Epic One Day Itinerary in Bryce Canyon National Park

Hoodoos, Natural Arches, Waterfalls and more!

You can see all the Bryce Canyon highlights with this one day itinerary (and still have time to spare!).

Bryce Canyon is actually pretty small – at about 36,000 acres it ranks among the top 15 smallest National Parks. Aside from one trail off Highway 12 (which we will be visiting), the park is essentially one long road with 13 viewpoints (and several hiking trails) along the way.

In this post we’ll be covering:

• Frequently asked questions about the park
• Things to know before visiting
• Fuel / Food stops
• 3 of the best Bryce Canyon hiking trails
• 7 iconic viewpoints
• 6 *optional* viewpoints if you want to check all viewpoints off your bucket list!

All together, this will be approximately a 9 hour day, so I suggest starting at about 9AM (or earlier, if you’re down!). And I have serious FOMO so you can trust me when I say, you will not feel like you missed out if you follow this itinerary. Sure there are other trails, but I did a lot of research and I’m pretty confident that these are the top 3 trails with the most interesting formations / views.

However, if you have an extra day in the park these are the 2 trails I would throw into the mix:

NEARBY: Epic & Easy Hikes in Zion National Park

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you need to make a reservation at Bryce Canyon?

No. At this time there is no need to make a reservation. Reservations are becoming increasingly prevalent at U.S. National Parks because of overcrowding issues, but it hasn’t been implemented at this National Park.

Can you drive in to Bryce Canyon National Park?

Yes. There are shuttles available, but it is not mandatory to use them and there is usually enough parking available so driving yourself is pretty easy.

Is Bryce Canyon a dark sky park?

Yes! It gained International Dark Sky status in 2019. It is a great place to see and photograph the Milky Way – it extends horizon to horizon like a giant, glittery arch and there is very little blocking your line of sight at most viewpoints.

What is the best time of year to visit Bryce Canyon?

Spring or fall. I’ve been to Bryce Canyon in November and then again in May. November was great during the day – a light down jacket kept me warm enough and there were very few people out on the trails, however it was very cold at night and we did get snow early one morning (early / mid fall would probably be a better choice). May was actually quite hot during the day and definitely busier than I was used to, but there was still plenty of parking and if you got to the trails early or late in the day you didn’t feel too overcrowded.

How long do I really need in Bryce Canyon?

One or two days. You can hit most of the iconic views and trails in one day, but two days would be ideal if you’re big into hiking! Like I said above, there are a couple other scenic trails that are definitely worth the extra effort if you have time for it. If you want to backpack, you’ll likely need more than 1 – 2 days (and a permit!).

Things to Know Before Visiting Bryce Canyon

Cell Service is Spotty

I did get bars in some places, but be prepared to travel through the park without service.

Check the Weather & Trail Conditions Before Visiting

Bryce Canyon doesn’t see a lot of big weather events and seems to rarely have closures, but it’s still important to check before visiting. You can check current conditions here.

You Need a Park Pass to Enter

There is a fee station at the North end of the park and you need a park pass to get in. You CAN buy a park pass at the entrance though. They sell park-specific passes as well as the America the Beautiful pass, which gives you access to all U.S. National Parks. If you plan on visiting 3 or more National Parks this year, the America the Beautiful Pass pays for itself!

There is a Free Shuttle (but it’s not mandatory)

The shuttle is free to use if you’d like to take advantage of it! But you are free to drive through the park on your own time.

The Park is Open 24 Hours

So no need to rush out – if you want to stay and stargaze a little, Bryce is a great place for that!

Pack a Lunch!

This is not necessarily needed as there is Valhalla Pizza (at the North end of the park) and some other food options in Bryce Canyon City, but to avoid too much back-and-forth I would suggest packing a lunch. It saves time, gas money, and gives you a chance to eat at one of Bryce’s many viewpoints.

↓ BRYCE CANYON ONE DAY ITINERARY ↓

Stop 1. Breakfast, Snacks, Fuel

*OPTIONAL* Wake up early (pre-breakfast) for first light / sunrise and head to one of Bryce’s popular sunrise viewpoints:

• Sunrise Point (Obviously the favorite, but crowded)
• Inspiration Point
• Bryce Point
• Sunset Point (Sounds backwards, but the sunrise is arguably more beautiful than the sunset from this viewpoint)

Rise and shine! Time to fuel up your vehicle, grab some food, and get ready to exert a little bit of energy.

