extremely crowded and parking is limited. The park offers a free shuttle service which allows you to leave your car just outside of the park and take the shuttle which makes stops at all of the key points of interest/hikes within the Bryce Canyon.
7) Watch out for deer as you are driving within and outside the park. The deer tend to come out in the evening and early morning hours and can easily be startled and dash in front of your car. You don’t want to ruin your perfect Bryce Canyon visit with an unfortunate accident.
BEST HIKES
Navajo Trail and Queen’s Garden Loop: This loop is a combination of the two trails and is the most popular in the park. It is a moderately easy 2.9-mile hike that takes you down into the canyon and through an excellent sampling of the famous hoodoos. Highlights include the famous formations resembling Queen Victoria and Thor’s Hammer. Hike the trail in a clockwise direction starting at Sunset Point.
(Navajo Loop Trai)
(Looking down from Sunrise Point at one end of the Queen’s Garden Trail)
Tower Bridge/Chinese Wall: Moderately difficult 3.0-mile hike takes you through a Bristlecone forest, towering hoodoos and along the towering white and pink Chinese Wall. Less crowded due to its difficulty, this hike is highly recommended for its otherworldly landscapes, part martian and part Dr. Seuss. The hike culminates with a view of the Tower Bridge formation, interesting, but far overshadowed by the impressive Chinese Wall earlier on the trail.
(Chinese Wall & Tower Bridge Trail)
(Chinese Wall)
Rim Trail (Sunset to Sunrise): Easily accessible from the Sunset Point parking lot. This paved and level 1 mile trail takes you along the rim of the canyon and provides stunning views of the Bryce Amphitheater. As the name implies, the prime times for viewing the amphitheater are at sunrise and sunset.
(Paved section of the Rim Trail on far left, looking toward Sunrise Point)
Rim Trail (beyond Sunrise Point): With minimal elevation, this trail allows hikers to capture stunning panoramas while strolling leisurely along the rim of Bryce Canyon.
(Rim Trail continuing beyond Sunrise Point)
WHAT TO BRING
With is high altitude, clear skies, and piercing sunshine, keeping hydrated is the number one key to remaining healthy and enjoying your visit. There are a number of water-filling stations at each of the parking lots, so save money and the environment and bring along a BVP free refillable water bottle. With their fun colors, easy seal tops and hand carrying loops, Camelback has a broad selection that is perfect for your outdoor adventure.
Don’t forget proper sunscreen and a hat to help keep you cool under the piercing rays of the sun.
Even though the trails may be marked as easy, they still have uneven surfaces, loose soil and varied inclines. Do not attempt to hike even the shortest of trails in a pair of flip-flops or flats as ankle injuries are one of the most common injuries within the Park. Proper footwear, which means hiking shoes or boots, is required to enjoy all the Park has to offer.
If you are even remotely interested in photography of the stars, Bryce Canyon is the place for taking those awe-inspiring shots of the Milky Way. Even if you are only armed with your camera phone, at a minimum take a few minutes to download a long-exposure app so you can channel your inner Neil deGrasse Tyson.
Even though it can be blazingly hot in the middle the day, once the sun goes down temperatures can quickly drop. Be sure to pack a jacket to wear in the early morning while catching the sunrise or during your evening star-gazing. Portability, wind-proof and rain-proof are key features to look for in a hiking jacket. Columbia Sportswear has a number of options that will keep you comfortable and classy on your hike.
Lastly, a hiking app for your smartphone is essential for hikers who love to know where they are at all times, plus the convenience of reading trail reviews and looking at trail photos. The AllTrails app is a personal fave.
WHERE TO STAY
There are several lodging options within and just outside of ever-popular Bryce Canyon National Park.
For those who love sleeping the outdoors, there are a few campgrounds within the park. These fill up quickly so reserve early to ensure a spot.
If you prefer a hot shower, soft mattress and fluffy pillow, there are a handful of hotel and home rental options available depending upon how far you wish to drive.
The Lodge at Bryce Canyon is conveniently nestled in the middle of the park and has 114 rooms which book up quickly. It is recommended that you reserve months in advance of your visit to ensure availability. If you aren’t able to stay at the Lodge you can still visit since it is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. A gift shop is also available to grab some sunscreen or Bryce Canyon mementos.
Just outside the park, you will find the Best Western Plus Bryce Canyon Grand Hotel. This newer hotel is perfectly situated at the gateway to the park and only a minute from the main shuttle stop.
A little further afield you will find a few charming cabins available in Tropic or if you are looking for a little more room and don’t mind the drive, Airbnb has several spacious condos available in the Brian Head ski resort area.
Whether your head is in the stars or you prefer to have your feet firmly in the dirt, Bryce Canyon National Park has something for everyone. Grab your camera, dust off your hiking boots and head to this most magical of National Parks!
For Pinners:
