Bryce Canyon National Park: 1 Day Itinerary

Located in the heart of southern Utah, Bryce Canyon National Park enchants visitors with its breathtaking landscapes and unique geological formations. Famous for its vibrant hoodoos—tall, thin spires of rock—this park offers a wide range of outdoor experiences, from challenging hikes to peaceful picnic areas. With its stunning vistas and numerous opportunities for adventure, Bryce Canyon is a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts. Below is a one-day itinerary that includes lodging options, dining choices, and essential tips to enhance your visit to this natural wonder. Please reach out below with any questions!

Entrance Fee

$35 for a 7-day vehicle pass

*This park does not accept cash.

Another option, especially if you plan on visiting Utah’s other national parks, is an America the Beautiful Pass. It covers the entrance fees for over 2,000 federal recreation sites, including all national parks.

If you have a 4^th grader in your crew, check out Every Kid Outdoors for a free National Park Pass instead!

Lodging

The park has one lodge, The Lodge at Bryce Canyon, which offers hotel rooms and cabin options. Reservations can be made here: Lodge Reservations.

The park also has two campgrounds: North Campground, which is open year-round, and Sunset Campground, which is open seasonally. Reservations for both can be made at Recreation.gov.

The park also offers backcountry camping. Permits for March -November can be obtained 3 months in advance at Recreation.gov. Permits for December – February must be obtained in person at the Visitor Center up to 48 hours ahead of time.

Dining

There are three food options available inside the park:

1. Bryce Canyon Restaurant: Located within the lodge, this restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The menus and operating hours are on their website: Bryce Canyon Lodge Restaurant.

2. Valhalla Pizzeria and Coffee Shop: Open daily from 7 AM to 8 PM, this eatery is situated in the same parking lot as the main lodge.

3. General Store: This store offers a small selection of groceries and to-go lunch options. Hours vary by season, so please check their website for details: Bryce Canyon General Store.

Additionally, the park features several picnic areas. If the weather is pleasant, I highly recommend the picnic area at Rainbow Point. 😊

For dining options outside the park, consider exploring the towns of Panguitch or Tropic.

Must Know Before You Go

Bring plenty of water, snacks, and sun protection. This park has little to no shade.
The park’s elevation reaches over 9,000 ft, which means you’re likely to have snow and ice on the trails well into spring.
The trails are mostly fine sand and gravel that quickly becomes slick in rain or snow. Wear shoes with decent traction, even on the shorter trails, and bring spikes in the winter.
I recommend downloading an AllTrails map for trails on this itinerary. (Want to check out AllTrails+? Use this link for a discount- AllTrails+.)
An optional shuttle service runs from April to October. If you prefer not to use the shuttle, I recommend entering the park by 8 a.m. to secure a parking spot.
If you have an extra day at Bryce, I highly recommend the Peekaboo Trail. It’s 5.5 miles RT and has over 1500 ft of elevation gain. If you feel extra adventurous, you could switch it out with the Navajo/Queen’s Garden Loop if you need to stick with a one-day itinerary.

1 Day Itinerary

Navajo Loop /Queen’s Garden Trail

Distance: 3 miles round-trip

Trail Route: Loop

Difficulty: Moderate

Elevation Gain: 600+ ft

Hike this loop clockwise. While hiking this way does save the steepest part of the trail for last, I have hiked this trail both ways, and from personal experience, I can say that the steep switchbacks on the Navajo Trail are easier to hike up rather than down. The park also recommends hiking in this direction to decrease trail congestion during the busy season.

Start this trail from the Sunset Point parking area, or take the park shuttle to Stop 11. From there, walk the flat and easy 0.5 miles to the Sunrise Overlook. The path hugs the canyon rim and has no guardrails, so be sure to keep an eye on little ones near the edge.

After enjoying the stunning view at Sunrise Point, head down the path just to the left of the overlook to begin winding your way through the Queen’s Garden Trail. You will walk approximately 0.6 miles into the canyon, surrounded by the valley and towering hoodoos, before reaching a trail split.