I recommend beginning your day no later than 9, but do what makes ya feel good! This is a vacation, it isn’t supposed to suck. I will say though, I’ve never regretted waking up for a sunrise so if you’re game I say go for it!

Pro tip: If you’re waking up early, have everything ready to go the night before. Plenty of water, something small to eat, your day pack, your camera gear, and your outfit. This increases your chances of follow through since all you have to do is wake up, put clothes on, grab your bag and go.

After you’re done with the sunrise photoshoot (or after you wake up, if you skipped on the early morning madness) make sure you completely fill up your gas tank, grab some snacks at the gas station, and get some breakfast. I’m sure you can find your own gas stations (just whichever place is cheapest) but I’ve listed some breakfast options below.

As I said before, I also suggest packing a lunch so you aren’t driving in and out of town throughout the day.

If your hotel / campground is in or near Bryce Canyon City

• Ruby’s Inn Cowboy’s Buffet & Steak Room (Breakfast Buffet)

If your hotel / campground is in or near Tropic, Utah

• Rustler’s Restaurant (Country Style Restaurant: Omelets, Pancakes, Waffles, Steak & Eggs, Biscuits & Gravy)
• Route 12 Grill (Take-out Breakfast: Sausage / Chorizo / Bacon Burritos, Breakfast Platters)
• Bryce Canyon Coffee (Good Coffee & Quick Breakfast: Coffee, Smoothies, Bagels, Pastries, Oatmeal, Fruit, etc.)

Stop 2. Mossy Cave Trail [+ Waterfall!]

TOTAL DRIVE TIME: 6 MINS FROM TROPIC, 9 MINS FROM BRYCE CANYON CITY

TIME AT STOP: 40 MINS

TOTAL TIME: 49 MINS

WHAT YOU’LL DO & SEE:

• Check out a mossy cave
• Walk behind a desert waterfall
• Check out and photograph some hilltop hoodoos

After fueling up your vehicle (and yourself) start the drive to Mossy Cave Trail. This is the only trail / point of interest that is outside of the normal park area so it might seem a little out of the way if you’re driving from Bryce Canyon City, but it isn’t a far drive and it’s definitely worth the detour! It’s something totally different from the typical Bryce Canyon landscapes.

TRAIL INFO

Distance: 1 Mile

Elevation: 118 Feet

Difficulty: Easy

Trail Type: Out & Back

Stop 3. Bryce Canyon Visitor Center

DRIVE TIME: 12 MINS

TIME AT STOP: 20 MINS

TOTAL TIME: 32 MINS

WHAT YOU’LL DO & SEE:

• Use the bathroom (if needed)
• Refill your water
• Pick up souvenirs if that’s your thing
• Check out the exhibits

Next stop – the Visitor Center! At this point you will have gone through the entrance / fee station, so you should have your map and your park pass (if you didn’t already have one). The Visitor Center is almost immediately on your right and it’s a great place to use the bathroom, refill your water, and just do a quick air-conditioned walkthrough of some of their exhibits.

I used to bypass visitor centers, but they are actually super informative and they almost always have clean drinking water which is awesome. It also makes hiking around the park a lot more fun since you don’t have to wonder what kind of rock you’re looking at or what kind of trees / wildlife are in the park.

I don’t know, maybe I’m just getting old. Next stop: Binoculars and bird bingo!

Stop 4. Sunrise Point & Queen Victoria via Queen’s Garden Trail

DRIVE TIME: 5 MINS

TIME AT STOP: 1 HOUR 45 MINS

TOTAL TIME: 1 HOUR 50 MINS

WHAT YOU’LL DO & SEE:

• See and photograph Sunrise Point (If you didn’t already this morning)
• Hike Queen’s Garden Trail
• See the E.T. Hoodoo and Queen Victoria’s Benchmark

Just a short drive from the Visitor Center is Sunrise Point. Make a quick stop at the overlook to check out the view! As you’re descending from the overlook, you’ll find the trailhead for Queen’s Garden Trail immediately on your right.

