One Day in Bryce Canyon National Park

Sharing is caring!

This post may contain affiliate links. This means we may receive a commission (at no cost to you) if you click a link and make a purchase.

Out of the “Mighty Five” Utah National Parks we visited on our two week road trip, I think my favorite was Bryce Canyon National Park. While they all have something that makes them special, there’s something that’s just so alien and unique about Bryce. Bryce Canyon was the one park I definitely wish I had more time for during our trip. Looking back, I wish I would have gone straight from Zion to Bryce without our detour in Cedar City to have more time at this incredible place. We spent multiple days here, however if you only have one day in Bryce Canyon National Park, you can’t go wrong following this itinerary.

Catch a Bryce Sunrise at Sunset Point

It might seem a bit counter-intuitive to check out the sunrise at Sunset Point, but I promise it’s worth it. We actually went to see two sunrises during our time in Bryce, one at Sunrise Point and one at Sunset. Sunrise Point was much more crowded and while the view was expansive, it was harder to get pictures of the light illuminating the hoodoos (rock pillars). We much preferred sitting on a bench even farther past Sunset Point to enjoy the sunrise in complete solitude.

Figure 8 Loop: The Best Bryce Canyon Hike

• Distance: 6.3 miles
• Elevation Gain: 1500ft
• Difficulty: Moderate- Strenuous
• Trail Markings: Excellent
• Time: 4-7 hours

The Figure 8 Loop in Bryce Canyon is not only my favorite hike in the park, but may be one of my favorite hikes of all time. The trail is also known as the Navajo – Peekaboo – Queens Garden Loop, and follows those trails to form the shape of an 8. If you only have one day to spend in Bryce and are relatively in shape, I can’t recommend doing this hike enough. Depending on the time of year and the weather, you may want to get started early before the sun gets too hot or wait a bit if its too cold. It was freezing in early November when we visited, so we went and grabbed some breakfast after sunrise, packed some lunches, and then came back to do this hike a bit later in the morning.

Pro Tip: In some cases and winter and early spring, snow may preclude you from going into the canyon at all. If you want to do this hike plan on going in late spring through late fall to ensure it is open.

Read: One Perfect Day in Arches National Park

Navajo Loop’s Wall Street

I recommend starting back at Sunset Point and heading down the Navajo Loop Trail directly into “Wall Street”. We saw some people climbing back out this way but it’s far more fun and easier on the legs to descend into the canyon along the switchback trail. Pictures really don’t do the high canyon walls justice, and the entire trail just makes you feel so small among all the rocks formations and tall trees.

Once you emerge from Wall Street, you continue on to the next intersection. If you’re short on time or aren’t used to hiking long distances, you can continue straight through the Queens Garden Trail and do only half of the “Figure 8”. That being said, the second half of the trail along Peekaboo Loop is the best part in my opinion, so if you feel up to it, go for it. If you plan to do the full Figure 8 Trail, turn right at the intersection and follow the signs to Peekaboo Loop. I recommend doing the loop clockwise (starting on the left path).

Peekaboo Loop Trail

The Navajo and Queens Garden sections of the trail are typically much more crowded, even in November when we visited the park. However, you’ll have to contend with horses on the Peekaboo Loop Trail as well as fellow hikers since the trail is permitted for horses as well. We didn’t see many horses on the trail, but you do have to be careful to avoid some occasional droppings.

Another thing to keep an eye out for in the shoulder season and winter is ice. Even though it was in the 50’s during the day, we encountered a large sheet of ice in one of the shaded parts of the Peekaboo Loop Trail. The ice was easily over an inch thick and difficult to maneuver, but otherwise the trail was very well maintained and didn’t involve any climbing or chains like some of the other Utah parks.

This trail is not easy, but the landscape is so incredible it’s easy to forget how hard your body is working. From above, all you can see are the red rock hoodoos, but once you get down into the canyon you can see just how much life there is thriving among the famous rock formations. Getting up close and personal with some of the hoodoos gives you a better idea of the scale of this place, and an appreciation for the natural forces that sculpted it. It’s no surprise that millions of people flock to Bryce Canyon every year; you can’t find places like this anywhere else.

Read: Best Things to do in Capitol Reef National Park

After completing Peekaboo Loop, we stopped at the intersection and ate a couple sandwiches to refuel before we began to head back to the rim of the canyon. We backtracked to the main intersection of the trails and made the right onto the Queens Garden Loop. This is the path you would have taken if you chose not to tack on the Peekaboo Loop. The trails are relatively well marked, but make sure you pick up a map from the visitor center to ensure you don’t end up on the wrong path.

