Bryce Canyon is a mesmerizing location, compact, gorgeous, and devastatingly unique, and even a glance into the amphitheater from one of its viewpoints is enough to indicate why this national park deserves to be called one of Utah’s Mighty Five. There’s no reason to limit yourself to the popular overlooks in Bryce Canyon National Park because there is so much to do! Are you unsure what to do in Bryce Canyon? Here are the 15 Best Things to Do in Bryce Canyon National Park.
Things to do in Summer
Go fishing!
Despite being one of Utah’s smallest national parks, Bryce Canyon has a lot to offer and is a must-see for anybody traveling through the state. Inside Bryce Canyon, there are several fishing holes, rivers, lakes, and other attractions. There is plenty of excellent fish in these waterways. In Southern Utah, the National Park has some of the best fishing. Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout Cutthroat Trout, and Tiger Trout are the most prevalent fish.
If you’re new to fishing or don’t have your equipment, there are several firms in the region that offer trips and rentals. To fish anywhere in Utah, you’ll also need a state license.
Astronomy Festival
Bryce Canyon is regularly ranked among the top ten national parks for stargazing in the United States. Bryce Canyon is a haven for natural darkness, far from civilization’s light pollution and guarded by a unique force of park officers and volunteer astronomers. On a moonless night, the night sky at Bryce is so dark that we can see thousands of stars!
This is because there is almost no light pollution and very little air pollution in the area. During the summer, the area is also desert; thus, there is rarely a haze in the air to obscure starry skies.
Looking up from the canyon at night, up to 7,500 stars can sparkle over the Milky Way. The Hoodoos framing the bright carpet in the sky is one of the famous images. Make it a point to pay a visit during their annual Astronomy festival to learn even more.
Hire out an ATV Tour
To ride with an adult, children must be at least seven years old, and to ride solo, they must be 16 years old and have a valid driver’s license. This would be an exciting, adrenaline-fueled way to explore Bryce Canyon, and it might be right for you if you don’t like hiking or simply enjoy ATVs.
All-Terrain Vehicles, or ATVs, are a lot of fun for anyone who is old enough to drive. When you don’t know where to go, you can rent these in and around the National Park and go on excursions. The tours take you through beautiful Ponderosa Pine forests and Red Rock canyons.
Experiencing it from the interior of a speeding car offers you entirely another viewpoint. During the hot summer months in Southern Utah, the breeze in your hair is also a great way to cool off.
Covered Wagon Tour
Looking for something to do with the whole family? You’ve come to the right place! Ruby’s Inn took us on a horse-drawn wagon ride, which was fantastic! But, guys, get your knickers in a tangle! Bryce Canyon Country offers a chuck wagon full of attractions to help you make the most of your stay in the summer. Bryce Canyon Country is ideal for a summer vacation not only because of the stunning red rock scenery but also because of the true Wild West experience provided.
You can schedule a covered wagon tour if you want an even more peaceful approach to seeing Bryce Canyon. Enjoy as the horse-drawn wagon transports you through the forest and to Bryce Canyon’s rim. You’ll also get to hear some cowboy tales and learn about the history of the Old West. Then, the three-hour journey will take you straight into Bryce Canyon’s heart. The Wall of Windows, The Chessmen, Silent City, and the Bristle Cone Pine Trees are among the sights you’ll see.
Things to do in Fall
Mountain biking
Mountain riding is a popular sport in Bryce Canyon all year, but it takes on a new meaning in the fall. However, it is still extremely hot at this time of year. So make sure you’re prepared by bringing lots of water in a sturdy water bottle.
Bryce Canyon and its surroundings offer some of the best red rock mountain biking in the world. Bicycling is only permitted on paved roads within the park. Bicyclists, on the other hand, frequent a number of adjacent trails. There are single and double track paths, as well as forest roads and pioneer routes, to ride on.
Take advantage of some of the more well-known paths to enjoy famous views while getting some workout. Trails like Dave’s Hollow, Casto Canyon, and Thunder Mountain are among them. If you need to hire a mountain bike, there are many rental locations near Bryce Canyon National Park.
Queens Garden Trail and Navajo Loop
The combined Navajo Loop and Queens Garden Trails, a 2.6-mile loop into the canyon and back again, were one of our best hikes. This is one of Bryce Canyon’s most famous walks, so expect to see many people on the path. This hike is a must-do when you only have one day in Bryce Canyon.
The 1.3 mile Navajo Loop track, which starts from Sunset Point and is also a famous way to visit the amphitheater, is a steeper but shorter option than the Queen’s Garden Trail. As an added bonus, the Navajo Loop route may provide access to a slot canyon, which brings us to.
You can trek the Navajo Loop either way, but we started from Sunrise Point and hiked down to Queens Garden on the canyon bottom, then back up the Wall Street section to Sunset Point. Simply stroll along the rim trail back to Sunrise Point, where you began. Of course, you could tackle it the other way around; I believe the trek up from Queens Garden is a little easier than we did.
