1, 2 & 3 Day Bryce Canyon Itinerary + Travel Guide

I’ve visited Bryce Canyon National Park multiple times. In my opinion, it’s one of the best National Parks to visit in Utah, yet too many people skip it! Whether you have 1, 2 or 3 days this is the perfect Bryce Canyon itinerary to maximize your time in the park, see all of the highlights, and my favorite hidden gems.

In this article:

• 1, 2 and 3 day Bryce Canyon itinerary
• Can’t miss hikes and viewpoints
• Tips for avoiding crowds, using the shuttle and easily getting around the park
• When to visit and what to expect

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1, 2 And 3 Day Bryce Canyon Itinerary

Visiting Bryce Canyon National Park can be as short as a half-day or as long as several days, depending on what you want to do.

I’ve done a one day trip to Bryce Canyon, and I’ve also spent several days exploring the park. You can’t go wrong with either option!

This Bryce Canyon itinerary is stackable, so depending on how much time you have you can follow as much of it as you’d like.

For example, if you just have one day in Bryce, follow day 1 below. If you have 3 days, follow the entire outline!

I’ve also included some suggestions for how to alter this Bryce Canyon itinerary for non-hikers, quick visits, etc. in this article.

Bryce Canyon Itinerary Map

It’s pretty easy to get around Bryce Canyon. There’s only one entrance, and a majority of the sights fall along the parks main road (which is only 18 miles long).

Use this map to help plan your Bryce Canyon itinerary! You can make a copy, then customize it for your own trip. I’ve labeled items by day (noted by color) and activity type (noted by icon).

Day 1: Bryce Canyon Itinerary

One day in Bryce Canyon is definitely enough time to see a majority of the park. It’s one of the smallest National Parks, and really only has one main road with two small spur roads to a few lookouts and trailheads.

All-in-all, it’s a manageable park for a day trip but you won’t have time to fully explore some of the longer hiking trails.

TIP: Start in the amphitheater area of the park (the first section as you arrive) in the morning. It gets busier as the day goes on, so seeing it first will help you avoid the crowds later on.

FUN FACT: Despite its name, Bryce Canyon is not a canyon but a collection of giant natural amphitheaters carved into the edge of a high plateau.

In the afternoon, head farther south, along Southern Scenic Drive to Rainbow Point.

This is a great place to spend the afternoon because there are fewer crowds here, and lots of great viewpoints and hikes to enjoy.

However, there are no food vendors past the amphitheater so you’ll want to pack snacks or bring a picnic lunch to save time.

TIP: If you only have one day in Bryce Canyon, the most convenient place to stay is in the park at Bryce Canyon Lodge. This drastically decreases time spent driving and finding parking. Reservations open 13 months in advance and go quickly.

Sunrise At Sunrise Point

It’s a bit on the nose, but Sunrise Point is one of the best sunrise views in Bryce Canyon.

Sunrise Point is part of Rim Trail, an 11 mile paved path along the rim of the amphitheater. Because it faces east, you get stunning views of the hoodoos below as the sun peaks over the horizon.

However, it can also be an extremely popular spot for sunrise. Luckily, it’s pretty easy to avoid the crowds and find a quiet spot for yourself. Just walk along the rim to get away from the crowds – the views are still incredible.

Depending on the time of year, sunrise in Bryce Canyon can fall anywhere between 5:30 and 7:30 AM.

TIP: Get to your sunrise spot at least 30 minutes before sunrise – the best colors happen before the sun pops over the horizon.

Hike Navajo Loop & Queens Garden Trail

This is the best hike in Bryce Canyon and one you don’t want to skip! It’s easily my favorite hike in Bryce Canyon, and a relatively easy hike into the amphitheater where you can see the hoodoos up-close!

Technically, these are two different trails. However, they can be combined to form a loop trail from along the rim at Sunset Point, down into the amphitheater, and then loops back up to Sunrise Point.

