Bryce Canyon National Park Things to Do

Canyons are formed by rivers, but the colorful scene before you wasn't created by one. Bryce "Canyon" is, instead, a series of bowl-shaped drainages called "amphitheaters" that only contain water when rain or snow fall into them. As this water drains east joining the Paria River, the plateau rim erodes away with it. This process causes the park's many amphitheaters to enlarge at a rate of one to four feet every century.

The 5.5 mile (8.9 km) Rim Trail begins in the south at Bryce Point and ends in the north at Fairyland Point. The trail connects all viewpoints in the Bryce Amphitheater area and can be accessed at each of them. From here, turn left to travel north to Sunset Point. Turn right to travel south to Bryce Point. Note that the section between here and Bryce Point is closed in winter.

The 5.5 mile (8.9 km) Rim Trail begins in the south at Bryce Point and ends in the north at Fairyland Point. The trail connects all viewpoints in the Bryce Amphitheater area and can be accessed at each of them. From here, turn left to travel north to Fairyland Point. Turn right to travel south to Sunset Point.

The 5.5 mile (8.9 km) Rim Trail begins in the south at Bryce Point and ends in the north at Fairyland Point. The trail connects all viewpoints in the Bryce Amphitheater area and can be accessed at each of them.

Hikers can enjoy an easy 0.7-mile (1.2 km) walk north to Sunset Point above the Silent City, or a moderate 1.5-mi (2.4 km) hike south along steep cliffs to Bryce Point. When the shuttle is running, it can be used to enjoy one-way hikes between viewpoints as far north as Sunrise Point.

People have been living in Bryce Canyon for over 10,000 years. Spearpoints and arrowheads, grinding stones, pottery shards, baskets, and oral histories of indigenous cultures—Paleo Indians, Fremont, Ancestral Puebloan—tell the story of their lives. Today, many tribes have traditional ties to this land, including Hopi, Ute, Zuni, and others. Of these, the Southern Paiute people live the closest to Bryce Canyon. They migrated seasonally building shelters, like wikiups, that provided protection from the sun, wind, and cold. Today they live in modern structures, but still move seasonally through their homelands to gather, hunt, fish, and maintain their connection to the land.

After World War II, automobile sales surged, and thousands of eager tourists arrived to explore the park. To adapt to the change in visitation, the Utah Parks Company, a subsidiary of the Union Pacific Railroad, built this full-service Standard Oil station in 1947. Identical stations were also built nearby at Zion and the North Rim of Grand Canyon. The station's design was notable for being one of the first examples of the emerging Modern Movement architectural style.

Shuttle Stop located on the northbound side of the main road near Sunset Campground.

Shuttle Stop located near Sunset Point.

Shuttle Stop located at the Bryce Canyon Lodge. Park shuttles run mid-April through mid-October. Now You Can Track the Shuttle! Buses typically come every 15 minutes from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. in Spring and Fall and until 8 p.m. in summer, but with the new Bryce Canyon Shuttle Tracker you can time your next ride to the minute. Riding the Free Bryce Canyon Shuttle Bryce Canyon is one of many busy national parks that has a mass transit system to minimize vehicle congestion and the resulting impacts that jeopardize the very things we all treasure about national parks. With the exception of vehicles measuring 23 feet (7 m) or longer, which are restricted from the Bryce Amphitheater during shuttle hours, riding the shuttle is not mandatory. However, by riding our buses you will support our efforts to keep our parking lots from growing any larger, to keep our pure air as clean as possible, and to provide enough room in our little park for everyone to experience the magic of Bryce Canyon. The Bryce Amphitheater Shuttle runs regularly on 15 minute intervals from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. with extended hours to 8 p.m. in summer, and brings visitors to areas of interest, viewpoints, and trailheads within the Bryce Amphitheater area of the park. The shuttle is free with park admission. How to use the Shuttle There is no extra fee to use the shuttle system. Paying your $35 entrance fee to Bryce Canyon entitles you and your vehicle's occupants to unlimited use of the Bryce Canyon Shuttle buses. Annual Passes waive the entrance fee to not only this park but all other National Park Service Areas and other Federal lands that may have fees, across the entire country. If you do not already have one of these annual passes they can be purchased at the entrance to the park. If you are not staying overnight inside the park at either the Bryce Canyon Lodge or North or Sunset Campground, we strongly encourage you to leave your vehicle outside the park. Please park and board the shuttle at the Shuttle Station (near Ruby's Inn, on the left side of the road before entering the park) or at Ruby's Campground. Read more about the Shuttle

On June 14, 2009, a lightning strike started the Bridge Fire that burned 3,947 acres in Bryce Canyon National Park and Dixie National Forest. Years of fire suppression had created a crowded, diseased, and less diverse forest. As the fire, a natural agent in the ecosystem, moved through this area, the forest was reborn. After the fire, nutrients were recycled back into the soil, sunlight reached the ground, and a variety of species returned.

In 1933, during the Great Depression, President Franklin D. Roosevelt established the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) providing employment for young, unmarried men. From 1934–41, at Bryce Canyon National Park the CCC planted trees and shrubs, built and improved roads and trails, developed campgrounds, paved parking lots, and provided insect control. At Rainbow Point, they built the overlook structure and the Under-the-Rim Trail.

This additional parking lot is located just southeast of the Visitor Center and provides all-day and oversize vehicle parking.

At Agua Canyon two prominent hoodoos command attention. On the left, is the taller of the two towers, "The Hunter." To the right is a hoodoo commonly referred to as the "Rabbit" or alternatively the "Backpacker."

