Four hours east of Las Vegas lies an amphitheater with the largest concentrations of hoodoos in the entire world. Welcome to Bryce Canyon National Park!
If wandering through a sea of bright orange pillars and strolling through a grove of the world’s largest trees sounds like your kind of fun, you’ll want to add Bryce Canyon to your Utah bucket list.
As someone who has explored this incredibly unique National Park, I am going to share everything you need to know to visit!
In this guide, I will share how to get to the park, when to go, where to stay, and the best things to do!
Complete Guide to Bryce Canyon National Park
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Quick Facts About Bryce Canyon
- Location: Utah, USA
- Established: 1923 (National Monument), 1928 (National Park)
- Size: 35,835 acres
- Annual Visitors: 2,498,075 (2024)
- Fee: $35/vehicle for 7 days or FREE with an annual pass
- Visitor Center: Bryce Canyon
Getting to (and Around) Bryce Canyon
Bryce Canyon National Park is located between Zion National Park and Grand Staircase National Monument in southwestern Utah.
If you’re not local to Utah or don’t live within driving distance, the easiest way to get to Bryce Canyon National Park is by flying into Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas, Nevada.
From the airport, rent a car and drive less than four hours to the park entrance.
To avoid congestion in the park, I recommend that you utilize the shuttle system. The shuttle station is located just outside the park and is FREE with park admission.
The shuttle makes 15 stops in 15-minute intervals, giving you access to all of the major viewpoints and hiking areas in Bryce Canyon.
If you’d like to venture beyond the shuttle stop limit, you can take a personal vehicle through the scenic drive all the way to Rainbow Point, the highest elevation point in the park.
Note that the shuttle does not operate in the winter. Below is the current shuttle schedule and stops for 2026.
2026 BRYCE CANYON SHUTTLE SCHEDULE
| DATE | TIME |
|---|---|
| April 3 – May 8 | 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM |
| May 9 – September 20 | 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM |
| September 21 – October 18 | 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM |
2026 Bryce Canyon Shuttle Stops
- Shuttle Station
- Old Bryce Town
- Best Western + Grand
- Best Western + Ruby’s Inn
- Ruby’s Campground
- Visitor Center
- Sunset Campground
- Bryce Point
- Inspiration Point
- Sunset Campground
- Sunset Point
- Bryce Lodge
- Sunrise Point
- Visitor Center
- Ruby’s Campground
For more information on the shuttle system, click here.
See where Bryce Canyon ranks in my Utah National Parks Ranked Best to Worst blog post!
When to Visit Bryce Canyon
The best time to visit Bryce Canyon National Park is May through September.
The park is open year-round, but services are limited in the winter. Snowfall usually hits the canyon around the first week of October, forcing the scenic drive and even some hiking trails to close for the season.
For current park conditions, click here.
Where to Stay in Bryce Canyon
While reservations can be tough, I’d recommend staying inside the park if possible. You have two options for in-park camping and one option for in-park lodging:
- Lodge at Bryce Canyon – located just steps from the amphitheater
- North Campground – first-come, first-served campsites near the lodge, amphitheater, and visitor center
- Sunset Campground – reservation-based campsites near the lodge, amphitheater, and visitor center
Prefer to go backpacking? With a permit, backpacking is allowed on the Under-the-Rim and Riggs Spring Loop Trails! Visit the park’s website for more information on backpacking in Bryce Canyon.
If you can’t snag one of the in-park accommodations, and you don’t want to backpack, here are a few options to stay outside the park:
- Bryce Canyon Grand Hotel – 0.5 miles from the shuttle station and 3 miles from Bryce Canyon Visitor Center.
- Best Western Plus Ruby’s Inn – 0.3 miles from the shuttle station and 2.5 miles from Bryce Canyon Visitor Center.
- Bryce Canyon Resort – 2 miles from the shuttle station and 4 miles from Bryce Canyon Visitor Center.
Best Things to Do in Bryce Canyon
From hiking and backpacking to horseback riding and scenic driving, here are the best things to do in Bryce Canyon!
Hike the Figure 8 Loop
If you only have time for one hike in Bryce Canyon, this is the one I’d suggest.
The Figure 8 Loop combines Queens Garden, Peek-a-Boo, and Navajo Loop trails, and is 6.3 miles when looped. You will descend into the amphitheater at either Sunset Point or Sunrise Point through a maze of ice cream-colored hoodoos.
Throughout the hike, you will pass through natural tunnels carved into the rock, glimpse a labyrinth of unique formations such as the Cathedral and Wall of Windows, and descend (or ascend) the famous Wall Street switchbacks.
Remember, when you descend into the canyon, you must make the trek back up. Take plenty of breaks and drink ample amounts of water as this trail is mostly in full sun. If you can handle the heat and the physical feat, just know that is so worth it!
Hike the Rim Trail
This fairly easy hike offers stunning views of the canyon as you walk along the rim. The 5.5-mile trail extends from Bryce Point to Fairyland Point.
With plenty of observation points along the route, such as Sunrise, Sunset, and Inspiration Points, there isn’t one section of this trail that is devoid of incredible views. Each point offers a different angle of the amphitheater, drawing crowds specifically for sunrise and sunset.
Though this is considered a moderate trail, there is some elevation change, so it’s not handicapped-accessible.
Watch out for children near the ledges; this is a wild space, and there are no guardrails. One misstep will send you descending 800 feet into the canyon.
Hike the Bristlecone Pine Loop
Wander through the world’s oldest trees on this extremely easy 0.6-mile trail.
The loop is accessible from Rainbow Point, the highest elevation point in the entire park.
READ NEXT: 6 Best Hikes in Bryce Canyon National Park
Drive to Rainbow Point
The shuttle does not venture to Rainbow Point anymore, so you will need to bike or drive a personal vehicle to the furthest end of the park.
Rainbow Point is the highest point in the park; you will be greeted by remarkable viewpoints and glimpse the oldest trees in the world on a short nature loop through the Bristlecone Pines.
Along the way to Rainbow Point, you can stop at the 13 viewpoints on the scenic drive. Don’t miss Natural Bridge and Agua Canyon!
Embark on a Horseback Tour Inside the Canyon
To gain a new perspective of Bryce Canyon in a more leisurely, relaxing way, consider booking a guided horseback tour.
The NPS created 4.5 miles of horse trails that you can utilize on either a two or three-hour tour with experienced wranglers.
Fly Over Bryce Canyon and the Surrounding Areas in a Helicopter
To get an insane vantage point over Bryce Canyon and the surrounding public lands, book a helicopter tour!
There are many different companies, budgets, and locations to choose from, so head on over to this site to read more about your options.
Finish Planning Your Trip to Bryce Canyon
Plan your trip to Bryce Canyon with the help of my blog posts!
- 6 Helpful Things to Know Before Visiting Bryce Canyon
- Two Days in Bryce Canyon: Steal My Itinerary
- 6 Best Hikes in Bryce Canyon
- How to Hike the Figure 8 Combination in Bryce Canyon
- Complete Guide to Exploring Bryce Canyon
- Ultimate Utah National Parks Itinerary
- Utah National Parks Ranked Best to Worst
Discover Your Next Adventure
Where to next? I’ve got some suggestions!
- Arches National Park
- Zion National Park
- Capitol Reef National Park
- Canyonlands National Park
- Page, Arizona (Lake Powell, Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend)
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