Queens Garden

The Queens Garden Trail takes you through a relatively flat portion of the main Bryce Amphitheater before ascending steeply to Sunrise Point. Queens Garden is named for the Queen Victoria formation that overlooks the trail. Once you get to Sunrise Point just walk the half mile back to Sunset Point to complete the Figure 8. Or, if you took the shuttle you can hop on the shuttle near Sunrise Point.

Drive the Bryce Canyon Scenic Drive

The Bryce Canyon Scenic Drive runs along the rim of the canyon. In the busier months, there is a shuttle that can take you to most of the major stops along the way, but since we went in November we were able to drive and park at each stop with no trouble at all. I recommend driving the whole way to the end of the park and stopping off at any overlooks you’d like to see on your way back. Since all of the viewpoints are on the same side, it’s easier to pull off to the right on the return trip than to cross traffic. We stopped at every overlook, but some are definitely more worth seeing than others. Here are a few we recommend for the best views in Bryce Canyon.

Rainbow Point

Rainbow Point sits at the far end of the park and gives you a completely different view than you see from the Bryce Amphitheater. There may not be a ton of hoodoos, but you can see for miles to Dixie National Forest and Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument. There is also a short Bristlecone Loop Trail that takes you through some of the ancient bristlecone pines if you aren’t tired of walking yet, but the view is worth it even without the walk.

Natural Bridge

As its name implies, Natural Bridge is a large bridge seemingly carved out of the rock. While perhaps not as impressive as some of the bridges and arches you’d find at Arches National Park, this massive tunnel still is worth taking a peek at.

Read: Hiker’s 3 Day Itinerary to Zion National Park

Paria View

Paria View can be found off of the same road as Bryce Point. There isn’t a shuttle stop here so you’d need to get off at Bryce Point and follow the road over. Even so, the views are expansive and there are fewer people than some of the other more accessible lookouts. We were able to drive right up and make the short walk to the viewpoint.

Bryce Point

Arguably the best view of the Bryce Amphitheater, Bryce Point is constantly swarming with people. I can’t even imagine what the crowds are like in the summer. It’s amazing to look at Bryce from here and realize how different it looks from when you were hiking down there earlier in the day. Even from above the hoodoos cast completely different shadows depending on the time of day, making it difficult to get a good picture! Once you’re finished here, it’s time to wrap up a long and tiring day.

Since you’ve already seen Sunrise and Sunset Point, you’ve hit a lot of the major sites in Bryce Canyon in one day! Head back to wherever you’re staying, grab a hot meal, and relax for the night after what was hopefully an incredible adventure.

Where to Stay Near Bryce Canyon National Park

While there are a few places within and outside the park, we chose to stay in nearby Tropic at the Bryce Canyon Log Cabins. We adored our accommodations within a 15-20 minute drive to Bryce and would definitely stay there again. The only thing missing was breakfast! We even were able to walk across the street to an awesome barbecue joint called IDK BBQ for dinner.

If you’d like to stay closer or even within Bryce Canyon National Park, you can check out the Bryce Canyon Lodge or the Best Western Plus Bryce Canyon Grand Hotel just outside the gates. There are also around 200 campsites within the park as well between the Sunset Campground and North Campground if that’s more your style.

Tips for Visiting Bryce Canyon National Park

• Bryce sits at a HIGH elevation of over 8,000 ft. Out of the Utah National Parks, Bryce has the highest elevation and if you aren’t used to that it can easily leave you out of breath, or dizzy and nauseous even just walking around the park. Be careful and know your body’s limits.
• Drink a LOT of water. The air is super dry all over southern Utah, and you need to stay hydrated to have any chance at tackling the longer hikes. Bring at least 1.5L of water per person along with snacks to refuel throughout the day. There isn’t really anywhere you can get food inside the park.
• Come prepared with the right gear. Bring a hat and sunscreen, lots of layers for the wide temperature swings throughout the day and sturdy hiking shoes. We also found that hiking poles really helped us throughout the hike.

We loved Bryce Canyon National Park and we hope you do too! If you’re planning on visiting the other Utah National Parks be sure to check out our guides to Zion National Park, Capitol Reef National Park, and Arches National Park.

Sharing is caring!