Trail Closed due to Rockslide This trail descends 1.6 miles (4.0 km) to its junction with the Under the Rim Trail approximately 1,000 feet (305 m) below.

Here, the Agua Canyon Connecting Trail descends to the rugged 22.9-mile (36.9 km) Under-the-Rim backcountry trail, which travels north to Bryce Point and south to Rainbow Point. Day hikers can enjoy an out-and-back hike with views of Agua Canyon and the Paria Valley beyond.

Bryce Canyon is known for its stunning views and vistas. On a clear day from this point you can see Navajo Mountain, 80 miles (129 km) away, and the San Francisco Peaks, 150 miles (241 km) south. Good air quality, one of the park’s most precious resources, makes these views possible. It is also essential for visitor and employee health and the well-being of the natural environment.

Colorful Layers Pure limestone is white, but here, iron deposits have oxidized, or rusted, producing the yellows, oranges, reds, and browns. Oxidized manganese creates the pale blue and purple hues. Changing weather and light also affect the canyon’s colors. Bryce Canyon is ever-changing. About 50 million years ago (mya), a large freshwater lake began filling the low basin of southern Utah. Over millions of years, rivers and streams gradually filled this lake.

Gilbert Stanley Underwood, the master architect hired by Union Pacific Railroad, helped pioneer the National Park Service rustic style. Here at Bryce and at many other western national parks, his artistry, vision, and utilization of local timber and stone created structures that nestled harmoniously into the natural landscape.

The park has its share of misnomers (Mossy Cave isn't a cave, the canyon isn't really a canyon...) and Black Birch Canyon would be another.

A small octagon shaped log shelter built by the park in the 1980s after the Bristlecone Loop was completed. At this point in the trail you might recognize smaller bristlecone pines nearby. Look for densely bunched needles travelling in a bushy arrangement up the branch. Needles will be in bundles of 5. Two quotations by Henry David Thoreau are framed on the interior wall of the shelter. The first: Silence alone is worth being heard, then "I need solitude. I have come forth to

Hike the Hoodoos Hiking is great exercise and Bryce Canyon's "I Hiked the Hoodoos!" program is not just hiking, it's also a scavenger hunt with a special reward!

A short path through fir and pine leads to the easy 1.0 mi/1.6 km Bristlecone Loop, as well as the 8.8 mile (14.2 km) backcountry Riggs Spring Loop and 23 mile (37 km) Under-the-Rim Trail. Though the Bristlecone Loop trail only climbs 200 feet (61 m) and is rated as Easy, be sure to carry water, wear ankle-supporting footwear, and postpone your hike if lightning is expected.The Bristlecone Loop reaches elevations over 9,100 feet (2778 m). Here you will pass by bristlecone pin

A short path through fir and pine leads to the easy 1.0 mi/1.6 km Bristlecone Loop, as well as the 8.8 mile (14.2 km) backcountry Riggs Spring Loop and 23 mi/37 km Under-the-Rim Trail.

This trail takes you through a forest of white fir, Douglas-fir, limber pine, and ponderosa pine. Bristlecone pines—some over 1,000 years old—grow at the trail's southern end where hikers enjoy grand views to the south. Small mammals and a variety of birds, including woodpeckers, nuthatches, and peregrine falcons might be spotted. In winter months, this trail may be impassable due to deep snow.

This trail takes you through a forest of white fir, Douglas-fir, limber pine, and ponderosa pine. Bristlecone pines—some over 1,000 years old—grow at the trail's southern end where hikers enjoy grand views to the south. Small mammals and a variety of birds, including woodpeckers, nuthatches, and peregrine falcons might be spotted. In winter months, this trail may be impassable due to deep snow.

This trail takes you through a forest of white fir, Douglas-fir, limber pine, and ponderosa pine. Bristlecone pines—some over 1,000 years old—grow at the trail's southern end where hikers enjoy grand views to the south. Small mammals and a variety of birds, including woodpeckers, nuthatches, and peregrine falcons might be spotted. In winter months, this trail may be impassable due to deep snow.

Bryce Canyon is not truly a canyon, but a series of bowl-shaped amphitheaters. For thousands of years, seasonal erosion created gullies in the edge of the Paunsaugunt Plateau, while rain, ice, and snow carved and sculpted the landscape into this extraordinary maze of hoodoos. The Bryce Amphitheater, before you, is constantly changing, chiseled by drainages that gather into Bryce Creek. The breathtaking views can extend nearly 100 miles (161 km) along the eastern horizon.

Bryce Canyon Natural History Association (BCNHA) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and the official nonprofit partner of Bryce Canyon National Park and Dixie National Forest, operating retail shops and visitor centers within the park, and surrounding national forest lands. Since 1961, BCNHA has provided over nine million dollars in support.

Since 1961, the Bryce Canyon Association has worked to enhance the visitor experience at Bryce Canyon National Park. This non-profit organization was created to support educational, interpretive, and scientific programs in the park. As the park’s primary partner, they fund free visitor publications, annual geology and astronomy festivals, youth internships, wildlife research, and much more. Your purchase directly supports the park.

The General Store is located near Sunrise Point and North Campground. It serves "grab-and-go" hot and cold foods such as pizza, soup, ice cream, and sandwiches. Beverages such as soda, water, beer, and coffee are also available. Visitors can also find restrooms, showers, camping supplies including firewood, and souveniers. The General Store is typically closed between January and March.

The Lodge at Bryce Canyon is one of the park's most iconic historic structures. The Lodge and its surrounding motel structures are located a short walk from the park's iconic Bryce Amphitheater, and offer 114 rooms including lodge suites, motel rooms, and cabins.