I highly recommend starting this trail from Sunset Point and hiking counterclockwise. You’ll come down the steep switchback section first. The climb back up to the rim near Sunrise Point is a more gradual slope and easier for the ascent.

TIP: It’s a short walk along Rim Trail from Sunrise Point to Sunset Point (half mile one-way, or about 10-minutes), catch sunrise and then walk over to the trailhead!

Stop By Inspiration & Bryce Point

Before heading deeper into Bryce Canyon, stop by Inspiration and Bryce Point overlooks. Both offer incredible views into the Bryce Amphitheater below.

From the main amphitheater section of the park, you can walk, drive or ride the shuttle to Inspiration Point and Bryce Point.

It’s a half mile from Sunset Point to Inspiration Point along Rim Trail. From there, it’s another 1.3 miles to Bryce Point along the same path.

The best way to see this part of the park while being time-efficient is to drive from Sunset Point to Inspiration Point and park. Then walk 1.3 miles to Bryce Point and take the shuttle back to Inspiration Point.

NOTE: The shuttle only runs in one direction. If you catch the shuttle at Bryce Point, it goes directly back to Inspiration Point. However, if you reverse these steps and get on the shuttle at Inspiration Point, you will ride the entire shuttle loop before getting to Bryce Point.

Explore The Southern Scenic Drive In Bryce Canyon

Next, head towards Rainbow Point along Southern Scenic Drive. The shuttle doesn’t run in this part of the park, so you’ll need your own vehicle.

From the amphitheater to Rainbow Point is a 15-mile drive, and takes a little over 30 minutes.

TIP: There isn’t any food in this part of the park, so stop by the general store for some to-go sandwiches first!

There are lots of great viewpoints along this route. I recommend saving these for your return — all of the viewpoints are on the opposite side of the road when you drive towards Rainbow Point.

It’s much easier to pull in and out of the small parking lots when you’re driving back towards the amphitheater because you don’t have to cross traffic.

TIP: If you’re short on time, I recommend prioritizing Natural Bridge and Agua Canyon viewpoints. They have the coolest formations to look at, and the rest are mostly panoramic views that are relatively similar to see.

Rainbow Point & Bristlecone Loop Trail

Southern Scenic Drive dead-ends at Rainbow Point, which is also the highest elevation in Bryce Canyon. It can be much colder here than the rest of the park, so pack a jacket!

There’s plenty of trails and viewpoints here to keep you busy for the rest of the afternoon!

I recommend hiking Bristlecone Loop Trail, which is a fairly easy hike in Bryce Canyon with some incredible views.

The trail leaves from Rainbow Point and follows the ridge line along a plateau. The plateau juts into the amphitheater and provides some stunning panoramic birds-eye views.

Unlike hikes into the amphitheater, this hike takes you through pine forests — which means there’s a bit more shade and a whole lot of wildlife to see (especially lots of bird species.)

This hike gets its name from the Bristlecone Pine, one of the oldest pine species on the planet. There are trees along this hike that are over 1,800 years old!

Other popular hiking trails in this area include Under-the-Rim trail and Riggs Spring Loop trail.

Under-the-Rim Trail is 22.4 miles long, but you can complete as much or as little as you’d like. There’s a significant elevation drop right away, so be mindful about the climb back up to the rim!

Riggs Spring Loop is 8.6 miles. This loop trail begins and ends at Rainbow Point, and is one of the harder hikes in Bryce Canyon National Park (over 1,800 feet in elevation gain) Plan for 4-5 hours to complete this hike.

Stop By The Visitors Center

If you entered before sunrise, the visitors center wasn’t open yet. And, if you’re trying to maximize your time in Bryce Canyon it doesn’t make sense to double back to the entrance during the day.

Instead, the best way to include a stop to the visitors center in your Bryce Canyon itinerary is as you pass it on the way out of the park.

I love a quick stop to the visitors center for a few things. First, I get my National Parks Passport stamped at every park I visit (since 1999!)