Any modest hike in the park, the Queen’s / Navajo Combination offers the most variety of views. The trail blends the Queen’s Garden Trail’s open views and unique hoodoos with the Navajo Loop Trail’s narrower sections of tall Redrock limestone walls and switchbacks, as well as a half-mile of fast hiking between Sunset and Sunrise Points along the Rim Trail with fabulous viewpoints of the Bryce Amphitheater area.
Wall Street is both a slot canyon and a steep ascent. When it comes to slot canyons, keep an eye out for the weather since when it rains, flash floods might occur. The Queen’s Garden Trail and the Navajo Loop Trail are combined to form the loop. We recommend trekking this loop in a clockwise route, down the Queen’s Garden Trail, and up the Navajo Loop Trail, whether you start from Sunset or Sunrise Point.
There are three reasons for this: The Queen’s Garden Trail, for starters, offers far bigger vistas of the Bryce Amphitheater, and descending it allows you to take in these sights right in front of you. Second, unlike the Navajo Loop, the Queen’s Garden is less steep, making descents safer. Lastly, having everyone trekking in the same direction might make the trail feel less congested.
Explore slot canyons
It can be challenging to get up and go for a hike during the hottest months of the year. It is not everyone’s cup of tea to be exposed to the hot sun. Instead, try canyoneering to find some shade. You’ll be surrounded by massive red granite cliffs, and you’ll occasionally be hiking through sections with refreshing water.
When water rushes through any type of rock, but notably sandstone or limestone, canyons form over millions of years. A slot canyon is formed by a unique combination of water and rock, making them relatively uncommon.
Bryce Canyon offers guided tours if you’re scared of getting lost among the rocks. Try Coyote Gulch or Davis Gulch if you’re secure in your hiking and navigational abilities. The slot canyons in this area are known for their long streams and small tunnels.
Peek-A-Boo Loop
The Peek-A-Boo Loop path, which begins at Bryce Point, is another of our favorite treks in Bryce. This hike is 5 miles long, including a mile down from Bryce Point, a 3-mile loop on the canyon floor, and a mile ascent back up. The path now descends the east side of Bruce Canyon, providing excellent views of Silent City to the north. Then, at 2.7 miles, the trail turns to the northeast, plunging switchbacks to a junction and the Peek-a-boo Loop’s lowest point (7,440 feet).
This 5.20-mile loop trail near Bryce, Utah, is a must-see. It takes an average of 3 hours and 5 minutes to finish this moderately tricky route. Because this is a popular hiking and horseback riding region, you’ll almost certainly run into other people while exploring.
This hike is rated difficult because of the sudden elevation change, especially the climb back up. Also, because it had snowed at Bryce earlier in the week, the trail on the way down was extremely muddy and slippery, making the hike even more difficult. It was also not particularly packed on that specific day. Anyway, it was a beautiful and relaxing hike with enough to see around every corner.
Scenic Byway 12
As you approach Bryce Canyon and Zion National Parks in Utah, you’ll notice that you’re driving into the mountains. During the rest of the year, these are relatively unremarkable. However, as the leaves of birches and maples change color in the fall, they begin to glow.
” Utah’s Scenic Byway 12 is a beautiful stretch of road that connects Wayne and Garfield counties and is a famous tourist and local destination. Utah Highway 12 was voted #2 on FoxNews.com‘s 2013 list of the world’s ten most beautiful roadways!
Taking a scenic drive on Byway 12 is one of the most excellent ways to see Capitol Reef Country. The route is approximately 124 miles long, entirely paved, and open all year. However, keep in mind that precipitation and freezing conditions may make some sections of the route less safe or even impassable. Please be cautious when traveling!
Escalante National Monument, Dixie National Forest, and Red Canyon are accessible via Scenic Byway 12. The rugged landscape is painted brighter than usual in the Fall, making it the finest time to drive it. It’s better to do this at the end of September or the beginning of October.
You’ll see jagged red-rock formations, deep slot canyons, verdant alpine forests, and undulating meadows. Some people drive it all in one day, while others take their time and stop along the road to see some of the exciting sights.
Things to do in Winter
Snowshoe hikes under the full moon with a guide
The long winter nights give you more time to explore this maze of desert hoodoos in the moonlight. The full moon may be spotlight-bright in Bryce Canyon’s extremely nights and very clean air, and when it reflects off a fresh covering of snow, you might as well leave the headlamp in your pack as you descend to the inner canyon.
Snowshoeing is permitted on all paths within the park. However, keep in mind that while snowshoeing allows you to move in deep powdery snow, it is still a physically demanding activity. The Rim Trail, Bristlecone Loop, Fairyland Road, and Paria Road are famous among snowshoers.