Embedded in a boulder beside the Visitor Center flagpole is a bronze plaque dedicated to Stephen Tyng Mather, known both as a successful businessman and avid conservationist whose vigorous efforts to build public and political support for the parks helped persuade Congress to create the National Park Service (NPS) in 1916.

This stone monument marks the beginning of the park boundary.

This path provides passage from Bryce Canyon city through Dixie National Forest into Bryce Canyon National Park. Hike, bike, walk or wheel all 5 miles to Inspiration Point, or stop at the shuttle stops and other amenities along the way.

The shuttle station is the hub for the free Bryce Amphitheater shuttle. You can purchase your park admission at a window near the bus boarding area.

Look up! The same sunlight sustaining life all around you is also powering the visitor center. With its dry climate, high elevation, and mild average temperatures, Bryce Canyon’s Visitor Center checks all the boxes, making it an exceptional place to take advantage of solar energy. The solar array was funded by a Department of Energy grant and installed in 2015.

Here at Bryce, the elevation ranges from 9,100 feet (2,778 m) at Rainbow Point to 6,600 feet (2,012 m) at the canyon bottoms. The accompanying wide range of temperatures and precipitation creates three distinctive climatic or life zones—Mixed Conifer (highest elevation), Ponderosa Pine (mid-elevation), and Pinyon/Juniper (lowest elevation).

Perhaps the most iconic of all the Bryce Amphitheater's four major viewpoints, Bryce Point provides a soaring view of the park's most popular area. The view and the park share the same namesake, Ebenezer Bryce, who settled in the Paria Valley in 1870. Bryce was a shipbuilder who journeyed west with Brigham Young and the Mormon pioneers to assist in the construction of buildings essential to community life throughout the new land. Bryce lived here for only five years, but in t

Starting in the 1920s, the Union Pacific Railroad and their subsidiary, the Utah Parks Company, played a key role in the development and popularization of Bryce Canyon and many other western national parks. They provided first-class train and bus transportation, lodging, and tours. Between 1923 and 1929 they built the Bryce Canyon Lodge, along with 15 deluxe and 67 standard cabins in the National Park Service rustic style.

No reservations are required to enter Bryce Canyon, but whether you arrive by car, shuttle bus, bicycle, or on foot, park entrance fees will apply. These park entrance fees help support improvement projects and staff to improve your visitor experience. Digital Passes provide a flexible way to pay your entrance fee, support Bryce Canyon, and get you into the park faster.

Picnic tables are available for use at this forested pull-out at Mile 5 of the main park road.

The park's General Store, designed by Gilbert Stanley Underwood, was the Utah Parks Company's last major improvement in the National Park Service rustic style. Built in 1932, it was known as Bryce Inn and served as the nucleus of more than 25 concessions buildings and cabins known as Camp Center.

The colorful Claron Formation was formed 50 to 60 million years ago in a system of lakes that stretched across central Utah. Separated into an upper white member and lower pink member, both are composed primarily of limestone mixed with varying amounts of silt and clay. Intermittent layers of mudstone and sandstone were deposited as the lake levels rose or fell and rivers flowed across the basin.

The Rim Trail This is the northern end of the 5.5 mile (8.9 km) Rim Trail that begins in the south at Bryce Point. Fairyland Loop The Fairyland Loop is a strenuous 8 mile (12.9 km) loop.

Follow this trail and discover nature’s fairyland of rock castles, cliffs, and spires. It begins with spectacular views from the rim, then continues down into the amphitheater, past fragile, towering hoodoos and cathedral walls. Changes in light create a mesmerizing, colorful palette at every turn. Look for the spur trail to Tower Bridge. Some of the named features along this loop are Boat Mesa, Sinking Ship, and Chinese Wall.

The shuttle does not provide service to Fairyland Point. Fairyland Point is the northernmost viewpoint along the rim of the Paunsagunt Plateau within the park. The hoodoos (irregularly eroded rock spires) that fill Fairyland Canyon are younger than those further to the south in the main Bryce Amphitheater.

From here the Rim Trail continues another 2.5 miles (4.0 km) north to Fairyland Point offering views of Boat Mesa and distant features beyond. At Fairyland Point hikers can descend below the rim to complete the strenuous 8.0-mile (12.9 km) Fairyland Loop hike. Those looking for a more moderate hike below the rim will enjoy the southern end of the loop, known as the Tower Bridge Trail. This 3.0-mile (2.4 km) out-and-back hike leads to the Tower

Farview Point is appropriately named. Navajo Mountain, 90 miles away on the border of Utah and Arizona, can be seen on all but the worst days. To the east, beyond the Table Cliff plateau, you may be able to see the more pointed peaks of the Henry Mountains, 84 miles away.

Three entrance stations staffed at various times by rangers collect fees, sell passes, and provide free publications. These stations are located one mile inside the park, beside the Visitor Center.

On August 25 and September 6, 2018, lightning strikes ignited two separate fires that merged, creating the Lonely/Riggs Fire. Over 2,000 acres in Bryce Canyon and Dixie National Forest burned. Thanks to a proactive forest management program, the park had dedicated years to thinning and pile-burning overcrowded, diseased, and dead trees in this area. The fuel reduction project allowed wildland fire crews to set a controlled "back-burn" fire along this trail.

The California condor, with a nearly ten-foot wingspan, is the largest land bird in North America. Its range once stretched across the west, south to Baja California, and north to British Columbia. By 1940, this magnificent bird was on the verge of extinction from poaching, DDT contamination, habitat destruction, and lead poisoning from consuming carrion containing lead bullets. Captive breeding programs have helped stabilize the population.