Take the short (0.2-mile round-trip) spur trail to see the Queen Victoria rock formation. Once you return to the main trail, it is another 0.8 miles through a forested area until you reach the trail junction for the Navajo Loop.

Either portion of the loop will lead you back to Sunset Point, but the Wall Street portion is closed during the winter months, and even in April, it was completely covered in snow. Both routes are beautiful, so if both are open, you can’t go wrong taking the loop in either direction!

If Wall Street is closed, take the Two Bridges/Thor’s Hammer route. The Two Bridges rock formation will be just before the switchback area, while Thor’s Hammer will be right after. It is a 0.6-mile uphill trek back to Sunset Point and the parking area.

Once you reach the top, take in the breathtaking views from Sunset Point before returning to the parking area.

Southern Scenic Drive– 9 overlooks

(must stops: Natural Bridge, Aqua Canyon)

To start the Southern Scenic Drive, turn left out of the Sunset Point parking lot. I recommend driving the 16 miles to Rainbow Point and Yovimpa Point first, then working your way back down. All the overlooks along this route are on the east side of the road, making it easier to pull into and out of each small parking lot or pull-off along the way.

Rainbow Point and Yovimpa Point are accessed from the same parking lot, with both having short paved paths leading to the overlooks. From the parking area, head left for the Rainbow Point overlook and right for the Yovimpa Point overlook. Both of these overlooks are situated at elevations over 9,000 feet, which may explain why you might not feel your best walking around this area! The Bristlecone Loop can also be accessed from here, if you’re looking for another quick but beautiful trail in the park.

Next is the Black Birch Overlook, located approximately 2 miles from the Rainbow Point parking lot. The parking area has only about 4-5 spots, but it is a quick stop, so spaces usually open up fairly quickly.

Another mile down the road, you’ll find the Ponderosa Canyon Overlook. This vibrant and colorful overlook features blue skies, green pines, and stunning red and orange rocks. It also has a connector trail to the next overlook, Agua Canyon, but that trail is currently closed.

The next overlook is Agua Canyon, another mile down the scenic drive. This is my second favorite of the nine overlooks, offering incredible views of the canyon and the rock formations below. Do not skip this one!

Continue another mile down the road to the Natural Bridge Overlook. This is my favorite stop and will likely be the busiest parking lot. The overlook is just steps from the parking area, and the massive 85-foot arch is absolutely spectacular.

The next stops on the scenic drive are Farview Point and Piracy Point, which are accessed from the same lot. Farview Point is just a short walk from the parking area. After enjoying the view, head left along the flat, unpaved Farview Point Trail. It is just under 0.2 miles to the Piracy Point overlook. After enjoying the fantastic views, return to the parking area to visit the last overlook.

The final stop on this scenic drive is Swamp Canyon, located another 4 miles down the park road. This will be your last look at this incredible area of the park.

Mossy Cave Trail

Distance: 1 mile round-trip

Trail Route: Out-and-back

Difficulty: Easy

Elevation Gain: 100+ ft

After taking the Southern Scenic Drive, continue on UT-63 until you reach UT-12, then turn right onto UT-12. In about 5 miles, you’ll find the trailhead and parking area for the Mossy Cave trail on your right. Restrooms are available at the trailhead.

This beautiful trail is easy to follow, as it runs along a flat path next to the water. After crossing the second bridge, the trail splits. Go left to reach the cave overlook, where you can see impressive icicles in the winter and green, lush moss hanging from the cave walls during the summer! After enjoying the overlook, return to the trail junction and proceed in the opposite direction to find the seasonal 10-foot waterfall. When you are done exploring, trace your steps back to the parking area.

And that’s a wrap on this 1-day itinerary to Bryce National Park!

I hope you have an incredible adventure!

Looking for another Utah itinerary? Check out our Zion National Park Itinerary!