How to Plan a One Day in Bryce Canyon Itinerary

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by Audrey Webster


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As one of five national parks in the state of Utah, it is easiest to only spend one day in Bryce Canyon. A small park known for its limestone spires called “hoodoos,” the Bryce Amphitheatre and surrounding area is truly spectacular to visit.

Situated in southern Utah not far from the iconic Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon may not be as well-known or as large as Arizona’s Grand Canyon, but I found it absolutely breathtaking and well worth planning a trip here.

How Many Days in Bryce Canyon?

To catch the highlights, you will find that spending one day in the national park is enough. Bryce Canyon is not large so you can see the main viewpoints and enjoy some spectacular walks along the canyon rim and really feel like you’ve experienced the best of what this area has to offer.

However, if you do have more time, consider spending 2 days in Bryce Canyon. This amount of time allows for a short hike, ranger talk, a walk through the visitor’s center, and sunset viewing. With an additional day, you can take a longer hike through the canyon.

Most visitors stop at Bryce Canyon as part of a road trip through the area. It’s a fairly remote park, so budget travel time to get there and leave into your overall itinerary. 

Stunning Bryce Canyon at Sunrise
Stunning Bryce Canyon at Sunrise

Getting To & Around Bryce Canyon

Bryce Canyon National Park sits about equal distance from Las Vegas and Salt Lake City. Due to its remote location, you need a vehicle.

If you’re travelling from abroad, you can find a hire car on Rentalcars.com or book a campervan or RV from Outdoorsy.

Once you pull off the freeway, you’ll take a handful of highways and small roads before you start climbing toward the park.

Like the majority of US National Parks, you will have to pay the $35 per vehicle entry fee. However, if you plan to visit multiple parks and national monuments throughout the year, consider purchasing an America the Beautiful Park Pass to gain entry into all of the US’s incredible national parks for a flat fee.

As you approach the entrance to the park, there are several small hoodoos and vehicle pullouts to make stops. 

It’s easy to drive around the park. There is one main road through the park. Offshoots of this road will take you to various overlooks, trailheads, and park resources.

Yet, some viewpoints have small parking lots that fill quickly. It can be wise to take the free park shuttle between popular stops in the park.

If you don’t want to drive, your other option is to organise a guided tour for the day. There are several tours that depart from nearby such as this full-day tour from Las Vegas or this private tour. You can join a half-day tour if you have your own transport to Bryce.

Driving to Bryce Canyon
Driving to Bryce Canyon

1-Day Bryce Canyon Itinerary

With one day to spend exploring Bryce Canyon, you have time to learn more about the park, set out on a stunning hiking trail, and experience the awe-inspiring night sky.

Hike from Sunset Point to Sunrise Point

The aptly named Sunset Point and Sunrise Point sit on either end of the most popular section of the Rim Trail. In its entirety, the route is 11 miles long.

However, on this half-mile hike between the two points, you walk along a flat and paved trail along the top of the Cathedral. It’s the best way to experience the park for the first time.

From the rim, you can look down to see the various trails that guide visitors in and around the canyon. If you happen to catch the sunrise, here is the best place. Likewise, if you choose to watch the sunset.

Depending on the time of year you visit, the best places for sunrise and sunset might be swapped. During our visit in mid-October, a park ranger told us the best place to watch the sunset is at Sunrise Point. 

Even during the off-season, the overlooks at both points were crowded at sunset. We opted to walk along the rim, taking our time and pausing to enjoy the view.

We quickly discovered that no matter where we were along the Cathedral Rim at sunset, we got a stunning display of evening colors over the hoodoos. 

Sunrise Point
Sunrise Point

Explore the Navajo Loop & Queen’s Garden Trail

The Navajo Loop and Queen’s Garden combination trail is a great introduction to the park. It’s perfect for first-time visitors as the trail gradually descends into the hoodoos and takes hikers to some of the park’s best views.

Thor’s Hammer is an icon of the park. While you can see it from the Cathedral Rim, this trail grants you a closer look at this park highlight.

You start the trail at either Sunrise or Sunset Point. If you want to make the most of your time in the park, walk from one point to the other then hop on this trail to make one full circle. The Navajo Loop & Queen’s Garden Trail is around 2.9 miles total. 

Take note: the Two Bridges side of the Navajo Loop is open year-round. However, once winter settles into the park and the paths become icy, the park closes the Wall Street portion of the trail. Make sure to check with park staff before setting out.