Look into the forest. It is more than just trees; it is a woodland community of animals, plants, and insects that thrives when the ecosystem is balanced. Over one hundred years of fire suppression changed the balance, composition, density, and health of the forest, increasing the chance of severe wildfires, disease spread, and insect infestation. Trees in a dark or over-crowded forest are smaller, weaker, and more susceptible to disease and parasites.

The High Plateau Institute is a field institute operated by the park in cooperation with its non-profit partner, the Bryce Canyon Association. The institute aims to provide an opportunity for field courses and research for this high plateau region of which the park is but a part.

Bike Rentals Want to explore Bryce Canyon by bicycle but forgot yours at home? You can now rent bicycles at the Historic Service Station! Helmet and lock included with all rentals E-bikes, mountain bikes, and smaller sized bikes available E-bike rates: 2 hours: $60 4 hours: $80 All-day rental: $100 Standard bike rates: 2 hours: $25 4 hours: $35 All-day rental: $45 The Historic Service Station Built between 1947 and 1948 at a cost of $29,275, this Historic Service Station represents the last major improvement constructed by the Utah Parks Company (UPC) within Bryce Canyon National Park. As World War II ended in 1945, the nation's love of automobile travel begin to outcompete the model of railroad and bus-facilitated tourism that the UPC had been providing in the park since the early 1920s. This change in transportation methods paralleled an increase in visitation. While in 1924, visitation totalled 17,213 people, by 1948 that number had increased to 175,975. Between 1946 and 1949 only 3.28 percent of the park's annual visitation visited the park as UPC passengers. To try and meet the increased demand of these visitors and their automobiles, the Service Station was constructed to provide fuel and full service facilities--paralleling developments in other western parks. Although the building was designed by architects under contract to the UPC, the National Park Service (NPS) approved the design. In this period, some NPS architects rejected the "exaggerated" rustic style of the 1920s, 30s, and early 40s in favor of building that reflected simpler, contemporary design principles. For this particular building, form defines function. The station is significant as an example of "roadside architecture". This style is a distinctly American contribution to the built environment, indicative of a period of service station construction during which buildings were designed to accomodate a full range of services including mechanical repairs. The irregularly shaped, one-story building rests on a concrete foundation. The west elevation, curved wall is constructed of rough cut, regularly coursed stone from a local quarry. The Service Station closed in 1988, but is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Future uses for the building are currently being considered. The Utah Parks Company at Bryce Canyon The Utah Parks Company (UPC) was a subsidiary of Union Pacific Railroad, which owned and operated restaurants, lodging, and bus tours in Bryce Canyon and Zion National Parks, the north rim of Grand Canyon National Park, and Cedar Breaks National Monument from the 1920s until 1972. Before Bryce Canyon became a national park, the Union Pacific Railroad had conceived these parks and monuments as forming a "Grand Circle", which would ultimately be visited first by arrival at a rail depot in Lund, Utah (near present day Cedar City) and then by bus to the UPC-owned El Escalante hotel in Cedar City, and then to the parks themselves. To accomodate these visitors, the Utah Parks Company financed the construction of the Bryce Canyon Lodge, numerous cabins and other less permanent accomodations, as well as the Historic Service Station. After the establishment of Bryce Canyon National Park in 1928, UPC would serve as the park's sole concessionaire until competition from private motor vehicles and other operating costs would lead to their liquidiation and donation of all assets within the park to the National Park Service in 1972.

Between 1925 and 1929, the Bryce Canyon Lodge, 15 deluxe, and 67 standard cabins were built in the National Park Service rustic style. In 1987, the lodge and deluxe cabin area became a historic district and a National Historic Landmark.

Beneath the meadow in front of you is a maze of tunnels—home to a community of Utah prairie dogs. Prairie dogs are considered a "keystone species” because their burrows sustain meadow habitat for other animals and help water move through the soil. Other animals depend on them for food, and their grazing and digging promote new plant growth. Habitat loss, extermination, disease, and drought led to their listing as an endangered species in 1973. Conservation strategies included their reintroduction to Bryce Canyon in the 1970s and 80s. Only found in southwestern Utah, the park now protects one of their larger populations. Help us protect these animals. Appreciate them from a distance. Do not feed or approach. Prairie dogs may carry fleas that transmit plague. Fleas can jump up to 10 feet (3 m)!

Along with Bryce Point, Inspiration Point provides a birds-eye view of the world's largest collection of rock spires called "hoodoos" found within the Bryce Amphitheater.

Bryce Canyon is part of a larger region known as the Colorado Plateau--a layer cake of colorful sedimentary rocks. Over the last twenty million years, tectonic forces have slowly uplifted the Colorado Plateau to elevations reaching nearly 13,000 feet (3,960 m) in some areas. As it rose, faults fractured and offset the layers along its edge, creating the High Plateaus of southwestern Utah.

Leave No Trace Help take care of the park by practicing these seven principles.

Currently the climate here provides a perfect balance of freezing and thawing temperatures to create hoodoos. As global temperatures rise, less frequent freeze/thaw cycles may occur, creating more rounded hoodoos shaped more by rain and chemical weathering than ice.

The Southern Paiutes and other tribes that live in this area know the land, plants, and animals can provide them with everything they need, so they always treat them with respect. Three of the plants they use are highlighted below. Look for them along this path.