Second, they usually have great brochures and maps with fun information about the park.

Finally, the visitors center will also have the Ranger Programs schedule for that week. I love these programs and they’re usually free! See what they’re offering during your trip (there’s a large variety and they change frequently!)

TIP: If there is a Full Moon hike during your trip get on the list!! These are the best Ranger Programs offered at Bryce Canyon but they’re very rare.

Hike Mossy Cave Trail To A Bryce Canyon Waterfall

You’ve exited the park but your Bryce Canyon itinerary isn’t over just yet! Mossy Cave is a quick and easy hike, but the trailhead is actually located outside of the main park area.

In total, it’s 0.9 miles out-and-back and the path is relatively flat.

This is also a lesser-known hike in Bryce Canyon and a real hidden gem! During the spring and after a good rain you’ll find a gorgeous waterfall at the end of this hike.

If you’re visiting Bryce Canyon in winter, you may even see icicles near the cave and waterfall.

TIP: There’s a fairly small parking area at the Mossy Cave Trailhead. Normally it’s not full, but there’s some overflow spaces a little farther along the road.

Alterations To This Bryce Canyon Itinerary

If you have more than one day in Bryce Canyon it’s possible to move some of these items around so you don’t have such a full schedule.

For example, you could move sunrise to day 2 if you will be arriving to Bryce Canyon later in the day.

You could also stop for lunch in Bryce Canyon City before exploring the Southern Scenic Drive in the afternoon.

If you only have one day, it’s possible to skip the Southern Scenic Drive (or spend less time on it) and take a horseback ride in Bryce Canyon or a guided e-bike tour instead.

NOTE: I have not included sunset in Bryce Canyon on this itinerary. Frankly, sunset in Bryce is a bit underwhelming. Everything in the park faces East, so the sun sets behind you. I’d skip sunset and prioritize stargazing instead!

Day 2: Bryce Canyon Itinerary

With two days in Bryce Canyon you can hike more of the park’s famous trails. This also gives you time to attend a ranger program, rent bikes or enjoy a horseback ride in Bryce Canyon.

Hike Peekaboo Loop Trail

Peekaboo Loop trail weaves through some of the most scenic spots in Bryce Canyon, including The Cathedral, Peekaboo Arch, Wall of Windows, Fairy Castle and Hindu Temples.

It’s rated as a moderate to hard hike, mostly because of its 1,500 feet in elevation gain.

The trailhead starts from Bryce Point and then loops through the base of the amphitheater. With this trail you’ll be able to see a different section of the amphitheater than you did on Navajo Loop & Queens Garden.

I definitely recommend starting your day with this hike, before the sun and heat kick in. Hiking in a high desert is a very different experience than more humid or temperate climates.

Even though the air temperature may be comfortable, the dry climate will dehydrate you more quickly. Combine arid, dry air with high elevation and you’ll need a lot more water than you do for mountain hiking.

NOTE: There are limited water refill stations in Bryce Canyon. Plan ahead and grab water at one of these 3 locations: Visitor Center, General Store, Sunset Point

I recommend at least 1 liter of water, per person, per hour of activity.

For a three hour hike, that’s 3 liters per person. Water can be quite heavy to carry, so I prefer to use a water reservoir. It allows me to carry water against my back so it puts less strain on my lower back and feels lighter.

I also like the integrated straw that hooks onto my shoulder strap. Not having to stop and pull out a water bottle means I can just sip as I need to and I stay way more hydrated.

TIP: You do not need multiple size water reservoirs. Buy the larger one (3 Liter), and use it for all your trips. For short hikes, don’t fill it all the way, then squeeze extra air out so it doesn’t slosh.

Lunch At The Lodge & Biking Around Bryce Canyon

There’s a few options inside the park for an easy lunch. Bryce Canyon Lodge has good food and offers dine-in, and Valhalla has quick pizza and salads.

