Bryce Canyon National Park Parks and Outdoors Travel Guide

Bryce Canyon National Park Parks and Outdoors Travel Guide

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Aerial view of Thor's Hammer at sunset in Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah
Thor's Hammer at sunset, Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah (Ray Mathis/courtesy, National Park Service)
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Bryce Canyon National Park Parks and Outdoors Travel Tips

By Kim Lipker

  • To get a nice overview of Bryce Canyon National Park, drive the 18-mile main park road. On this paved route, you will have many chances to stop and admire the view from various overlooks. The main road takes you by Fairview Point, the Natural Bridge Arch, and Aqua Canyon. It ends at Rainbow and Yovimpa Points.
  • The hoodoos will invariably grab your attention first. These brown, red, orange, yellow, and white pinnacles of limestone, sandstone, and mudstone shoot toward the sky in fanciful formation. Closer inspection of the park reveals horseshoe-shape amphitheaters, and views of Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico. Ponderosa pines, high-elevation meadows, and fir-spruce forests border the rim of this canyon on the Paunsaugunt Plateau.
  • Within the migration season from May to July is the best time to see a wide variety of birds. There have been more than 170 bird species identified in Bryce Canyon National Park. Pick up a birding list at the visitor center.
  • A half-mile south of the visitor center and near the Bryce Canyon Lodge, numerous trailheads, and the General Store is the North Campground. Available on a first-come, first-served basis, it is best to arrive early during May through September. One of the sections of this campground is open year-round.
  • Highway 12 Scenic Byway is one of the most picturesque stretches of road in the Southwest and possibly in the entire United States. Starting at the intersection of US 89 west of Bryce National Park, you will be going through Escalante, passing through Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument and onto Capitol Reef National Park.

Bryce Canyon National Park

The sky never seems so blue as when viewed through the window of a Claron sandstone pinnacle in Bryce Canyon National Park. Although it is the smallest of Utah's national parks at 35,835 acres, Bryce Canyon contains an outsized number of some of the most beautiful, unlikely rock formations on earth. This Dr. Seussian landscape of towering spires, fins, arches, and mazes is fodder for the imagination and a delight to the eyes. Read More

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Hotels

from: $70

Best Western Ruby's Inn

Highway 63
Bryce Canyon City, UT 84764

Distance: 4.4 mi.
(from destination center)

Hotel Class: 2 class stars

expert favorite hotel
Expert Rated & Recommended
5.0

Bryce Canyon Lodge

Best Resorts & Lodges
PO Box 640079
Bryce Canyon National Park, UT 84764 Map

Distance: 4.7 mi.
(from destination center)

Hotel Class: Not Yet Rated
expert favorite hotel
Expert Rated & Recommended
5.0
4.0

North Campground and Sunset Campground

PO Box 640201
UD, UT 84764-0201 Map

Distance: 0.0 mi.
(from destination center)

Hotel Class: Not Yet Rated
Expert Rated & Recommended
5.0
5.0
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Attractions

Bryce Scenic Drive

expert favorite attraction
Bryce Canyon National Park
PO Box 640201
Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah 84764-0201

Distance: 3.6 mi. (from destination center)

Description: From the park entrance, this 18-mile road runs past 13 spectacular overlooks of Bryce Canyon. On... Read More
Expert Rated & Recommended
5_0
5_0

Hole-in-the-Rock Road

Southeast of Escalante
Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, 755 W. Main
Escalante, Utah 84726

Distance: 39.2 mi. (from destination center)

Description:

This road once played a center-stage role in one of the great epics of the colonization of the... Read More

Expert Rated & Recommended
4_0
4_0

Rim Trail

expert favorite attraction
Bryce Canyon National Park
PO Box 640201
Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah 84764-0201

Distance: 3.6 mi. (from destination center)

Description: This easy trail follows the rim with spectacular views for 5.5 miles between Bryce Point in the... Read More
Expert Rated & Recommended
5_0
All Bryce Canyon National Park Attractions »

Airports

Major Airports near Bryce Canyon National Park

Distance (mi.)
Las Vegas Mccarran International Airport 193.5 map
Salt Lake City International Airport 221.7 map
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport 287.1 map

Other Smaller Airports near Bryce Canyon National Park

Distance (mi.)
Saint George Municipal Airport 83.6 map
Grand Canyon National Park Airport 113.0 map
Moab Canyonlands Field 157.1 map

Flight Deals to Bryce Canyon National Park

Originating From
Long Beach (LGB) to Las Vegas (LAS) $124
San Diego (SAN) to Las Vegas (LAS) $124
San Francisco (SFO) to Las Vegas (LAS) $126
Salt Lake City (SLC) to Las Vegas (LAS) $142
San Jose (SJC) to Las Vegas (LAS) $146

Feature Articles

More Bryce Canyon National Park Parks and Outdoors Feature Articles (2) »
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Trip Ideas

GORPtravel Adventure Trips & Guided Tours

  • Grand Canyon-Bryce-Zion Hiker
    The World Outdoors
    from $2298, 6 days
    Showcasing the mystical and stunning landscape of Bryce, Zion and the Grand Canyon. Delve into a world of awesome natural amphitheaters, soaring rock...
  • The South West
    Intrepid Travel
    from $1586, 21 days
    This is an adventure for those who appreciate the big things in life. Venture southwest through America's most celebrated cities including San...
  • The Gold Rush
    Intrepid Travel
    from $1264, 15 days
    From the steep streets of San Francisco to the unbelievable buzz of Las Vegas, this exhilarating West Coast journey takes the excitement of some of...
  • Bryce Zion: Red-Rock Wonders
    Austin Lehman Adventures
    from $1998, 6 days
    They call it "The Grand Circle", and for good reason. From Arches to Canyonlands, Capitol Reef to Bryce Canyon and Zion, nowhere else in the world will you find as concentrated a collection of national parks than in Utah. ......
  • Historic Parks of the American Southwest
    Discovery Adventures
    from $2599, 12 days
    Get out and explore the great American outdoors. Take a guided tour and soak up the history and scenic beauty of the great national parks and Navajo...
See All Adventure Trips & Guided Tours from GORPtravel »

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