Take the trail all the way to Queen Victoria’s Benchmark, then turn around and make your way back to the parking lot. Trail information is below.

NOTE: Queen’s Garden and Navajo Loop is a more popular (and slightly longer) route, but we’re actually going to hike Wall Street & Navajo Loop later in the day. That way you can hit up all the highlights and also get a little bit of hiking in at the beginning and end of the day to break things up.

TRAIL INFO

Distance: 2.1 Miles

Elevation: 406 Feet

Difficulty: Easy – Moderate

Trail Type: Out & Back

Stop 5. Lower, Mid & Upper Inspiration Point [+ Lunch at the Overlook]

DRIVE TIME: 9 MINS

TIME AT STOP: 45 MINS

TOTAL TIME: 54 MINS

WHAT YOU’LL DO & SEE:

• Hike your way through Upper, Mid and Lower Inspiration Points
• Enjoy lunch at the viewpoint

After finishing the Queen’s Garden Trail, make the short drive to Inspiration Point – otherwise known as “Copy & Paste Canyon” (only by me, but still). Lower, Mid & Upper Inspiration Points is considered a “trail” but it’s incredibly short and easy, so the stop on it’s own won’t take much time. However, if you took my advice and packed a lunch, this would be a great stopping point to enjoy a quick meal before continuing on.

TRAIL INFO

Distance: 0.6 Miles

Elevation: 134 Feet

Difficulty: VERY easy

Trail Type: Out & Back

Stop 6. Bryce Point

DRIVE TIME: 6 MINS

TIME AT STOP: 15 MINS

TOTAL TIME: 21 MINS

WHAT YOU’LL DO & SEE:

• Check out the south view of Bryce Canyon’s Amphitheater at Bryce Point

Bryce Point is arguably the most iconic viewpoint in the park. This overlook gives you a wide view of the “amphitheater”, Bryce’s bowl-shaped area that was slowly formed by seasonal rain and runoff. The amphitheater is not technically a canyon because of the way it was formed – canyons are formed by rivers, this was formed from runoff but… semantics.

The view is so vast it’s actually difficult to get a photo of the whole thing, but it’s a must-see during your Bryce trip!

* OPTIONAL VIEWPOINTS BETWEEN BRYCE POINT AND NATURAL BRIDGE:

• Paria View: Quick Stop, only 3 minutes from Bryce Point
• Swamp Canyon Overlook: Right off the Road, 9 minutes from Paria View
• Farview Point: Right off the Main Road, 8 minutes from Swamp Canyon Overlook
• Piracy Point: A half mile hike from Farview Point, takes about 12 minutes to complete

Stop 7. Natural Bridge

DRIVE TIME: 20 MINS

TIME AT STOP: 5 MINS

TOTAL TIME: 25 MINS

WHAT YOU’LL DO & SEE:

• Quickly pull off the main road and check out the Natural Bridge formation

This is a very quick stop. The Natural Bridge viewpoint is just steps away from where you’ll be parking. Sadly, this was our last stop before dinner and I was not feeling it (due to being hangry) so I quickly snapped some, apparently very out-of-focus, shots and we headed back to Bryce Canyon City to eat. Don’t judge me.

* OPTIONAL VIEWPOINTS BETWEEN NATURAL BRIDGE AND YOVIMPA POINT:

• Agua Canyon: Roadside Stop, only 4 minutes from Natural Bridge
• Ponderosa Canyon: Right off the Road, 3 minutes from Agua Canyon Overlook
  

Stop 8. Rainbow Point & Yovimpa Point

DRIVE TIME: 13 MINS

TIME AT STOP: 40 MINS

TOTAL TIME: 53 MINS

WHAT YOU’LL DO & SEE:

• Reach the highest elevation in the park (9,100 ft) and check out the Pink Cliffs from Rainbow Point
• Take the short trail out to Yovimpa Point, where you can see the White Cliffs and Vermillion Cliffs

For your last stop before dinner, follow the road all the way to it’s dead end and check out Rainbow Point & Yovimpa Point. Both of these viewpoints can be reached from the same parking lot, so you only need to park once. Rainbow Point is essentially right off the lot and Yovimpa Point is just a short stroll through the trees (0.3 miles total, and 6 ft elevation gain).