When the snow is deep enough (at least 8 inches), rangers lead a famous full moon snowshoe trip each month, but you may also explore the canyon’s snowball-capped spires on your own.
If the parks have enough staff throughout the winter, they will offer a variety of excursions and guides. A ranger-led snowshoe trip during full moons is one of them. November through March is the optimum time to accomplish this. These are the months when the snowfall ranges from 12 to 18 inches. If you don’t have snowshoes or poles, they will provide them if you join one of these hikes. To be warm and dry, you’ll need to carry your snow boots and waterproof clothing.
Cross-country skiing
The breathtaking views that draw visitors worldwide to Bryce Canyon Country are just as stunning in the winter! There are also a plethora of winter activities to enjoy. It may come as a shock that an arid region like Southern Utah gets snow in the winter. It receives more snow than the rest of the United States on average, with 32 inches per year compared to the national average of 28 inches.
To get about more quickly in the backcountry, bring your snowshoes or cross-country skis, but you’ll find that a good pair of snow boots will suffice in many sections of Bryce Canyon and other nearby attractions. Of course, while making trekking arrangements, it’s usually a good idea to check snow levels. The snow usually melts and compacts sufficiently for walking a few days following a snowstorm.
With all of the snow, cross-country skiing is an excellent activity in Bryce Canyon. Glide through powder in the canyons and along the trails rather than witnessing the red rock enchantment under a scorching summer sun. Layers such as heated gloves, jackets, and vests should be used.
Date night going couple sledding
There are a few spots inside Bryce Canyon National Park’s appropriate limits for sledding. Because it is so perilous, sledding anywhere down the canyon lip is strictly prohibited.
Although sledding at the Park is challenging to beat, many locals prefer to sled in the adjacent Red Canyon. You can rent sleds and go alone, with your family, or on a lovely couple’s date. Before leaving on your journey, check the weather forecast and make sure you have appropriate warm clothing.
Camping is permitted in specified campsites at North and Sunset Campgrounds and in designated areas of the Under the Rim Trails with a permit. Bryce Canyon’s overnight accommodations are usually fully booked from April through October. Therefore, it is not permitted to camp or sleep on pullouts or parking lots.
Things to do in Spring
Riding a horse is a great way to get some exercise
Bryce Canyon National Park’s horseback riding is a beautiful opportunity to slow down and enjoy the scenery. Before it was set aside for federal protection, horses were utilized to explore Bryce Canyon, National Park. The National Park Service built 4.5 miles of foot and horse routes in 1931 to support this activity, and they are still in use today.
Spring is one of the best times to visit the park because everything is just getting started for the peak season. Then, as the weather warms up in the summer, more people begin to visit the National Parks.
Horseback riding is permitted and available practically all year in the National Park. Spring provides a milder season without the snowy slopes of winter or the sweltering heat of summer. Check into the tours available in the region to get the perfect tour for you and your group.
Try out rock climbing
When visiting Bryce Canyon, you’ll discover that there are a variety of activities to choose from. Some of these hobbies are physically demanding, such as hiking, while others, such as fishing, are relaxing.
That neither of these activities, however, are as thrilling or challenging as rock climbing and rappelling in Bryce Canyon. Bryce Canyon rock climbing necessitates talent, determination, and bravery. You’ll be dangling from the tops of tall towers. You’ll have to work hard to get to the top of the cliffs. When you look down, you’ll be astounded, if not terrified, by how much space there is between you and the ground. Bryce Canyon climbing and rappelling are hard for the faint of heart.
Rock climbing and rappelling are two of the most popular activities among visitors to the National Park. Hikers with the ability are free to explore practically any face in Bryce Canyon and the adjacent surroundings.
Look for a company that offers beginner’s climbing excursions if you want to try something new. There are many smaller and shorter spots for first-timers, just as there are plenty of areas for climbers who know what they’re doing. You might even catch a peek of the Hoodoos capped in the snow if you arrive early enough.
Head into the backcountry
The Under the Rim Trail offers solitude in Bryce Canyon’s forested wilderness. This 22.9-mile trail descends from the rim, passing through woodlands and meadows and providing breathtaking vistas of the distant rainbow-hued rocks.
The Under the Rim Trail is mostly forested and follows the base of the Paunsaugant Plateau. As you hike the valley floor, the hoodoos form part of the far vistas to the west. Backcountry camping is only permitted in selected campsites to preserve this experience. Any overnight trips require a backcountry permit, which can be obtained at the Visitor Center.
Because there are fewer individuals vying for backcountry permits in the spring, it is easier to secure one. Throughout the park, there are numerous multi-day hikes to select from.
If you’re searching for a longer hike, bring a hiking backpack, and don’t forget your camera to capture the unique sights you won’t see anywhere else. Even if it is cooler in the summer, it is still necessary to drink plenty of water. In the Park, there aren’t many water sources, especially those considered potable.
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