One Day In Bryce Canyon Itinerary

If you only have one day in Bryce Canyon National Park you can still see the highlights! In fact, on my most recent trip this is exactly what I did.

Bryce Canyon is one of the smallest National Parks, so it’s very possible to see most of it on a short trip.

My goal for this guide is to help you maximize your time, while being efficient and avoiding crowds, and to share what to do in Bryce Canyon in one day without missing the best spots.

In this article:

• Itinerary for one day in Bryce Canyon National Park
• Tips for getting around & avoiding crowds
• Downloadable map of what to do in Bryce Canyon in one day
• When to go & where to stay

What To Do In Bryce Canyon In One Day

I only had one day in Bryce Canyon National Park on my most recent trip and I was still able to see all the best spots! It’s a very small park so it’s still worth visiting even if you’re short on time.

The benefit to being a smaller park (9th smallest in the country!) is that it’s very manageable to see all of Bryce Canyons highlights in one day.

While you’re there, you’ll want to get in some hiking, drive the scenic road, and stop along the beautiful viewpoints. I’ll cover all of that (and more) in this itinerary!

Here’s my timestamped one day in Bryce Canyon itinerary:

Map: One Day In Bryce Canyon Itinerary

First things first, let’s get the lay of the land. The key to planning an itinerary for one day in Bryce Canyon National Park is to optimize your time. This way you’re not wasting precious time driving back and forth, or fighting crowds.

Bryce Canyon only has one entrance and one primary road through the park. This makes it pretty hard to get lost!

Use this map to plan your one day in Bryce Canyon National Park itinerary! I’ve labeled items by activity type (noted by icon).

One Day In Bryce Canyon National Park Itinerary

On my most recent trip, I only had one day in Bryce Canyon National Park to explore. You can absolutely see all of the highlights and complete a few of the best hikes in Bryce Canyon in just one day.

Here’s what I did, and my recommendations for what to do in Bryce Canyon in one day:

1. Sunrise In Bryce Canyon

Get to the park early. Bryce Canyon National Park is open 24-hours a day, like most National Parks, so you can arrive as early as you’d like.

Sunrise in Bryce Canyon is between 6 am and 7:45 am depending on the time of year.

The best place to watch sunrise at Bryce Canyon is from Sunrise Point (a little on the nose, eh?).

From here you look East, over the Bryce Amphitheater to see the glorious sun rising over the hoodoos. Trust me, this is one of those travel moments you won’t quickly forget! 

2. Hike Navajo Loop and Queens Garden Trail

Navajo Loop and Queens Garden Trail are two separate out-and-back trails that can be connected to form a loop. The combined loop is 3.1 miles with 649 feet of elevation gain.

This was my favorite hike in Bryce Canyon and I highly recommend it if you only have time for one hike.

With limited time during your one day in Bryce Canyon National Park itinerary this is the hike you should not miss!

I recommend taking this loop counterclockwise. The Navajo Loop side has some steep switchbacks, so it’s easier to hike down those, and then ascend back to the rim on the Queens Garden trail which has a more mild slope.

TIP: If you’re already at Sunrise Point for sunrise, you can hike along the rim towards Sunset Point. It’s less than half a mile to Sunset Point, which is also the trailhead of Navajo Loop Trail.

When you complete the loop on the Queens Garden side you’ll be right back at Sunrise Point where you parked.

This is a great hike for right after sunrise because the crowds will still be minimal and the rising sun casts beautiful golden colors across the canyon. You’ll also avoid the heat of the day.

Along the hike you’ll see Thor’s Hammer, Two Bridges and Queen Victoria, a hoodoo formation named because it resembles the real Queen.

Be sure to pack lots of water. Even early in the morning, hiking in Bryce Canyon can be very dehydrating.

Bryce Canyon is a high-desert, the elevation and dry air combined means you need a lot more water than normal.

When hiking in the desert, I typically pack twice as much water as I would for cooler hikes with lots of shade – typically at least 1.5 liters per hour of hiking, depending on how hot it is.

TIP: Having a water reservoir is an easy way to carry lots of water while hiking. I have the 3L reservoir which is versatile: for shorter hikes I simply don’t fill it as much as I do for longer hikes. I like this system better than buying multiple sized water reservoirs for different uses.