After, spend a few hours riding around Bryce Canyon by bicycle. There are so many trails along the rim that make it easy to bike, avoid crowds, and eliminate the need to spend hours looking for an open parking spot!

There’s also a 20 mile paved path, called Canyon 2 Canyon, that connects Bryce Canyon with Red Canyon State Park.

Bicycles are available to rent at the Historic Service Station near the Lodge.

If you’re looking for a more immersive experience I recommend booking a guided bike tour with a local guide who can point out popular hoodoos, like Snoopy, Thor’s Hammer, and The Lizard.

They’ll also explain the park’s history, geology and show you the different flora and fauna that’s natural to the ecosystem.

Dinner In Bryce Canyon City

Bryce Canyon National Park is fairly remote, but there are quite a few options for restaurants in Bryce Canyon City which is just a few minutes drive out of the park.

I recommend venturing into town to explore, and grabbing dinner at one of these restaurants:

📍Bryce Canyon Pines Restaurant – local American restaurant with vegan options
📍Cowboy Ranch House – western-themed steakhouse, serving craft beer
📍Ebenezer’s Bar & Grill – dinner with a show

Stargazing At Bryce Canyon

Because of the clear skies, high elevation, and remote location of Bryce Canyon, it has some of the darkest skies in the United States. It’s even designated as a Gold Tier International Dark Sky park.

I truly didn’t understand the hype of stargazing until I experienced what a real dark sky is like. I had absolutely no idea there were soooo many stars in the sky.

Growing up in the country, I figured I knew what a dark sky was. Wrong!! There are no words to describe how mind-blowing it was to *actually* see the night sky in all her glory.

If your trip is during a new moon, when the sky is the darkest, it’s possible to see the Milky Way! The Milky Way is visible all year, but it’s best seen in June, July and August.

You’re in for a treat if your trip is during a full moon! Ranger-led full moon hikes are available about once per month, and space is limited to only 25 people so this is a very rare event in Bryce Canyon!

Most of the tickets become available 2 weeks ahead of the Full Moon, with a small handful being released 5 days ahead. Aside from a $1 processing fee for the online ticket system this event is completely free!

There are also guides that offer stargazing and provide telescopes and hot coco! I think this one is the best stargazing tour because it starts at midnight (which is really late for me, but also when the sky is the darkest/best for viewing stars.)

If you’re looking for vibes and an early bedtime, there are also fun UTV rides for sunset and stargazing, plus a campfire and tasty s’mores!

Day 3: Bryce Canyon Itinerary

With 3 days in Bryce Canyon, you can explore more remote areas of the park, hike the Fairyland Loop (one of the best, but more challenging trails), or take part in additional ranger programs and guided activities.

Hike Fairyland Loop Trail

Fairyland Loop Trail is one of the more challenging hikes in Bryce Canyon, and has a bit of elevation gain (about 1,500 ft.) I’d say this is a moderate to hard hike, mostly due to the length and not the trail difficulty.

The trail tends to be far less busy than other hikes in Bryce Canyon, and it offers a great variety of views and hoodoos. One of the coolest features along this trail is Tower Bridge. It’s a natural “bridge” that’s been carved into the rock.

In total, it’s 8.1 miles that loops through the amphitheater. It follows Rim Trail for just under 3 miles, then heads into the amphitheater near Sunrise Point for the remaining 5ish miles.

You can pick up the trail at Fairyland Rd or Sunrise Point, but during the busy summer months it’s easiest to find parking at Fairyland Rd.

This is a great option for first thing in the day, before it gets too warm. There’s no water along this trail so be sure to pack enough for 4+ hours in the canyon. Or, plan a short detour to Sunset Point’s water refill station (half mile from Sunrise Point.)

TIP: There’s not a huge difference in taking the loop counterclockwise or clockwise (although the ascent is slightly less steep in the clockwise direction), instead I’d pick your route to be on the Rim Trail portion when there are fewer crowds. If you’re hiking this first thing in the day, go clockwise and hike Rim Trail first before it gets busier.

