The smallest of Utah’s "Mighty 5" national parks, Bryce Canyon packs a big punch. The first time you clap eyes on its iconic hoodoos – those otherworldly rock spires striped with orange, pink and red – is a moment you’ll never forget, even if you’ve seen photos of them before. This incredible park is home to more hoodoos than anywhere else in the world.
Bryce Canyon’s high elevation, averaging more than 8000ft but reaching almost 10,000ft at its loftiest points, gives this national park an edge. The seasonal cycle of freezing and thawing water repeatedly over millennia has transformed the soft sandstone and limestone into an utterly unique landscape. Despite its name, Bryce is not actually a canyon but rather a plateau (a canyon is formed by flowing water).
Epic hiking trails skirt the plateau rim before diving 1000ft down into the forest of alien pinnacles, fragrant juniper trees and centuries-old bristlecone pines. Here is everything you need to know about planning a visit to Bryce Canyon National Park.
More than half of the visitors to Bryce Canyon National Park go between June and the end of September, and for many, summer is the best time to visit. Bryce Canyon’s higher elevation means that the average high temperature in July is a blissful 79°F –a far cry cooler than the average of 100°F in Arches and Canyonlands or nearly 90°F in nearby Zion National Park.
In 2023, Bryce Canyon National Park’s busiest month was September, with 367,425 visitors, while January saw just 29,457 adventurers make the trip. The winter months can bring a powdered-sugar dusting of snow atop Bryce Canyon’s "fairy chimneys," providing an even more magical setting, though some trails and accommodations are closed.
Some travelers visit Bryce Canyon as a day trip from Zion National Park (about 80 miles, a 1.5-hour drive from Zion’s east entrance), but it’s worth staying at Bryce Canyon for a full day or two. (How do you choose between Utah’s top national parks? Don’t! See them both.)
Bryce shows off its true colors at sunrise and sunset when the amphitheater of hoodoos looks like it’s been set alight with a golden-red glow. After the sun has departed, Bryce Canyon’s clean, dry air promises excellent nighttime visibility for stargazing, reaching all the way to the Andromeda Galaxy 2.5 million light-years away.
Yes, Bryce Canyon is easy to visit if you have a car – it's just a few hours’ drive from the closest airports and major cities.
During the busier months of April through October, shuttle buses are available to get visitors around the park. The shuttle bus is free to ride with park admission and reservations are not required. There are 15 stops, nine of which are in the park; it also stops at some hotels in Bryce Canyon City
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Ross Clarke recently returned from Fuerteventura where he was researching for the upcoming Canary Islands guidebook (publishing November 2024). This is his ultimate guide to planning your holiday to Fuerteventura.
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