Share your love for Bryce Canyon by volunteering with us! From visitor services to search and rescue, to campground hosts or one-time service projects, volunteers play an essential role in caring for our national parks. Ask a park ranger or visit volunteer.gov for more information.

Mossy Cave trail is one of the lowest elevation hikes in the park as well as one of the only hikes that begins with a climb and ends with a descent (most day hikes in the park begin with a descent and end with a climb). It is also the northernmost hike in the park, located just off of SR 12 as it winds its way through the park boundary.

Hike the Hoodoos Hiking is great exercise and Bryce Canyon's "I Hiked the Hoodoos!" program is not just hiking, it's also a scavenger hunt with a special reward!

This streamside walk leads to a spring-formed alcove that fills with summer moss and winter ice. At one time, water only flowed through Water Canyon after summer storms and spring snowmelt. After settlers completed an irrigation canal in 1892, water was diverted from the plateau above, steeply eroding these fragile canyon walls and feeding a waterfall that regularly freezes in winter.

At Mossy Cave, slightly acidic groundwater seeps through the harder limestone layer, dissolving and eroding the softer layers underneath. This cool, moist, shaded environment is a perfect habitat for mosses to thrive. As temperatures drop, the dripping water freezes, creating impressive icicles that sometimes last into summer. Please do not enter the cave and help us protect this fragile environment.

Like some other features in the park, Natural Bridge is not what its name would suggest. Natural bridges are formed by the movement of a stream or river cutting through rock. The impressive feature seen here is instead a natural arch, or window, formed primarily by the expansion of ice in cracks deep within.

This "bridge" is technically an arch. Natural bridges are carved by rushing streams, but here, subtler forces of frost-wedging, chemical weathering, and gravity are at work. Today, the arch spans 85 feet (26 m) and appears solid and enduring, but weather is constantly chipping away at the opening. It may last hundreds or thousands of years, or it could collapse tomorrow.

Close your eyes and listen. What do you hear? Soundscapes, the combined sounds from natural and non-natural sources, are an important resource in national parks. Non-natural sounds, such as those from vehicles, aircraft, and other visitors, can disturb nature's delicate balance and visitor experiences. Soundscape monitoring helps us understand the impact of human-caused noises on the natural world.

Hike the Hoodoos Hiking is great exercise and Bryce Canyon's "I Hiked the Hoodoos!" program is not just hiking, it's also a scavenger hunt with a special reward!

The iconic Navajo Loop Trail begins and ends at Sunset Point, travelling by switchbacks down between narrow walls of colorful limestone with views of towering Douglas-fir trees and the park's most famous hoodoo: Thor's hammer. The loop has two sides, the Two Bridges side and the Wall Street side. The Two Bridges side is open year-round, however the Wall Street side is closed in months when precipitation combines with freezing overnight temperatures.

This popular trail has two sides, one descending into the narrow paths of Wall Street and the other to the erosion-resistant Two Bridges and Thor's Hammer. Hikers can also connect to the Peekaboo Loop and Queen's Garden Trail to create larger loops. See the Visitor Guide for information on combination loops.

The North Campground Outdoor Theater provides a venue for outdoor ranger programming, typically evening programs. Since it is outdoors, programs are only offered here during peak season / warmer months. Check out the park's calendar page for all ranger programming.

Picnic tables and grills are available for use at the south end of North Campground.

At the entrance to the visitor center are five upright orientation panels along a curved stone wall. The panels provide photographs, maps, text and a chart of information on park amenities, exploring Bryce canyon, the hiking trails, the Bryce Amphitheater, and Junior Ranger activities.

A viewpoint for those who want to experience the quieter side of the park, Paria View overlooks a more than 500 ft (152 m) deep amphitheater formed by the headwaters of Yellow Creek, which drains east and south to the Paria River.

This stone monument marks the beginning of the western park boundary along Highway 12.

Hike the Hoodoos Hiking is great exercise and Bryce Canyon's "I Hiked the Hoodoos!" program is not just hiking, it's also a scavenger hunt with a special reward!

Here the Peekaboo Loop, Hat Shop, and Under the Rim Trails all descend from the Bryce Point area.

The Peekaboo Loop provides a steep adventure to the floor of Bryce Amphitheater. Both sides of this strenuous loop provide many climbs and descents through a forest of hoodoos. Return up to Bryce Point or connect to Queen's Garden, Navajo Loop, or Tropic trails at the northern junction. Clockwise travel is requested due to horse use. The Hat Shop Trail descends 1,000 feet (305 m) along the first 2 miles (3.2 km) of the much longer 23-mile (37 km) Under-the-Rim Trail.

People have been here for thousands of years. Many tribes, including Southern Paiutes, Hopi, Ute, and Zuni, call this area home. Over 150 years ago, early settlers from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints came here. They built nearby communities, many of which are still here. Today this place is a national park. It is protected for you and people around the world to enjoy.

Bryce Canyon’s elevation ranges 2,500 feet (762 m) from Rainbow Point to the canyon bottoms, creating a wide range of temperatures and precipitation resulting in three climatic or life zones—Pinyon/Juniper, Ponderosa Pine, Mixed Conifer. More than a thousand plant species inhabit the park, while dozens of animals, including over 100 species of birds, move throughout these zones.

With a little imagination two large buttes appear as sailing ships engaged in a naval battle. Another origin for the name might from from the fact that this point overlooks the Sheep Creek drainage system to the north and the Willis Creek drainage system that collects all run-off from Rainbow Point south from here. The northern extent of the Willis Creek drainage is beginning to be diverted toward Sheep Creek in a process called "stream piracy". This is when a river drainage

Ponderosa Canyon is so named because of the huge Ponderosa Pines on the canyon floor. Some of these trees measure more than 5 ft. in diameter and exceed heights of 150 ft.