Horseback Riding In Bryce Canyon

One of the best activities in Bryce Canyon is to book a horseback ride along the canyon! I did this on my first trip to Bryce Canyon and it was so much fun.

This is a good activity for any level of experience. Even if you haven’t been on a horse before you’ll have fun!

They pair you with a horse that fits your abilities (but all of the horses are pretty laid back), and you’ll be with a guide the entire time.

Participate In A Ranger Program

If you can fit time for a ranger program into your Bryce Canyon itinerary I highly recommend them! There are several types of programs offered, and most of them are free (or a few dollars).

Some of the programs you can expect include:

• Hoodoo Geology Talks – half hour talk about how hoodoos formed and the geological history of the park
• Rim Walk with a Ranger – hour long “walk and talk” covering the human history in Bryce Canyon and how animals and plant life have adapted to the challenging climate
• Evening Program – nightly hour long talk on a wide variety of topics (chosen by the ranger!)
• Night Sky Telescope Program – usually offered nightly at 9:45 PM in June and July at the visitors center. Rangers provide telescopes for night sky viewing

Bryce Canyon Entrance Fee & Reservations

There are no vehicle reservations required for Bryce Canyon, but visitors must still pay entry admission.

The entrance cost is $35 (good for 7 days) and covers everyone in your vehicle.

If you have an America The Beautiful park pass ($80/year) your entry is free (including everyone in your vehicle). This pass gives free entry to all 63 National Parks, plus over 2,000 national recreation areas.

I’ve had the annual pass for many years and love it. It saves me money (because I visit more than 2 parks a year) and it makes getting into the park quick and easy – many parks even have an express lane for pass holders.

How To Get Around While Visiting Bryce Canyon

Bryce Canyon National Park offers a free shuttle, but I still recommend you have your own car or campervan rental. This is because the shuttle does not operate throughout the entire park.

The shuttle runs daily, from April through October. The most current schedule can be found on the parks website.

The shuttle only stops at locations along Bryce Amphitheater. It does not serve the Southern Scenic Drive to Rainbow Point.

It also operates in a one-way loop, so pay extra attention to where you’re getting on and off! The map below shows the shuttle route.

➜ Read my complete guide to the Bryce Canyon shuttle here.

Where To Eat

The best spots to eat inside Bryce Canyon:

📍Bryce Canyon Lodge serves breakfast, lunch and dinner and is a great option for sit-down dining
📍Valhalla Pizzeria, right next to the lodge, has pizza, salads, coffee and baked goods
📍General Store has grab-and-go options, like sandwiches and basic groceries

You’ll find more options just outside of the park, in Bryce Canyon City:

📍Bryce Canyon Pines Restaurant – local American restaurant with vegan options
📍Cowboy Ranch House – western-themed steakhouse, serving craft beer
📍Ebenezer’s Bar & Grill – dinner with a show

Tips For Visiting Bryce Canyon

After a few trips to the park, these are some tips I’ve learned that you need to know before visiting Bryce Canyon!

No Cell Service

There is no cell service in Bryce Canyon. I recommend using Google Maps to download an offline map of the area before you arrive.

Offline maps are stored on your device so you won’t need cell service to access them. GPS on your phone uses satellites (not cell towers) so you’ll still be able to get turn-by-turn directions even without cell connection.

Another app I love for visiting Bryce Canyon and other National Parks is AllTrails.

I save all my planned hikes to my app list for easy access. With their paid subscription ($36/year) you can save trail details and navigation to your device for offline access when you’re out of cell connection.

You can save 30% on your annual AllTrails+ subscription with code EVERYWHERE30.

Expect Big Temperature Swings

Due to the elevation (8,000-9,000 feet above sea level) and its desert climate, there can be significant temperature changes throughout the day. In some cases, you may find a 40°F difference between sun up and sun down.

