10 Things to do at Bryce Canyon National Park

Bryce Canyon National Park in Bryce, Utah is one of my favorite places in the entire world! Daylen and I love seeing the national parks, and Bryce ties with Yellowstone for us on our favorite national parks list. We visit with our annual national parks pass - *$80 for a year of unlimited access to any national park - and have hiked through a lot of the **hoodoos! Just ask my 'I Hiked the Hoodoos' sticker. The longest loop we have hiked is the 8.3 mile Navajo Loop / Peek-a-boo Loop Trail, and it was breathtakingly beautiful!

Bryce Canyon was officially made a national park in 1928. It is named after an early Mormon settler, Ebenezer Bryce, who lived near the canyon nicknamed 'Bryce's Canyon' in 1874. President Warren G. Harding later made Bryce Canyon a national monument in 1923, with Congress eventually re-designating it as a national park in 1928. The rim of Bryce Canyon sits at about 8,960 feet (2731 M) and is double the elevation of our hometown, Logan, Utah. Because of the high elevation, temperatures at Bryce Canyon are around 20 degrees cooler than nearby Zion National Park, so bring a coat!

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Things to do at Bryce Canyon National Park:

1. Look out over the rim! The rim has many very easily accessible points. Visitors will be able to view the entire amphitheater of hoodoos and rock formations from the various points on the rim. Our favorites are Sunset Point and Inspiration Point! Make sure to come back at sunrise or sunset to photograph the hoodoos from the rim. The rim is wheelchair accessible. Pictured: view from Sunset Point on the rim.

2. Hike the Navajo Loop Trail! The Navajo loop is a moderate level 3 mile hike that takes hikers down into the bottom of the amphitheater. You'll also walk by the famous hoodoo, 'Thor's Hammer!' This is my favorite hoodoo in the park. There is some steep downhill and uphill on the trail, but most people are able to go on the Navajo Loop. It is almost flat at the bottom of the canyon. The trail is wet in the spring from snowmelt, so make sure you wear shoes with lots of traction that can get dirty! Pictured (from top, left to right): winding trail down the Navajo Loop Trail, Navajo Loop Trail quality in March.

3. Photograph the Natural Bridge! The Natural Bridge can either be seen on one of the many trails at Bryce, or from an easy pull-off. It is a natural bridge-like arch that is 85 ft. long and 125 ft. high! The Natural Bridge is a can't miss rock formation at Bryce Canyon. No hiking required!

bryce canyon national park natural bridge

4. Hike the Navajo Loop / Peek-a-boo Loop Trail! One of the harder trails at Bryce Canyon, the Navajo - Peek-a-boo Trail shows off some amazing sights. You'll start on the Navajo Loop Trail and see Wall Street Gorge, Thor's Hammer, Two Bridges and the zig-zag paths to the bottom. On the bottom of the loop, you'll start the Peek-a-boo Loop Trail and see The Cathedral, The Wall of Windows, The Alligator and more. The total distance of both connecting loops is about 8.3 miles. It is a hard 8.3 miles of up and downhill, so only hike this long loop if you are prepared with good hiking shoes and water! But, it is so worth the views and experience. Pictured (from top, left to right): Peek-a-boo Loop Trail view, winding trail down the Navajo Loop Trail, Navajo Loop Trail in March.

5. Hike the Under-the-Rim Trail! Disclaimer: this trail is only for avid hikers and requires a back-country permit, arranged ride at the end, and overnight camp. This beautiful trail takes hikers from Bryce Point to Rainbow Point, and is the longest hike in the park, totaling 23 miles. It is so long, in fact, that hikers must bring a backpack of camping supplies to stay overnight. It is a two-day hike for most hikers. Daylen and I have not yet done this hike, but plan to backpack through it one day. The Under-the-Rim Trail is the absolute best way to see all of Bryce Canyon! Pictured: view of the rim from the bottom of the canyon.

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6. Hike the Queens Garden Trail! This is an easier 1.8 mile hike that starts out at Sunrise Point on the rim. This trail has great views, and doesn't quite have the altitude change of trails like the Navajo Loop. You'll see the beautiful Queen Victoria rock formation, along with a panoramic view of the rim hoodoos! Pictured: view of the opposite side of the rim from below.

7. Hike the entire rim! The rim is easily the most beautiful panoramic view of Bryce Canyon, and the Rim Trail is a long but great hike. It is relatively flat, and you can turn back at any point to customize your hike. It is 11 miles long total and wheelchair accessible! Make sure to bring a camera, though. You won't want to miss out on all of the different views!

8. Snowshoe or Cross Country Ski in the winter! Winter at Bryce Canyon is so beautiful, and it gets lots of snow for winter activities. Snowshoeing, cross country skiing, and even sledding are available at Bryce during the winter time, if you're willing to brave the sub-zero temps!

9. Visit the Visitor's Center! The Bryce Canyon Visitor's center is one of my favorites. You can walk through their mini museum teaching you all about Bryce Canyon and their prairie dogs, get a stamp on your national parks passport, and buy all the souvenirs your heart desires! We have collected a few souvenirs from Bryce Canyon. My favorites are the Thor's Hammer key chain, Bryce Canyon Rim puzzle, and old-timey vintage magnets. They may seem like trinkets, but I carry my key chain with me wherever I go, and the magnet hangs proudly on my fridge with our other vintage national park magnets.

10. Get professional photos taken! Bryce Canyon is my absolute favorite place in the entire world for photo sessions. From senior to family to wedding, your photos will look AMAZING. Bring your fancy clothes and have photos taken in the red rocks. I am always up for traveling to Bryce Canyon for sessions, and don't charge travel fees if I'm already going to be there! You can see my website & portfolio here and email me here to book a Bryce session. (Pictured: us after our engagement at Bryce Canyon! Read the story)

Thank you so much for reading! I hope your Bryce Canyon National Park trip is absolutely terrific. Comment if you have any questions or thoughts! You can order prints of these Bryce Canyon images in our shop. See more on our Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and website. Below are our other Bryce Canyon recommendations!