Here at Bryce Canyon, elevation ranges from 9,100 feet (2,778 m) at Rainbow Point to 6,600 feet (2012 m) in the canyon bottoms. This creates three distinctive climatic or life zones—Mixed Conifer (highest elevation), Ponderosa Pine (mid-elevation), and Pinyon/Juniper (lowest elevation.) More than a thousand plant species inhabit the park, while many animal species, including 100 species of birds, move throughout these zones. Ponderosa pine forests define this community. These stately evergreens in front of you can grow 200 feet tall (61 m) and often live up to 500 years. Ponderosa pines have adapted to depend upon low-intensity fires, typically started by lightning. Fire maintains an open forest floor, clearing dense growth, so that grasses, wildflowers, and new trees can flourish. Fire's rejuvenating effect on this ecosystem attracts and supports diverse wildlife.

In July 1915, Joseph William (J.W.) Humphrey, a US Forest Service supervisor, visited Bryce Canyon for the first time. He wrote, “You can perhaps imagine my surprise at the indescribable beauty. . . . It was sundown before I could be dragged from the canyon view . . .” Under his direction, photos, a film, and articles publicized the beauty of Bryce and funding was found for road improvements and early trails. Tourism increased, and local homesteaders Rueben (“Ruby”) and Minnie Syrett saw an opportunity. They erected tents and supplied meals for guests near Sunset Point, and in 1920 constructed Tourists' Rest, a lodge with tent cabins. When Bryce Canyon became a national monument in 1923, the Union Pacific Railroad purchased Tourists' Rest to construct the park's now historic lodge and cabins. The Syrett's visitor accommodations were relocated just north of the park, and Ruby's Inn serves visitors to this day.

Although many find it challenging, this is the least strenuous trail descending into the Bryce Amphitheater. This trail follows a ridge 0.9 mile (1.4 km) down to the Queen Victoria hoodoo where hikers can either turn around and return or continue on to the Navajo Loop (Queen's/Navajo Combination Loop) or the Peekaboo Loop (Figure-8 Combination). See the Visitor Guide for information on combination loops.

Hike the Hoodoos Hiking is great exercise and Bryce Canyon's "I Hiked the Hoodoos!" program is not just hiking, it's also a scavenger hunt with a special reward!

One of the park's most popular trails, the Queen's Garden trail descends and bends 0.9 miles (1.4 km) along a ridgeline down to a unique hoodoo said to resemble Queen Victoria. Of the six trails that descend into the Bryce Amphitheater, the Queen's Garden Trail is considered the least strenuous; though due to the park's high elevation and steep grades in some areas, it is still categorized as a moderately strenuous hike.

This RV Dump Station is typically open spring - fall, closing for the season when overnight temperatures fall below freezing. The dump station is located at the south end of North Campground and can be used by any visitor for a $5 use fee. No use fee applies for those with a campground reservation in the park. Potable water is available.

At 9,115 ft (2,778 m) this and Yovimpa Point are the highest viewpoints in the park. Tectonic uplift has lifted this entire scene from sea-level over the course of the last 20 million years to later be dissected by tributaries of the Colorado River.

From here hikers can descend onto the 8.6-mile (13.8 km) Riggs Spring Loop Trail or connect with the rugged 22.9-mile (36.9 km) Under-the-Rim Trail, which travels north to Bryce Point. Day hikers might enjoy the nearby Bristlecone Loop or views of distant mesas and steep plateau cliffs along the strenuous Riggs Spring Loop.

At over 9,000 feet (2,743 m), Rainbow and Yovimpa points are the highest overlooks in the park. While Yovimpa Point looks south across the cliffs of the Grand Staircase, at Rainbow Point views are to the north. Here one can look back on the full length of the Paunsaugunt Plateau's eastern edge. Three trails depart from this area: Bristlecone Loop, Under-the-Rim Trail, and Riggs Spring Loop.

This historic museum shelter is part of the legacy of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) at Bryce Canyon. As Bryce Canyon's CCC camp gained experience in rustic construction techniques, more sophisticated projects were attempted. The CCC's outstanding achievement in the park was this combination museum-overlook at Rainbow Point, which was finished in the summer of 1940.After the completion of the museum-overlook at Rainbow Point, no building was erected at Bryce Canyon unt

A wooden routed sign hanging from a fence just south of Sunset Point designates the meeting point for both Geology Talks and Rim Walks.

Experience the solitude of Bryce's forested backcountry on the Riggs Spring Loop. Descending from the rim, this 8.8 mile (14.2 km) trail meanders through forests and raised promontories, offering stunning views of pink-hued cliffs in the distance.

This is the southern end of the 5.5 mile (8.9 km) Rim Trail that begins in the south at Bryce Point and ends in the north at Fairyland Point.

Bryce Point marks the southern end of the Rim Trail, which follows the edge of the Bryce Amphitheater north to Fairyland Point. It is a 1.5 mile (2.4 km) hike to the next viewpoint at Inspiration Point. When the shuttle is running, it can be used to enjoy one-way hikes between viewpoints as far north as Sunrise Point. In winter the section of Rim Trail between Bryce and Inspiration Points is closed.

175 different species of birds have been documented to frequent Bryce Canyon National Park. Some are just passing through. Others stay for an entire season. Fewer still make this their year-round home, but those that do are charming and charismatic.