Depending on the time of year, I recommended to complete the hike early in the day. You can avoid crowds and enjoy tolerable temperatures while exploring the canyon in the morning. An afternoon hike might be more comfortable in the winter. 

Hiking on Queen’s Garden Trail
Hiking on Queen’s Garden Trail

Visit Inspiration Point and Bryce Point

After your hike, I recommend grabbing a lunch to go and heading toward the park’s other overlooks. In total, there are four designated outlooks in Bryce. Inspiration Point and Bryce Point are about a 20-minute drive from the Bryce Canyon Lodge. 

The parking lots are small and fill up quickly. During the busy months, consider hoping on the shuttle to get between them. Once you’ve arrived, you can comfortably settle onto a bench that overlooks the canyon and enjoy a well-earned lunch break. 

After you’re finished eating, walk the short paths along the viewpoints. They are paved and mostly flat, with some slight inclines in places. You’ll find podiums with information about the park’s geological history.

View from Bryce Point
View from Bryce Point

Stop at the Visitor Center Museum

The Bryce Canyon Visitor Center is located beside the park’s main road and near the entrance. It’s open every day of the week, with hours that vary slightly depending on the season.

Within the center, you’ll find a park gift shop, park information, and weather forecasts. 

Exhibits throughout the museum showcase the park’s geology, offering insightful information about how the canyon and hoodoos were formed. It additionally looks at the park’s establishment, discovery, and wildlife. 

Go stargazing

In 2019, Bryce Canyon earned International Dark Sky status. Because of the park’s high elevation and remote location, a clear night sky reveals thousands of stars and a stretch of the Milky Way Galaxy.

The quality of your stargazing experience will vary based on when you visit. Unfortunately, our early winter visit meant overcast skies at night, so stargazing wasn’t on our agenda.

However, if you explore the park in summer, make sure to look for ranger-led telescope programs. The programs usually occur along the Cathedral Rim, so it’s an easy walking distance from the lodge. 

Star gazing at Bryce Canyon
Star gazing at Bryce Canyon

Have More Time?

If you have more than one day to spend in Bryce Canyon, set out on a longer hike. Our favorite hike in the park was the 8-mile Fairyland Loop Trail. We opted to take the trail clockwise, so we walked along the rim to Fairyland Point where the trail begins its descent into the canyon. 

A winter storm rolled through the area on the day of our arrival. The following morning, as we set out on the trail, a light dusting of snow covered the hoodoos.

We took the walk down into the canyon slowly as the trail was slick and icy in places. Soon, we were weaving between towering hoodoos, spotting arches and caves in the cliffside, and experiencing views impossible to see from the rim. 

This trail tends to see less traffic than more popular ones like the Navajo Loop and Queen’s Garden Trail. It’s quieter as a result. You can take your time stopping to enjoy the scenery and marvelling at the hoodoos up close. Pack a lunch or bring snacks to enjoy along the way. 

On the last portion of the hike, you’ll pass the Tower Bridge hoodoo. You can see it from the trail or take a quarter-mile spur trail to reach its base. Close out your second day in Bryce Canyon by enjoying another sunset over the Cathedral. 

If you’ve done enough hiking on the first day, you can choose to go on a horsebike ride instead!

Fairyland Loop Trail
Fairyland Loop Trail

Where to Stay near Bryce Canyon

Bryce Canyon Log Cabins – Located only fifteen minutes from the national park, these rustic log cabins are perfect for a comfortable stay, There is free on-site parking, barbecue facilities to enjoy and options perfect for singles, couples and families.

Happy Trails BnB – This comfortable bed and breakfast is situated within easy reach of Bryce Canyon. There are several rooms available suitable for lots of group sizes, free parking and a superb breakfast each morning.

Not quite what you’re looking for? Click here to browse more Bryce Canyon hotels!

The size of Bryce Canyon makes it uniquely doable to see in one day. With an itinerary that includes a hike into the hoodoos, sunset, and opportunities to learn more about the park, you’re set for an unforgettable visit.

Are you planning to visit Bryce Canyon National Park? Have any questions? Let us know in the comments!

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Audrey Webster is a writer for The World Was Here First. She is an Oregon native who has visited countries across the globe and currently spends her weekends exploring the Pacific Northwest and surrounding states. Her approach to traveling combines exploring famous tourist sites and wandering off the beaten path to discover new destinations.

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