Stop 9. Dinner!

DRIVE TIME: 36 MINS (to Bryce Canyon City)

TIME AT STOP: 1 HOUR

TOTAL TIME: 1 HOUR, 36 MINS

This is up to you – I recommend getting dinner first, and then hiking Navajo Loop after your food has had time to settle. My only reason for this is that I think Wall Street & Navajo Loop are much prettier at sunset or in low light. But depending on your timeline and whether or not you care about lighting, you could do the hike first then get dinner afterwards to save yourself some driving.

If you want to stay within the park, Valhalla Pizza is an easy option (however, it is currently temporarily closed). Otherwise, you can drive 36 minutes to Bryce Canyon City and pick a restaurant there. The most popular options are:

• Ruby’s Inn Cowboy’s Buffet & Steak Room (Buffet Dinner plus a handful of other options)
• Ebenezer’s Barn & Grill Dinner Show (American food, Live Show)
• Canyon Diner (Grab & Go American food)

If none of that sounds good to you, Tropic has more variety. This will add 20 minutes (each way) to your trip, so weigh out the pros and cons.

• Stone Hearth Grill (Fancier sit-down restaurant, American food)
• Pizza Place (The name says it all)
• Rustler’s Restaurant (Steaks, Chicken, Seafood)
• I.D.K. Barbecue (Takeout BBQ)
• Showdowns (Sit down American Food – Steak, Fish, Burgers, Beer and Wine)
• Route 12 Grill (Finger Food – Burgers, Quesadillas, etc.)
• Tropic Taco Truck (Food Truck, Mexican Food)

Stop 10. Sunset Point + Navajo Loop Trail [feat. Wall Street and Thor’s Hammer]

DRIVE TIME: 8 MINS

TIME AT STOP: 1 HOUR, 30 MINS

TOTAL TIME: 1 HOUR, 38 MINS

WHAT YOU’LL SEE & DO:

• Check out the view at Sunset Point
• Hike down the switchbacks of Wall Street and experience the towering rock formations
• See and photograph Thor’s Hammer
• Check out the iconic “trees within the canyon” (pictured at the top of this post)

This is Bryce Canyon’s most iconic trail and definitely a must-see on your one day itinerary. I recommend doing this hike at the end of the day or if you’re willing to start earlier, do it first thing in the morning. This hike gets very busy during the day, and it just looks more scenic during sunset (the golden glow on the red rocks is *chef’s kiss*) or during low light (so the colors aren’t washed out by harsh, direct sunlight).

The typical time it takes to complete the Navajo Loop Trail is 58 minutes, but I added a little time because you are going to be stopping A LOT. And not just because of the steep climbs at the end. There are photo opportunities at almost every turn.

If you start on Wall Street, you’ll want to get plenty of photos of the (seemingly never-ending) switchbacks. After that, you’ll come up on massive Douglas Fir trees extending up inside of the rock walls, trying to catch the light. It’s really pretty and makes for a great photo! These are the trees shown in the photo at the top of this post.

Continuing on, you’ll see plenty of plant life and cool rock formations before reaching the final ascent. If you’re anything like me, you’ll take plenty of breaks during the ascent, but it’s okay because you can tell your friends you’re just stopping for more photos (even though that’s only 50% of the reason). When you’re nearing the top, you’ll get an awesome view of Thor’s Hammer (pictured above) and once you reach the top, you can check out Sunset Point (if you haven’t done so already).

There’s really no shortage of epic views on this trail!

IMPORTANT NOTE: The Wall Street section of Navajo Loop is closed during the winter season.

TRAIL INFO

Distance: 1.5 Miles

Elevation: 515 Feet

Difficulty: Moderate

Trail Type: Loop

After completing the trail, make your way back to your hotel / campsite.

Don’t forget to stay on trail, stay hydrated, and have fun!

Need more Bryce Canyon advice? Drop your questions in the comments or shoot me an e-mail!

PIN IT LIKE IT’S HOT.