The Bristlecone Loop, an easy 1 mile hike, meanders through the forest atop this highest portion of the park, reaching elevations over 9,100 feet (2778 m). Here you will pass by bristlecone pines up to 1,800-years-old and experience vistas reaching into the Four Corners area.

Swamp Canyon appears relatively small and sheltered from the overlook, allowing the viewer to develop a more intimate connection with the landscape than some of the grander viewpoints in the park. The Swamp Canyon Loop, which starts at the viewpoint, is more rugged than the Bryce Amphitheater trails, taking hikers into a more forested backcountry hike. There is less signage on this hike and hikers are encouraged to carry a map.

Looking for a good place to enjoy a picnic? Here is a list of Bryce Canyon picnic areas.

The Figure-8 Combination combines three amphitheater hikes, Queen's Garden, Navajo Loop, and the Peekaboo Loop, into one ultimate hike! We recommend a clockwise direction descending Queen's Garden, connecting to the Peekaboo Loop (we recommend hiking it in a clockwise direction), and ascending either side of the Navajo Loop (Two Bridges in winter). From there you can complete the trail by hiking back to Sunrise Point along the Rim Trail.

Our most popular hike in the park and the one we most recommend to first-time visitors. The Queen's/Navajo Combination Loop combines the open views and unique hoodoos of the Queen's Garden Trail with the iconic switchbacks and towering canyon walls of the Navajo Loop Trail. Descend Queen's Garden at Sunrise Point, ascend the Navajo Loop to Sunset Point, and then complete the loop back to Sunrise Point via the Rim Trail, enjoying views into the Bryce Canyon Amphitheater below.

The Queen's Garden Trail is the least difficult of the trails descending from the rim into the Bryce Canyon Amphitheater. Hike this out-and-back trail to the Queen Victoria hoodoo at the end of a short spur trail and experience the splendor of hiking amongst the hoodoos. This trail is commonly combined with the Navajo Loop to create a 2.9 mile round trip trail where you can descend at Sunrise Point and ascend at Sunset Point.

Evening programs, typically offered from Memorial Day through Labor Day, offer topics that go beyond the rim! Check the calendar for daily times and locations. This is a Ranger’s Choice program offering an exploration into compelling stories, interesting themes, and unique resources that make Bryce Canyon special. 

The Riggs Spring Loop is a backcountry trail that begins and ends at Yovimpa Point. This trail travels through spruce, fir, and bristlecone forests offering beautiful views of distant cliffs. The western section of the trail is steeper and more heavily forested. Permits are not required to hike this trail, but all overnight stays require a permit.

Typically offered Memorial Day through Labor Day at Sunset Point at 2:00 p.m. Join a Ranger and experience the enchantment of the hoodoos, the history of the people who have passed through the amphitheaters for thousands of years, and the many ways the animals and plants have adapted to the unique ecosystems of Bryce Canyon National Park.

Typically offered year-round at Sunset Point at 11 a.m. Geologists have spent years studying the unique geologic story of Bryce Canyon and its amphitheaters of hoodoos. Join the Ranger along the rim at Sunset Point to explore the evolution of the hoodoos and the groups of people who have passed through this magical terrain. 

The Rim Trail hike meanders along the rim of the iconic Bryce Canyon Amphitheater, giving you views of the hoodoos below. This portion of the Rim Trail, from Sunset Point to Sunrise Point, is the only paved section of this trail and is the easiest walk in the park. Pets are allowed on this trail but must remain on paved surfaces.

A great way to explore Bryce Canyon in winter is on cross-country skis. Though it is illegal to ski off of the rim into the canyon, you can enjoy a variety of routes above the rim. These include sections of the Rim Trail along the edge of the Main Amphitheater, the Bristlecone Loop Trail; Paria Ski Loop; and the unplowed Paria View and Fairyland Point roads.

The Fairyland Loop is a quiet 8 mile hike that combines hiking along the plateau rim near Boat Mesa with a hike in the canyon with long views of the Bryce Amphitheater surrounded by unique hoodoos. You can start this hike at Fairyland Point or on the rim trail north of Sunrise Point at the Tower Bridge trailhead. We recommend hiking in a counter-clockwise direction. There is no shuttle pick-up at Fairyland Point, so you will need to hike to your starting point.

The Bryce Amphitheater Traverse is a one-way hike combining the Peekaboo Loop with the Queen's Garden trail. Hikers descend from Bryce Point, turning left (clockwise) on Peekaboo Loop and then connecting to the Queen's Garden trail to ascend to Sunrise Point.

The Rim Trail stretches from its beginning in the south at Bryce Point 5.5 miles (8.9 km) north to Fairyland Point. As it follows the edge of the Bryce Amphitheater area of the park, it connects to the park's most popular viewpoints: Inspiration Point, Sunset Point, and Sunrise Point. This relatively easy hike (depending on how much of it you do) offers spectacular views of the park's most popular area.

The Tower Bridge hike consists of the southern portion of the Fairyland Loop trail. This is an out-and-back trail that descends to a shady 1/4-mile spur trail leading to the Tower Bridge hoodoo. From there, hikers can return the way they came or continue to hike the entirety of the Fairyland Loop Trail.

The Peekaboo Loop descends 670 feet (204 meters) from Bryce Point to this hoodoo-filled loop trail before ascending back up to Bryce Point. In summer months, hikers will encounter horses/mules on this trail. We recommend hiking this trail in a clockwise direction.

The Hat Shop trail descends from Bryce Point into the backcountry using the Under-the-Rim trail, offering views of the colorful cliffs of the Grand Staircase. This strenuous out-and-back hike leads down 1,380 feet (421 meters) over two-miles to a cluster of balanced-rock hoodoos before hikers turn around to return to Bryce Point. These narrow, orange pinnacles wear "hats" of large gray boulders, giving them a distinct appearance.