NOTE: There is a water refill station at Sunset Point just before you descend into the canyon, but there is no water anywhere along the trail inside the canyon.

3. Inspiration Point and Bryce Point

By now it’s mid-morning and the crowds are starting to pick up so it’s the perfect time to drive to Inspiration Point and Bryce Point and take in the views.

The first stop you’ll come to is Inspiration Point, which looks out over Bryce Amphitheater.

Inspiration Point also sits along Rim Trail, a 10.7 mile trail that follows the edge of the canyon. You can complete Rim Trail in smaller sections or hike the entire trail.

I recommend you park at Inspiration Point and walk along the Rim Trail to Bryce Point (1.5 miles). From Bryce Point, pick up the free shuttle back to Inspiration Point.

TIP: The shuttle only runs in one direction. From Bryce Point, the next stop is Inspiration Point. If you walk from Bryce Point to Inspiration Point (the reverse direction) you’ll have to take the shuttle through the whole park, or make a transfer. You’ll save tons of time if you park at Inspiration Point and not Bryce Point.

4. Hike Bristlecone Loop Trail

From Inspiration Point, get back in your car and drive the Southern Scenic Drive to Rainbow Point. This drive takes about 30 minutes without stops.

You’ll pass by several scenic pull outs, but they’ll all be on the opposite side of the road so I recommend visiting them on the return trip when it’s easier to pull in and out without crossing traffic. More on that next!

At Rainbow Point there is ample parking along with an epic view. The parking lot may be full, but it turns over quickly as most people are just spending a few minutes to check out the views before moving on.

I had to circle the parking lot 2 or 3 times for a spot to open up, but was able to find a space large enough to park my 22 foot camper van within 5 minutes.

From this location you can see Yovimpa Point as well as Rainbow Point, which are connected by a short trail.

I recommend hiking Bristlecone Loop Trail. It’s an easy 1-mile hike through an ancient pine forest that is fairly flat (88 feet of elevation gain) and has stunning views from the edge of the plateau.

5. Picnic Lunch at Rainbow Point

Rainbow Point is a great place for a picnic lunch. There are bathrooms and picnic tables available, but no water-fill stations.

With only one day in Bryce Canyon National Park I suggest packing a picnic lunch so you can maximize your time. There are limited restaurant options in the park, and no food vendors along Southern Scenic Drive.

NOTE: Grab and go options are available at the General Store, located near Sunrise Point. I recommend stopping in after completing Navajo Loop & Queens Garden Trail before you head to Rainbow Point.

Rainbow Point is the highest elevation in Bryce Canyon National Park. It’s over 9,000 feet above sea level!

This means it is usually colder in this part of Bryce Canyon. When I visited Bryce Canyon in mid-October it was cold enough here for me to pull out my winter coat. I was so chilly! The area is fairly exposed, too, so there’s usually a breeze.

If you’re up for a more challenging hike after lunch, there are a few good trails that start at Rainbow Point.

Under-the-Rim Trail is a point-to-point that’s 22.4 miles long. You can complete as much or as little as you’d like, but keep in mind that it starts with a significant drop in elevation which you’ll need to climb back up to return!

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

6. Southern Scenic Drive

Rainbow Point is the farthest point in the park you can reach by vehicle. After lunch, head back towards the visitors center along Southern Scenic Drive – this is the same route you came in on, and the only road through Bryce Canyon. 

On the way back to the entrance make sure to stop at the scenic pull offs along the route. I would plan an hour and a half for this – 30 minutes to drive and another hour to spend at the viewpoints.

The viewpoints along Southern Scenic Drive (in the order you’ll approach them) is:

• Black Birch Canyon
• Ponderosa Canyon
• Agua Canyon (a must-see)
• Natural Bridge (also a must-see)
• Farview Point & Piracy Point
• Swamp Canyon

7. Visit the Lodge At Bryce Canyon, General Store & Visitors Center

Before leaving the park be sure to stop at The Lodge At Bryce Canyon, the General Store and the visitors center. 

The Lodge at Bryce Canyon was opened in 1925 and has lodge suites, motel rooms and cabins.