Pack layers so you can be comfortable during the day and night. I recommend carrying a light jacket with you, even in the summer, as the temperature can change quickly once the sun goes down, or as you move to higher elevation.

Summer Brings Thunderstorms

Desert storms can be impressive to watch. You’ll usually see them forming miles and miles away on the horizon.

Due to the high elevation at Bryce Canyon it can be extremely dangerous to be out in a thunderstorm. As soon as you see signs of lightening, or hear thunder, it’s important to move away from the rim as quickly as you can and seek shelter.

Bryce Canyon Packing List

Depending on the time of year you visit, your packing list for Bryce Canyon will look a little different.

During the summer Bryce Canyon sees temperatures up to the mid-80’s. Luckily, it’s never extremely hot (because of it’s elevation).

Regardless of when you visit, expect temperatures to drop as much as 40 degrees when the sun goes down. Bryce Canyon is considered a high desert, which means the temperatures can change quickly when the sun sets.

Sun Protection

A wide brimmed sun hat is also a good idea, especially if you’ll be visiting the other Utah parks (which are all considerably hotter).

I love my sun hat for keeping the sun off of my face, and was also pleasantly surprised to realize that the shade it throws over my upper body also has a notable cooling affect.

Additionally, REI sells an amazing sun shirt. It’s very lightweight, so it’s not hot to wear, but it covers your arms, neck and the backs of your hands perfectly with a breathable SPF fabric.

This is another staple I basically live in during the summer months.

Warm Layers

My favorite jacket for traveling and hiking is the Patagonia Nano Puff. It’s extremely compact and lightweight for how warm it is. Since it doesn’t take up any room and is very light, I just leave it in my backpack in case it gets windy or chilly.

If you’re visiting Bryce Canyon in spring or fall you will want a lightweight hat and pair of gloves for the evenings and early mornings.

Gear For Happy Feet

Having blisters or unhappy feet is a quick way to ruin a whole trip. Happy feet is one category I will gladly invest money into good gear I can rely on.

My two favorite happy feet hacks are Danner boots and Darn Tough socks.

Danner boots are premium hiking boots that last for years. My first pair had at least 300 miles in them before I replaced them (they probably could have gone longer, but I’m a sucker for a Black Friday deal.)

Danners also have nearly no break-in period (none for the two pairs I’ve owned, and my mom reports the same!) They are literally comfortable right out of the box.

Darn Tough socks are the only sock I’ll hike in anymore. They’re made with wool, which is a magical natural material that will cool your feet in heat, and warm them in cold.

They’ll also keep your feet dry, and pull moisture away from your skin so you stay blister free!

And as gross as it sounds, they don’t stink. I have literally worn the same pair of socks for many days on backpacking trips and they aren’t rancid at the end of the trip (but they also don’t smell like daisies either.)

They’re also an investment — about $20/pair. Definitely not cheap, but they come with a lifetime warranty and you really only need 1-2 pairs.

They last forever. I live in these socks nearly year-round and I can’t tell a difference between the ones I bought last year and the ones I’ve had for 10 years. (I tried another cheaper brand a few years ago and have already worn through them… cheaper upfront isn’t always cheaper)

FAQs: Bryce Canyon Itinerary

More Planning Resources For Your Utah Trip

Keep planning your Utah Road Trip with these additional guides:

• Bryce vs Zion: Which Is Better & Why?
• Zion To Bryce Canyon National Park Road Trip (+ Map)
• How To Spend One Day In Arches National Park

Have A Few Extra Days?

Want to extend your visit to Bryce Canyon with a few other nearby stops? There’s so much to do in the American southwest!

Between Las Vegas and Bryce Canyon:

• Road trip from Vegas to Zion, spend one day in Zion.
• Continue your road trip from Zion to Arches

Between Salt Lake City and Bryce Canyon:

• Head from Salt Lake City to Arches National Park, including Canyonlands
• Visit Capitol Reef on the way to Bryce Canyon
• Bonus: Spend a weekend in Salt Lake City