Bryce Canyon's high elevation, clean air, and remote location creates some of the darkest skies in the country. In fact, in 2019 Bryce Canyon officially gained International Dark Sky status. During a new Moon on a clear weather night, you can see thousands of stars and the spectacular band of the Milky Way Galaxy shooting across the sky. We take pride in our ability to protect the night skies for the present and future generations.

Here at 8,000 feet (2,438 m) the scenery changes dramatically in the colder months. Come experience this magical season by taking a snowshoe-hike! Snowshoeing is allowed throughout the park on all trails so you can head out on your own or join a ranger-led snowshoe hike. These hikes are offered in winter as weather and snow conditions permit and are designed for all levels of experience, from beginner to expert.

Typically offered year-round at sunset as weather permits. Those planning to join a ranger-led full moon hike at Bryce Canyon National Park can make reservations online via Recreation.gov. Tickets for each month’s hike are released in two phases, 14 and 5 days in advance.

Are you a "Passport to Your National Parks" cancellation collector? Bryce Canyon has a cancellation stamp to commemorate your visit in your passport book.

Mossy Cave trail is one of the lowest elevation hikes in the park as well as one of the only hikes that begins with a climb and ends with a descent. This trail provides access to Water Canyon in one direction and to a sheltered overhang known as Mossy Cave in the other. This area is filled with mosses in the summer and icicles in the winter. Please stay on the main trail and respect all posted signs. Pets are not permitted on this trail.

Horseback riding is a great way to slow down and experience Bryce Canyon National Park. Horses have been used to explore Bryce Canyon National Park since before it was set aside for federal protection. To support this activity, the National Park Service completed 4.5 miles of foot and horse trails in 1931 that are still in use today.

The canyons and plateau of Bryce Canyon National Park are home to many animals. Park boundaries mean little to the migratory hummingbirds, nesting Peregrine Falcon, Rocky Mountain Elk and Pronghorn which daily cross through the forested plateau and amphitheaters. The search for food and water leads them to the best place to find sustenance and shelter. Many animals share habitats. Ebb and flow of populations is interdependent on all the members of the wildlife community.

Combine two of our most iconic trails, the Navajo and Peekaboo Loop trails, into a a mini Figure-8 combination loop. Start the hike at Sunset Point, descend down either side of the Navajo Loop (Two Bridges in winter), connect to the Peekaboo Loop (we recommend hiking it in a clockwise direction), and ascend Navajo back to Sunset Point.

The iconic Navajo Loop Trail begins and ends at Sunset Point. Its switchbacks wind between narrow walls of colorful limestone with views of towering Douglas-fir trees and the park's most famous hoodoo: Thor's hammer. The loop has two sides: Two Bridges and Wall Street. The Two Bridges side is open year-round, however, the Wall Street side is closed during the winter months. During this time Two-Bridges can be hiked as an out-and-back trail or combined with other trails.

Many hikes are available to visitors during the winter season, in both the front and backcountry, but might require some additional equipment. For much of the winter the most popular trails are so icy that steep sections cannot be safely traversed without some sort of additional traction device for your hiking shoes or boots.

Bryce Canyon's backcountry trails offer forests and meadows, stunning views of distant cliffs, and solitude. However, hoodoos are best experienced along our frontcountry trails in the main amphitheater area. The Under-the-Rim trail connects Rainbow Point in the south to Bryce Point in the north. Permits are not required to hike this trail, but all overnight stays require a permit.

Bryce Canyon is a sanctuary for natural darkness. Bryce Canyon's skies are so dark, that in 2019 the park was designated as a Gold Tier International Dark Sky Park. Since the park is open 24 hours a day, whether you head off to a viewpoint yourself or join a night sky ranger program, we welcome you to the dark side!

Experience the solitude of Bryce's forested backcountry! To preserve this experience, backcountry camping is permitted only in designated campsites. A backcountry permit must be obtained at the Visitor Center prior to any overnight trips.

"A Song of Seasons" plays in the Visitor Center theater every half hour when the Visitor Center is open.

From easy walks along the edge of the famous Bryce Amphitheater using the Rim Trail to more strenuous adventures surrounded by the hoodoos below on the Peekaboo Loopthe park provides a variety of options for a variety of abilities to enjoy the park up close at your own pace. Visit the "Hiking Trails" button on the front page of this app for more trail details.

To encourage visitors to stay healthy while having fun, Bryce Canyon National Park has developed an activity called "Hike the Hoodoos!" Part hike, part scavenger hunt, visitors must hike at least 3 miles on specially-marked trails and find "Hike the Hoodoos" benchmark survey markers along the way. Visitors may either obtain rubbings of the benchmarks, or take pictures of themselves with the benchmarks, to prove they hiked the required distance.

Snowshoeing is allowed throughout the park on all trails. But be aware that though snowshoes make it possible to travel through deep powdery snow, snowshoeing is still a highly strenuous activity. Most snowshoers enjoy walks along the Rim Trail, Bristlecone Loop, Fairyland Road, and Paria Road.

The Rim Trail stretches from its beginning in the south at Bryce Point 5.5 miles (8.9 km) north to Fairyland Point. As it follows the edge of the Bryce Amphitheater area of the park, it connects to Inspiration Point, Sunset Point, and Sunrise Point providing a relatively easy hike (depending on how much of it you do) that offers spectacular views of the park's most popular area.