The restaurant in the lodge serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and is open to the public. There is also a gift shop located in the lodge.

If you’re hungry, you can pick up grab-and-go meals from the General Store, or get a slice of pizza at Valhalla Pizzeria. Unfortunately, all of these restaurants are closed during winter in Bryce Canyon.

Interestingly, railroad companies frequently had a lot to do with financing construction of lodges and cabins in National Parks like Bryce Canyon and Glacier National Park.

They saw an opportunity to encourage rail travel out West by creating tourist destinations. But, in order to facilitate tourists arriving by rail they would need to build lodging, first.

This is why The Lodge at Bryce Canyon was built. Utah Parks Company, a subsidiary of the Union Pacific Railroad company was chartered with constructing accommodations for travelers.

8. Hike Mossy Cave Trail

The last hike of the day starts just outside the entrance to Bryce Canyon National Park, even though it’s technically part of the park.

Mossy Cave Trail is an easy 0.9 mile hike in Bryce Canyon and takes you to a waterfall!

This trail is a lot different than the other hikes in Bryce Canyon, because it’s relatively flat and offers quite a few water views compared to the desert vibes the other hikes feature.

During the summer, there’s lots of moss in Mossy Cave (go figure), and during the winter you can find icicles hanging from the rock!

I think this hike is one of the best hidden gems in Bryce Canyon National Park.

9. Dinner In Bryce Canyon City

Finally, head into Bryce Canyon City for dinner. There are several options here for where to eat.

📍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

Best Place To Stay With Only One Day In Bryce Canyon

The most convenient place to stay near Bryce Canyon is The Lodge At Bryce Canyon, which is the only hotel located in the park. I recommend booking a year in advance, if possible, as it’s a very popular spot and the rooms sell out quickly.

There are several additional lodging options in Bryce Canyon City, just outside of the parks entrance:

• Ruby’s Inn – lower mid-range
• Bryce View Lodge – mid-range
• Bryce Canyon Grand Hotel – luxury
• Quality Inn – budget (but slightly farther away)

Campgrounds are also available in Bryce Canyon for $30 per night. North Campground is open year-round and Sunset Campground is open during the summer only.

Shuttle Service At Bryce Canyon

Bryce Canyon offers a free shuttle service to get around the park, but there are a few important things you need to know before you go.

• The shuttle service operates from 8 am – 6 pm April through October with extended hours to 8 pm May through September.
• The most current schedule can be found on the parks website.
• You can park outside the park (at Shuttle Station Old Bryce Town, Bryce Canyon Grand Hotel, or Ruby’s Inn) or inside the park at the Visitor Center to catch the shuttle.
• The shuttle only stops at locations along Bryce Amphitheater: Visitor Center, Sunset Campground, Bryce Point, Inspiration Point, Sunset Point, Bryce Lodge and Sunrise Point.
• The Bryce Canyon shuttle does not take visitors along the Southern Scenic Route to Rainbow Point or Yovimpa Point.

How To Get To Bryce Canyon

The closest airports to Bryce Canyon are either Salt Lake City (SLC) or Las Vegas (LAS), both are just 4 hours from the park.

I think Las Vegas is the best airport for Bryce Canyon, and typically has cheaper airfare and car rentals than Salt Lake City.

Additionally, there are so many options for road trips from Las Vegas that it’s easy to customize your itinerary based on your interests and time.

I recommend having your own vehicle to visit Bryce Canyon. There are no good public transportation options, and the Bryce Canyon shuttle only covers half the park.

When To Visit Bryce Canyon National Park

The best time to visit Bryce Canyon is April-May or September-October when the weather is still warm during the day and there are fewer crowds.

While it’s also possible to visit during the summer, expect more crowds and warm afternoons.

In my experience, I have found early October is the best time to visit Bryce Canyon National Park.

More Planning Resources For Your Utah Trip

Keep planning your Utah Road Trip with these additional guides:

• Bryce Canyon National Park Itinerary And Travel Guide
• Bryce vs Zion: Which Is Better & Why?
• Zion To Bryce Canyon National Park Road Trip (+ Map)
• One Day In Zion National Park – Time-Saving Trip Itinerary
• How To Spend One Day In Arches National Park